Inside Erie town limits, building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits all come from the Town of Erie Building Division, and applications are accepted only through the eTRAKiT Self-Service Portal. Permit fees are set from the project valuation, a plan check fee of 65% of the permit fee is added where plans are reviewed ($75 for a site-specific single-family home), and the Town estimates 4 to 6 weeks for first review comments on a new home.
What requires a building permit in Erie?
The Building Division publishes two lists, one of work that needs a permit and one of work that does not. Both are guides, so call 303-926-2780 about anything that is not on them.
Permit required
- Accessory structures over 200 sq ft, garages and attached sheds
- Decks (covered or not), patio covers, pergolas and carports
- Room additions, remodeling, structural changes and foundation repair
- Basement finishes
- Fences
- Roofing of more than 1 square in total
- Window and door replacement, including like-for-like
- Furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, mini splits, water heaters and whole house fans
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical modifications, including car chargers
- Gas lines, fire pits, fireplaces and gas logs
- Solar panels, including detach and re-attach for a re-roof
- Pools, hot tubs and spas
- Radon mitigation systems and lawn sprinkler systems
- Retaining walls over 4 ft from the bottom of the trench to the top of the wall
- Demolition of an entire structure
No permit
- Detached accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less (patio covers are not included)
- Concrete porches on grade without a roof, and private sidewalks
- Minor fence repair of 3 sections or less
- Minor roof repairs of 1 square or less
- Siding and painting
- General landscaping
- Adding insulation
- Cabinet and countertop replacement with no structural changes
- Floor coverings and wallpaper
- Light fixtures and plumbing fixtures replaced in the same location
Setbacks and easements still apply to work that needs no permit. No part of a structure may project into an easement under the Town’s Unified Development Code, so ask the Planning Division about subdivision setbacks before placing a small shed.
Who issues building permits in Erie?
The Building Division reviews construction plans, issues permits, carries out inspections and licenses contractors and trades. Ed Kotlinski is the Chief Building Official. The Town runs its own electrical and plumbing inspection programs, so those permits are Town permits rather than State ones.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 645 Holbrook St., Erie, CO 80516 (mail: P.O. Box 750) |
| Phone | 303-926-2780 (option 2 for inspection staff, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.) |
| building@erieco.gov; inspectors: buildinginspectors@erieco.gov | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Apply and pay | eTRAKiT Self-Service Portal, or pay in person at Town Hall |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Erie lies partly in Boulder County and partly in Weld County. The Building Division covers addresses inside the town limits; a property in unincorporated Boulder County or Weld County is permitted by that county’s building department instead. Fire plan review and fire sprinkler inspections belong to Mountain View Fire Rescue, not the Town.
Erie permit types and the eTRAKiT portal
Contractors register one eTRAKiT contractor account per licence type, and that registration doubles as the Town contractor licence. Homeowners, superintendents and other staff use a public user account. Each project type has its own submittal page on the Town website (basement finish, custom home, production home, deck, HVAC, pool and spa, radon, remodel, roof replacement, solar, and commercial and multifamily).
- Homeowner permits: you may pull a permit for work on your own primary residence without a contractor licence if you own and occupy the home, and you file the Town’s Homeowner Affidavit. Any subcontractor you hire must hold an Erie licence. Accessory dwelling unit permits do not qualify and need licensed contractors.
- Contractor licences: Class A $175, Class B $125, Class C $100, specialty $75, plumbing $100 and mechanical $100 a year; the electrical contractor licence is free. Since January 1, 2025, Class A, B and C applicants must show a passed ICC exam.
- Rapid Review: on Wednesdays, plan reviewers take simple residential projects such as basement finishes, decks and pergolas. Only 2 are accepted each week, one per person or company. Email the request within 48 hours of applying with the subject line RAPID REVIEW REQUEST, and have every document in the portal by 4 p.m. on Monday. A project that needs more than one round of revisions drops out of Rapid Review, and homes with fire suppression systems do not qualify.
- Extensions and refunds: a permit expires if work does not start within 90 days of issuance or if more than 90 days pass between inspections. The Building Official can grant extensions of up to 180 days each on the Permit Extension Request Form. Refunds of up to 80% of the permit fee (no work done) or plan review fee (no review started) must be requested in writing within 90 days of payment.
Erie building permit fees
Fees come from the Town Fee Schedule adopted by Resolution No. 26-104, effective May 26, 2026. The building permit fee is read from a valuation table, and a plan check fee of 65% of the permit fee is added to projects that need plan review.
