The Eagle County Building Department issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for unincorporated Eagle County, including the El Jebel area, through its online permit portal. It does not permit or inspect inside Avon, Basalt, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff or Vail. Permit fees follow a valuation table, with plan review at 65% of the permit fee, and both are due at application. First-round review of a new home is estimated at 7 weeks or longer.
What needs a building permit in unincorporated Eagle County?
The County requires a building permit when an owner or agent intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure. Normal building maintenance does not need one in most instances. Demolition is included in a residential or commercial permit unless no building is going back in its place.
Permit needed
- New homes, additions, exterior and interior alterations
- Commercial and multi-family buildings and tenant finishes
- Exterior decks
- Roof repairs and replacements (Class A fire-rated assembly required)
- Window replacement and siding
- Boiler replacements and heat pump installations
- Plumbing, mechanical, electrical, solar and fireplace work, each on its own sub-permit
- Pools and spas
- Manufactured and modular homes
- Grading
Exempt under the Building Resolution
- One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures up to 120 sq ft
- Platforms, sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement or storage and not part of an accessible route
- Swings and other playground equipment
- Private-use agricultural buildings on a lot over 2 acres
Starting work before the permit is issued can bring an investigation fee on top of the permit fee, with a minimum of four times the lowest fee in the County’s building permit table.
Who issues permits in Eagle County?
The Building Department, part of Community Development, reviews plans, issues permits and inspects in unincorporated Eagle County. Rick Weinman is the Chief Building Official. The County does not require contractor licensing or registration of its own; electricians’ and plumbers’ licences are checked with the State.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 500 Broadway, Eagle, CO 81631 (mail: P.O. Box 179) |
| Phone | 970-328-8761 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., open to walk-ins |
| Apply | Eagle County online permit portal (CSS) |
| Inspection requests (IVR) | 1-866-701-3307 |
| Planner On Duty (zoning questions) | 970-328-8746 |
| Wildfire inspections | 970-328-8742 |
| Environmental Health (septic) | 970-328-8755 |
The County states plainly that it does not process permits or perform inspections for the incorporated towns. Each of the seven issues its own building permits, and their own pages add the detail below:
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Town | Who issues and how | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Avon | Town Building Division, part of Community Development; every application is filed in Cloudpermit and contractors need a Town licence. Electrical permits are the State’s | 100 Mikaela Way, 970-748-4030 |
| Basalt (partly in Pitkin County) | Town Building Department, with Town building, plumbing and mechanical permit applications; its page points to the State for the electrical permit | 970-927-4701 or 970-927-4702 |
| Eagle | Town Building Department; electrical permitting and inspections go through the State | 200 Broadway, 970-328-6354; inspection hotline 970-328-9626. The office has closed at noon on Fridays since September 1, 2026 |
| Gypsum | Town Building Department, with its own building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit applications; contractors need a Town licence | 970-524-1731 |
| Minturn | The Town issues the permit and contracts inspections to Shums Coda Associates; electrical permits and inspections go through the State | Town Hall, 302 Pine Street, 970-445-2434 |
| Red Cliff | The Town: the application is handed in or emailed to the Town Office, which then assesses the fee. Electrical permits have gone through the State since 2023 | 970-827-5303 |
| Vail | Town Community Development, through its OpenGov portal: one construction permit covers building, plumbing and mechanical work, and the Town issues its own electrical permit | 970-479-2139 |
Permit types, the portal and checklists
Residential (RES) and commercial (COMM) permits can be applied for in the County’s online portal, with no paper plan sets needed, or in person on the paper application. Sub-permits go through the same portal:
- Mechanical (MECH), Plumbing (PLUM) and Electrical (ELEC), including solar and EV work and temporary power (TPWR).
- Fireplace (FRPL), always a separate permit.
- Re-roof (ROOF) and Window Replacement/Siding (WIND).
- Fire Alarm (FRAL): low-voltage monitored residential fire alarm systems are now permitted and inspected by the fire protection districts (Eagle River, Greater Eagle, Gypsum, or Roaring Fork Fire Rescue). A line-voltage residential system is filed with the County as an electrical permit.
The County publishes a checklist for each project type. Residential: new single-family or attached single-family, addition or exterior alteration, structural and non-structural interior alteration, exterior decks, roofing, modular or manufactured home, and the TCO and CO checklists. Commercial: new commercial and multi-family, addition or exterior alteration, interior alteration, TCO and CO.
Changes after approval use the County’s revision process for e-review or paper permits. A manufactured home has its own application.
