Boulder County Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Boulder County Building Safety and Inspections administers building codes, permits, and inspections for unincorporated Boulder County. The county specifically says its division does not inspect inside cities or towns, so properties in Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Jamestown, Nederland, or another municipality must be checked with that local authority. The county’s municipality-contact resource is the safest way to identify the correct office for a city parcel.

The county requires permits for construction, alteration, repair, demolition, and installation work regulated by county building codes. Examples include new buildings, garages, additions, decks, retaining walls over 48 inches, tall fences, structural repairs, basement finishes, re-roofing, windows, siding, hot tubs, and solar collectors. Boulder County also offers an EZ BP residential program for eligible projects that do not require the same plan-submittal path as a standard application.

Building permit applications are submitted online and generally require a site plan and complete building plans in PDF format, with separate documentation for items such as HERS ratings, soils, water, sanitation, and access when applicable. Boulder County’s online permits page confirms that its public application and records system is Accela-based. The county’s Building Safety page identifies current amendments to the 2021 International Codes and says the amendments effective July 1, 2026 apply to unincorporated areas.

Inspection requests, inspection schedules, and inspection results are managed through the county’s online system and inspection resources. The county states that inspection requests should be received before 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday to be eligible for following-business-day scheduling, although next-day service is not guaranteed. Required inspections must be completed before work is concealed; certain caisson, footing, foundation-wall, and structural-framing inspections may be performed by a qualified state-licensed engineer when the county’s conditions allow it.

Building Safety and Inspection Services lists its location as the Courthouse Annex Building, 2045 13th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302, with mailing address PO Box 471, Boulder, CO 80306, and phone (303) 441-3926. Community Planning and Permitting’s front desk is listed at (303) 441-3930. Use the Accela public system for permit records and applications, and consult the county Land Use Code and planning staff when zoning or a separate planning review may apply.