New single-family homes are handled differently under the Chief Building Official’s 2026 valuation memo of December 16, 2025: a site-specific home pays a $75 plan check fee, and a home built from a stock plan follows a separate staff memo of February 3, 2022.
| Valuation | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $500 | $23.50 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $391.25 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,001 and up | $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →How the valuation is set. For residential work that adds interior floor area, the Chief Building Official’s memo for 2026 values the job by the square foot: $169.09 for above-grade finished floor area, $66.20 for garage area and $31.50 for unfinished basement area. These are construction values used to look up the fee, not the fee itself. Separate projects are valued at $39.17 per sq ft for an uncovered deck (stairs excluded), $38.52 for a roof cover over a deck, porch or patio, $31.39 for a pergola and $38.72 for a basement finish. Other residential work and all commercial work use the applicant’s own valuation unless the Building Official finds it underestimated.
For example, a 300 sq ft uncovered deck is valued at $11,751. The permit fee is $69.25 plus 10 × $14, which is $209.25, and the plan check fee is $136.01, for $345.26 before use tax. A basement finish pays no plan check fee.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Re-roof or fence | Valuation table fee, capped at $47 |
| Residential solar | $164.50 |
| Demolition | $75 |
| Construction trailer | $100 |
| Temporary electrical construction meter | $25 |
| Reinspection | $75 per hour, 1 hour minimum |
| Inspection outside normal business hours | $75 per hour, 2 hours minimum |
| Additional plan review after changes or revisions | $75 per hour, 1 hour minimum |
| Use tax | Town 3.5% (plus Boulder County 1.335% where it applies) on 50% of the valuation |
New homes also pay impact fees. For a single-family detached home the published amounts include $2,803 for parks and recreation, $686 for police, $4,276 for public facilities and $1,862 for storm drainage, with transportation, tree, water tap, sewer tap and raw water charges on top. The school district’s fair contribution receipt is one of the documents a new home application must include. The Town never asks for payment by wire transfer or emailed invoice; pay in your eTRAKiT account or at Town Hall, and call 303-926-2770 with payment questions.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits in Erie
The Building Division issues and inspects electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work itself. On a residential project that adds interior floor area, including a basement finish, no separate trade permit fees are charged. Stand-alone trade work is charged from the Town Fee Schedule.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Permit | Residential, by finished sq ft | All other permits, by valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | $35 up to 1,000 sq ft, $55 to 1,500, $70 to 2,000, then $3 per extra 100 sq ft | $30 up to $300, $35 to $2,000, $15 per $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Mechanical | $60 up to 1,000 sq ft, $70 to 1,500, $80 to 2,000, then $3 per extra 100 sq ft | $35 up to $300, $45 to $2,000, $17 per $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Plumbing | $75 up to 1,000 sq ft, $110 to 1,500, $150 to 2,000, then $5 per extra 100 sq ft | $45 up to $300, $50 to $2,000, $18 per $1,000 to $50,000 |
Electrical and plumbing contractors upload their state contractor and master licences when they register. Furnace, air conditioner and water heater replacements are no longer inspected by video and go through the normal inspection process. Mountain View Fire Rescue must approve PV shingle systems, and battery storage systems installed inside a house other than in the garage, before the Town issues the solar permit.
Application documents and review times
A submittal has to be complete before it joins the review queue. Name each uploaded file with the site address and the document name.
Custom home
- Building permit application signed by the general contractor, listing licensed subcontractors
- School district fair contribution receipt
- Stamped soils report from a Colorado engineering firm
- Site-specific grading plan and a plot plan showing setbacks, easements and rights-of-way
- Land Survey Plat
- Architectural plans with the Planning Division’s approval memo
- Engineer-stamped foundation and structural plans
- HVAC Manuals J, D and S and an energy code compliance document
- Mountain View Fire approved plans and permit, where they apply
- County health department septic permit if the lot is not on Town sewer
Commercial or multifamily
- Building permit application and a description of the business operations
- Approved site plan (required before the building permit application)
- Land Survey Plat and site plan sheets
- Soils report, engineered foundation plan and framing plans
- Stamped electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans
- Energy code documents, including COMcheck
- Mountain View Fire permit
- Stormwater and erosion control permits when the site is over 1 acre
- FAA form 7460-1 inside the Erie Air Park Influence Area
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Survey rule. For submittals from September 3, 2025, new residential and commercial buildings need a Land Survey Plat. Additions, garages, hangars and any accessory structure placed less than 3 ft from a required setback (sheds, decks, pergolas, ground-mount solar, pools and non-wall signs among them) need an Improvement Survey Plat.
| Permit type | Timing |
|---|---|
| Quick permits: furnace, A/C, water heater, minor trade work, re-roof, gas line, hot tub | 1 to 2 business days |
| Demolition, solar, temporary permits, new taps, construction trailers | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Basic residential plan review: decks, pergolas, patio covers, remodels, new windows or doors | 3 to 4 weeks |
| New homes, additions, multi-family, stock plans | 4 to 6 weeks for first review comments |
| Commercial permits | 4 to 6 weeks for first review comments |
How to apply: 7 steps in Erie
Contact the Planning Division before you design. Custom homes start with a pre-application meeting and architectural review, and commercial projects need site plan approval before a building permit application is accepted.