Eagle County building permit fees
Fees are set in the Eagle County Building Resolution; the fee tables posted by the Building Department date from the January 21, 2025 amendment, and the October 28, 2025 amendment carries the same building permit table. Valuation is the higher of the applicant’s figure and the ICC Building Valuation Data cost per square foot multiplied by the Eagle County modifier of 1.4. Every application also pays a plan review fee equal to 65% of the permit fee.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Total valuation | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $500 | $27.50 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $27.50 for the first $500, plus $3.60 for each additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $80.25 for the first $2,000, plus $16.30 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $456.75 for the first $25,000, plus $11.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $745.50 for the first $50,000, plus $8.15 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $1,150 for the first $100,000, plus $6.55 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,738 for the first $500,000, plus $5.55 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $6,480 for the first $1,000,000, plus $4.30 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
For example, a project valued at $400,000 pays a permit fee of $1,150 plus 300 × $6.55, which is $3,115, and a plan review fee of $2,024.75. Both are due at application, and review does not start until they are paid.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Wildfire review and inspections (new builds, decks and additions) | $200, covering 3 field inspections and 1 hour of plan review |
| Re-inspection | $100 |
| Additional plan review for changes or revisions | $55 per hour |
| Inspection outside normal business hours | $55 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Moving or demolishing a building | $55 per inspection |
| Manufactured home, single wide | $140.25, including 2 inspections |
| Manufactured home, double wide | $233.75, including 3 inspections |
| Grading permit, 101 to 1,000 cubic yards | $130, plus a $200 grading plan review fee |
Three more charges are calculated during plan review and paid when the permit is issued: transportation impact fees, the fire district’s emergency service fees (by check only) and the wildfire fee. Exterior Energy Offset Program fees are due before the final, TCO or CO. The County takes card payments up to $10,000. There is no use tax on construction materials in unincorporated Eagle County.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and septic permits
Eagle County issues and inspects its own trade permits, so in most of the unincorporated county they do not come from the State. Online sub-permit applications are reviewed in an estimated 5 to 7 business days.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Mechanical or plumbing, valuation up to $2,000 | $40 |
| Mechanical or plumbing, $2,001 to $25,000 | $40 for the first $2,000, plus $20 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Mechanical or plumbing, over $25,000 | $500 for the first $25,000, plus $10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Electrical, home up to 1,000 sq ft of living area | $120 |
| Electrical, 1,001 to 1,500 sq ft | $168 |
| Electrical, 1,501 to 2,000 sq ft | $216 |
| Electrical, each 100 sq ft over 2,000 | $9.60 |
| Electrical, other work by valuation | $120 up to $2,000; above that, $120 plus $9.60 per $1,000 or fraction |
| Temporary power permit | $65 |
| Electrical re-inspection | $57.50 |
Mechanical and plumbing valuation is the actual value of the work or at least 5% of the building valuation. The County’s FAQ makes one geographic exception for electrical work: in the El Jebel, Missouri Heights and Frying Pan areas, electrical permits and inspections are administered by the State electrical inspector (1-855-451-9795). The State’s own list of local programs names Minturn and Avon as the only parts of Eagle County where the State inspects electrical work. It does not show the El Jebel exception, and the Town of Eagle, Red Cliff and Basalt also send electrical permits to the State on their own pages. For the electrical code the Building Resolution adopts whichever National Electrical Code edition the State has adopted, which has been the 2026 edition since August 1, 2026; the County’s Building page still names the 2023 edition.
Septic (OWTS): Eagle County Environmental Health issues the permit required for every new, altered or repaired system, under County regulations updated March 6, 2026. Apply online and email the engineer’s design to environment@eaglecounty.us. Systems must be designed by a Colorado registered professional engineer and installed by an installer licensed in Eagle County. A new installation permit is $1,423, a major repair $1,023 and a minor repair or alteration $623, and the permit expires if the system is not built within 120 days.
Application documents and review times
Online applications need no paper plan sets; paper applications follow the checklist for the scope of work. Before drawing plans, the County recommends calling the Planner On Duty with the address and parcel number to confirm zoning limits such as floor area ratio, lot coverage, impervious area, building height and ridgeline and stream setbacks.
Rather not deal with the Eagle County building department?
Get a free quote →- Residential footing, foundation and framing details must be wet stamped by a Colorado-licensed architect or engineer.
- Commercial plans need both a Colorado-licensed architect’s and an engineer’s stamp.
- Non-ventilated roof systems need stamped insulation assembly details.
- Paper drawings should be at least 24 x 36 inches and no more than 30 x 40 inches, legible, labeled and to scale.
- A wildfire hazard rating is requested from the County for new builds, decks and additions; low-hazard sites need no wildfire inspections.
- Projects with snowmelt, an outdoor pool or spa over 64 sq ft, or heat tape complete the Exterior Energy Offset Program worksheet before applying.
| Application | First-round review |
|---|---|
| New residential building | 7 weeks or longer |
| New commercial building | 7 weeks or longer |
| Residential or commercial pool or spa | 7 weeks or longer |
| Commercial tenant finish | 5 weeks or longer |
| Small residential remodel or renovation | 5 weeks or longer |
| Manufactured home in an existing mobile home park | 4 weeks or longer |
| Online sub-permits (mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fireplace, roof, windows) | 5 to 7 business days |
How to apply: 6 steps in unincorporated Eagle County
Use the County GIS viewer to confirm the parcel is unincorporated, then call the Planner On Duty at 970-328-8746.
