Jefferson County building department

Jefferson County’s Division of Building Safety handles building permits, plan review, inspections and contractor licensing for unincorporated Jefferson County. Cities and towns inside the county issue their own permits. If you’re not sure who covers an address, use the county’s Address Lookup tool before you apply. The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plan review meetings are by appointment.

Two-part review

Most building permits go through two county offices. Planning & Zoning checks the project against the zoning rules, and Building Safety checks it against the building codes. Some simple interior work, such as moving walls without creating new rooms, can go straight to Building Safety. Projects that add a kitchen, bedroom or bathroom may need Planning & Zoning review. So do basement finishes.

Planning & Zoning also handles Miscellaneous Permits, used for things like mid-height decks, gates, pools and retaining walls. Your local fire district can enforce fire-code standards beyond the county’s, so the county recommends contacting it early in your project.

What needs a permit

Project	County rule
Deck	12 in. or less above ground: no permit and no setbacks. Over 12 in. but under 30 in.: Miscellaneous Permit. 30 in. or taller: Building Permit. Repairs and replacements also need permits
Shed	Under 200 sq ft: no permit. Building Permit if over 200 sq ft, over 14 ft tall, or more than 264 sq ft of roof plane
Fence	No permit, but must meet the Zoning Resolution. Gates need a Miscellaneous Permit
Retaining wall	Under 3 ft: no permit. 3–12 ft: Miscellaneous Permit with an engineered design. Over 12 ft: needs a variance or minor variation
Pool	Miscellaneous Permit for any pool, in-ground or above-ground. Hot tubs and swim spas need no Miscellaneous Permit, but electrical work may need a permit
Garage or carport	Building Permit for any attached or detached garage or carport, including replacements
Interior remodel	Building Permit if walls or windows are moved, changed or removed. Replacing cabinets, flooring or counters in place may not need one
Driveway	Access Permit for new or modified driveways off county-maintained roads

Sheds under 200 sq ft count as “mini-structures.” Most residential zones allow a total of 200 sq ft of them per lot. Additions over 400 sq ft usually trigger extra review of access, water, wastewater and fire service. Grading more than half an acre likely requires a Grading Permit or Notice of Intent.

Applying online

Use the Citizen Portal to apply for these permits online:

• building
• electrical, including residential and commercial solar
• re-roof and re-side
• water heater replacement (plumbing or mechanical)

Once you register, you can also request inspections and see results online and by email. Some permits can’t be filed through the portal:

• Demolition permits: call (303) 271-8260
• Wood-burning fireplace applications: apply in the office or by email. These are reviewed for EPA Phase II compliance

If a building permit also needs Planning & Zoning approval, you can still submit it online. Fees are paid once the whole review is done.

Submittal tips

• Send plans as PDFs. If you bring paper plans for over-the-counter review, they can be no larger than 11 by 17 inches.
• Since July 1, 2025, engineered truss drawings and layouts have to be included with the first application. The county no longer accepts them as deferred submittals.
• Check the Mandatory Application Documents list and the guide for your project type before you apply.

Fees

Building Safety has an online fee estimator, and fees are based on valuation. The Board of County Commissioners approved a new fee schedule on March 31, 2026, along with the new codes. Unincorporated Jefferson County doesn’t charge a use tax. Checks are payable to the Jefferson County Treasurer.

Contractor licensing and owner-builders

General, roofing and mechanical contractors need a Jefferson County Contractor License to pull permits in unincorporated areas. To get one, you need:

• a passing ICC exam within the last 3 years, or a valid license from an ICC participating jurisdiction
• a photo ID
• a $50 fee

Licenses must be renewed every year. You can’t renew while you have unresolved code issues, such as an expired permit or an expired temporary certificate of occupancy. The county does not license state-licensed plumbers or electricians.

Property owners can act as their own contractor for a home or accessory building they will use themselves. The limit is one residential dwelling in any 24-month period. Anyone who pulls permits for two or more homes within 24 months is treated as a contractor and must be licensed.

Inspections

Field inspections take place Monday through Friday. You can request building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and re-roof inspections:

• online through the Citizen Portal, any time
• by phone at (303) 271-8260, Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Requests are due by 5 p.m. the day before the inspection. The day’s inspection windows are posted at 8 a.m.

Have the county-stamped plans, the inspection card and all final documents on site. The contractor must set up any ladders. Inspectors may also check the licenses of electricians and plumbers on the job.

Re-roofs get two inspections, and the county doesn’t accept photos:

• mid-roof, when more than 10% but less than 25% of the roof is done
• final, when the roof is complete

Online re-roof requests are for the next day only, and same-day online requests are accepted until 6 a.m. Post the permit card where it can be seen from the street.

Codes and wildfire rules

The 2024 building codes and county supplements apply to permits applied for on or after July 1, 2026. Commissioners approved the codes on March 31, 2026.

On March 10, 2026, the board also approved:

• the Wildfire Resiliency Code, which covers defensible space and structure hardening
• updates to the Wildland Urban Interface Overlay District (Zoning Resolution Section 39)
• a new WUI overlay map

For homes with a passive radon system, a radon test report from a qualified lab or provider is part of the final documents. Testing must follow IRC Section BE104.

Records

The Citizen Portal’s Permit Search shows permit history, inspection results and contractor licenses. Search data is updated at least twice a day. For archived plans and documents tied to an address, file an open records request.