Contractors register or reclaim their contractor account; owners create a public user account.
Use the submittal list on the Town page for your project and upload every document, including the Homeowner Affidavit or survey plat where required.
On commercial and multifamily jobs, staff send payment instructions after the permit number is assigned, and review does not begin until the fee is paid.
Reviewers send comments directly to the applicant; resubmit corrected plans in the portal.
Once plans are accepted the Building Division sends the permit fees. After payment, the approved plans and permit card are released in eTRAKiT for you to print.
Schedule inspections in sequence in the portal and upload closeout documents; a Certificate of Occupancy is processed within 48 hours of a complete submittal.
Erie inspections
Inspections are scheduled only in eTRAKiT, up to 7 days ahead. The number of inspections per day is limited, so the next day is not always open, and the first date the portal shows is the next one available. To schedule, a contractor account must be a contact on the permit with a current licence and certificate of insurance on file; a public account must be linked to the permit.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- For a time window, call 303-926-2780 between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. and choose option 2.
- Cancel in the portal before 6 a.m. on the day; after that, cancel by phone in the same 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. window.
- Results are usually posted by 5 p.m. the same day.
- Inspections must be requested in sequence. An inspection marked Unavailable has a prerequisite that has not passed.
- If nobody will be on site, post the permit card and leave a note on the front door allowing entry, or the inspection fails.
Re-roof finals are flown by drone, so no ladder is needed, and the Town does not require a mid-roof inspection. On a new home, a surveyor-stamped setback or separation verification is due before rough inspections when the structure is designed within 1 ft of a setback, and it must be done after the foundation forms are set and before concrete is placed. Stamped engineer observation letters and third-party reports for insulation, underground radon and energy code compliance are uploaded to the permit and accepted before finals. Final Planning inspections and Mountain View Fire sprinkler inspections are booked with those offices directly.
Local Erie details that matter
Code change in April 2026: Ordinance No. 12-2026 brought in the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code with local amendments and the 2026 National Electrical Code for applications received on or after April 24, 2026. The other I-Codes remain the 2021 editions. Approved stock plans do not have to be revised unless the builder changes the energy compliance path.
Roofing: the Town asks for a manufacturer’s sustained wind warranty of at least 110 mph, does not allow 3-tab shingles on habitable structures, and requires existing roof coverings to be removed before new ones go on. A home with solar panels also needs a Re-Attach Solar Permit, filed by a solar company or licensed electrical contractor.
Septic: where a lot is not served by Town sewer, the onsite wastewater permit comes from the county health department, Boulder County Public Health or the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment depending on the county.
Commercial occupancy: a temporary or final Certificate of Occupancy needs passed finals from Building, Mountain View Fire, Planning, Public Works and stormwater staff, the county health department where it applies, and a Town of Erie business licence.
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
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Official Erie permitting resources
- Town of Erie Building Division
- Erie: Apply for Building Permits (forms, Rapid Review, review times)
- Erie: Does my project require a permit?
- Erie Fee Schedules
- Erie Resolution No. 26-104, Town Fee Schedule (May 26, 2026)
- Erie 2026 project valuation memo
- Erie Building Inspections
- Erie Building Codes & Design Criteria
- Erie Contractor Licensing
- Erie eTRAKiT Self-Service Portal instructions
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations
Erie building permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Erie, Colorado?
The Town of Erie Building Division, 645 Holbrook St., issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for addresses inside town limits. Call 303-926-2780.
How much is a building permit in Erie?
It depends on valuation. A job valued at $11,751 pays a $209.25 permit fee plus a 65% plan check fee of $136.01. A site-specific new single-family home pays a $75 plan check fee under the 2026 valuation memo. Re-roof and fence permits are capped at $47, and residential solar is a flat $164.50. Use tax is charged on top.
Do I need a permit for a fence, shed or roof in Erie?
Fences need a permit; repairing 3 sections or fewer does not. A detached shed of 200 sq ft or less needs no building permit but must still meet setbacks. Roofing of more than 1 square needs a permit.
How long does plan review take in Erie?
The Town estimates 1 to 2 business days for quick permits, 3 to 4 weeks for decks, pergolas and remodels, and 4 to 6 weeks for first comments on new homes and commercial projects.
Can a homeowner pull a permit in Erie?
Yes, for a primary residence that you own and occupy, with the Homeowner Affidavit. Accessory dwelling unit permits are excluded, and any subcontractor must be licensed by the Town.
How do I schedule an inspection in Erie?
In the eTRAKiT Self-Service Portal, up to 7 days in advance. Call 303-926-2780, option 2, between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. to ask about a time window.
Does Erie require a survey for a deck or shed?
Only when the structure sits less than 3 ft from a required setback; then an Improvement Survey Plat is part of the submittal.
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More Colorado permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Erie permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.