New builds, decks and additions need it, and it determines whether wildfire inspections apply.
Use the residential or commercial checklist for your scope and have the structural details stamped.
Submit the RES or COMM application and pay the permit and plan review fees, which start the review.
Transportation impact, emergency service and wildfire fees are calculated in review and paid when the permit is issued.
File mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fireplace permits online, then book inspections through the IVR line or the portal.
Inspections and Certificate of Occupancy
Inspections run Monday to Friday, and on Mondays and Thursdays only in the El Jebel area. Schedule through the 24-hour IVR line, 1-866-701-3307, using the PIN assigned to the permit, or in the portal. A request made before 4:00 p.m. on a weekday is carried out the next business day, and one made before 4:00 p.m. Friday is routed for Monday. Daily inspection times are posted by 8:00 a.m., and inspectors give a 1-hour window.
The stamped, approved plans must be on site for every inspection, with the permit sign posted, the address visible from the street, animals secured and a ladder provided where needed. Someone must be present to give access to an occupied building.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Footing, foundation and slab: before concrete, with the geotechnical engineer’s open-hole report available and the concrete-encased grounding electrode installed.
- Underground: electrical conduit, plumbing under test, and propane lines from tank to structure.
- Rough-ins: mechanical, plumbing and electrical, plus party wall or fire wall cover inspections for duplexes.
- Framing: after all rough inspections are approved and the building is dried in.
- Insulation, drywall and veneer or lath.
- Wildfire 1 and Wildfire 2: separate inspections on sites rated moderate hazard or higher, booked at 970-328-8742.
Under the Building Resolution, approval of the final Certificate of Occupancy inspection serves as the Certificate of Occupancy. A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days of issue or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days; the Building Official may grant written extensions of up to 180 days each.
Local Eagle County details that matter
Design criteria: wind 115 mph, Seismic Design Category C, frost depth 48 inches unless the geotechnical report says otherwise, winter design temperature -20°F, and ice barrier underlayment 3 feet in from outside edges and in valleys. Ground snow load depends on elevation and is taken from the 2016 Colorado Design Snow Loads map or ASCE 7, whichever is more restrictive.
Exterior Energy Offset Program: snowmelt systems, outdoor pools and spas over 64 sq ft, and heat tape must be offset with on-site renewable energy or a fee in lieu. The fee is phased in: 50% of the full amount in 2026, 75% in 2027 and 100% in 2028. The first 200 sq ft of snowmelt is exempt.
Wildfire: roofs must be Class A fire-rated assemblies, and the County publishes construction guidelines for the wildland-urban interface.
Fire districts: emergency service fees depend on which district serves the site: Eagle River, Greater Eagle, Gypsum or Roaring Fork Fire Rescue.
Old plans: the County keeps residential plan sets for only 180 days after the Certificate of Occupancy or final inspection.
Colorado building code
Colorado has no statewide building code for private buildings: each city and county decides whether a code applies and which edition, while the state sets electrical and plumbing rules, a minimum energy code on any update, and a wildfire code for the mapped wildland-urban interface. Building codes in Colorado
Official Eagle County resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations
- Eagle County online permit portal
- Eagle County Building Resolution (online version)
- Eagle County Building Department
- Building Department contacts and town permit offices
- Permit applications, checklists and design criteria
- Eagle County permit fees
- Building permit fee tables (PDF)
- Eagle County Building Resolution, amended October 28, 2025 (PDF)
- Schedule inspections
- Exterior Energy Offset Program
- Eagle County Environmental Health: septic (OWTS) permits
Eagle County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Eagle County?
The Eagle County Building Department, for unincorporated areas only. Avon, Basalt, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff and Vail each issue and inspect their own permits.
How much is a building permit in Eagle County?
It depends on valuation, plus a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee. A $400,000 valuation pays $3,115 for the permit and $2,024.75 for plan review, before impact, emergency service and wildfire fees.
How long does plan review take?
The County estimates 7 weeks or longer for the first round on a new home or commercial building, 5 weeks or longer for a small remodel or tenant finish, and 5 to 7 business days for online sub-permits.
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Eagle County?
Yes. Roof repairs and replacements need a permit, and the roof assembly must be Class A fire rated.
Does Eagle County issue electrical and plumbing permits?
Yes, as sub-permits through its portal. The County’s FAQ says electrical permits in the El Jebel, Missouri Heights and Frying Pan areas are handled by the State electrical inspector.
Do contractors need an Eagle County licence?
No. Owner-builders and general contractors need no County registration; electricians and plumbers must be licensed with the State, and septic installers by Eagle County Environmental Health.
Is there a use tax on building materials?
Not in unincorporated Eagle County. The towns set their own.
Who issues septic permits?
Eagle County Environmental Health. A new installation permit is $1,423.
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More Colorado permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Eagle County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.