The La Plata County Building Department, 211 Rock Point Drive, Durango (970-382-6250), issues building permits for unincorporated La Plata County, and applications are filed in the county’s CityView Permit Portal. Residential fees are charged per square foot rather than by valuation: $2.36 for new construction and $1.21 for remodels, with plan review included. The county says permitting takes 4 to 6 weeks on average. Electrical permits come from the State, and septic permits from La Plata County Public Health.
What requires a permit in La Plata County?
The county requires a building permit for all new structures, additions, remodels and the placement of manufactured or modular homes on unincorporated land. Under its Building Code, as amended by Resolution 2026-14, the permit also covers installing or replacing gas, mechanical and plumbing systems. The code replaces the model list of exempt work with a county list.
County permits
- Building permit for homes, commercial buildings, additions and remodels
- Manufactured, modular and mobile home placement, and tiny homes on wheels
- Garages, carports, decks, porches and other accessory structures above the exempt sizes
- Stand-alone plumbing or mechanical permit
- Demolition permit, also needed to take a structure off the tax records
- Agricultural exempt building permit, with an affidavit
- Floodplain Development Permit in mapped flood hazard zones
Exempt work
- One-story detached tool sheds, well houses and similar buildings up to 200 sq ft and 12 ft to the roof peak, with eaves of 16 inches or less; no more than 4 per parcel
- Fences not over 8 ft high
- Open platforms, walks and decks not over 30 inches above finished grade at any point, with no roof
- Residential swimming pools not inside a structure
- Window replacements with no structural change, if the new windows meet the energy code
- Animal loafing sheds up to 200 sq ft, open on at least one side
- Unmodified shipping containers under 200 sq ft used only for storage
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and counter tops
A building used solely to shelter farm implements, products, livestock or poultry is exempt from the code, but the owner still files for an agricultural exempt building permit ($158 per building) with an affidavit, and the building may not store household goods, personal vehicles or recreational vehicles. A building permit does not replace separate permits for grading, temporary uses, floodplain development or land use.
Who issues building permits in La Plata County?
The Building Department is part of Community Development, with Planning and Code Enforcement. Building codes have been enforced in the county since 1973. Its jurisdiction is every part of La Plata County except the three municipalities, the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, and State and Federal lands.
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Get a free quote →| Place | Who issues building permits | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated La Plata County | County Building Department, through the CityView Permit Portal | 211 Rock Point Drive, Durango; 970-382-6250 |
| City of Durango | City Building Division, through the City’s OpenGov portal. Since July 1, 2026 the City has also permitted and inspected plumbing and gas work | 970-375-4850; Building@DurangoCo.Gov |
| Town of Bayfield | Town Building Division, which takes applications by email and uses contract inspectors. The Town adopted the 2024 International Codes by Ordinance 519 on August 10, 2026 | 970-884-9544 |
| Town of Ignacio | The Town. The building permit application is obtained directly from Town Hall and must be approved before any structure is built | 540 Goddard Ave; 970-563-9494 |
| Southern Ute Indian Reservation | Outside the county Building Department’s jurisdiction | Not a county permit area |
Electrical permits are a State matter in the unincorporated county, in Durango and in Bayfield, each by its own published statement. La Plata County is not on the State’s list of local electrical inspection areas, and Ignacio’s published pages name no electrical permit of its own.
County applications and the CityView portal
Applications are made in the CityView Permit Portal, with every document uploaded as a PDF. Plans must be at least 18 by 24 inches; the plans examiner may accept 11 by 17 for decks, sheds and other small accessory structures. Files should be unlocked and editable so the examiner can mark them up. After signing in, “My Permit Applications” shows the status and who is reviewing.
- An address comes first. A lot needs an assigned address before a permit can be applied for; the GIS Department assigns it.
- Driveway permit. Required from the county Engineering Department (970-382-6363) for any driveway over 125 ft or any driveway that joins a county road. Engineering asks for 7 working days to process it.
- Proof of water and sewage disposal. A State well permit or water district tap, and a Public Health septic permit or sewer district tap.
- Legal lot. The code bars a building permit on a parcel created or developed in a way that does not comply with the county Land Use Code.
- Expedited review for affordable housing. A project where at least 50% of the dwelling units are affordable housing can ask for fast-track review, with a final decision within 90 calendar days of a complete application.
An application that sits for 180 days without a permit being issued is treated as abandoned, with one 180-day extension available on written request.
Permit costs and fees in La Plata County
Fees are in Appendix A of the La Plata County Code. The Building section took effect January 1, 2024 and rises automatically by 5% every even-numbered year, starting January 1, 2026; the figures below are the ones now published. For homes they are fees per square foot of every floor, measured on exterior dimensions, not valuations. Plan review by the Building Department is included in the permit fee.
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Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New construction, single-family residence | $2.36 per sq ft |
| Remodel or renovation | $1.21 per sq ft |
| Garage, storage building, carport, pole structure, porch or deck | $0.79 per sq ft |
| Agriculture exempt structure | $158 per building |
| HUD mobile home or tiny home on wheels | $315 |
| Modular or mobile home on a permanent foundation | $525 per living unit, plus $1.21 per sq ft of basement and $0.79 per sq ft of attached garage |
| Plumbing, home with one bath (kitchen sink, dishwasher, washer box, water heater and gas lines included) | $210 |
| Each additional bath / each additional kitchen or bar sink | $79 / $26 |
| Mechanical, first or primary appliance | $0.16 per sq ft of the residence |
| Each additional furnace, boiler or fireplace / unit heater or air exchanger | $79 / $63 |
| Minimum building permit fee | $263 |
A new 2,000 sq ft house with 2 baths and one furnace therefore pays $4,720 for the building, $289 for plumbing and $320 for mechanical: $5,329, before any garage, the road impact fee and the fire district’s impact fee. The plans examiner may instead price a job from actual construction costs using the code’s valuation table.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial structures built under the IBC | 0.75% of the construction valuation from the current ICC Building Valuation Data |
| Multi-family and other residential occupancies (R-1 to R-4) | $2.36 per sq ft new; $1.21 per sq ft remodel |
| Commercial mechanical | $0.16 per sq ft of the building |
| Stand-alone plumbing or mechanical permit | $79 base fee, plus $26 to $79 per fixture or appliance |
| Floodplain Development Permit | $79 per single-family unit; $368 commercial, multi-family or subdivision |
| Re-inspection after a failed inspection | $79, paid in advance |
| Inspection outside normal business hours | $158 |
| Extra plan review for changes to approved plans | $79 |
| Permit renewal | $158, plus $79 per additional inspection, or up to 25% of the original fee |
| Work started without a permit | Investigation fee at least equal to the permit fee, added to it |
Fees are non-refundable once paid, apart from a partial refund the code allows within 18 months when circumstances stop construction from starting. Fees with a fraction of a dollar are rounded up to the next dollar.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and septic permits
Electrical. Electrical permits and inspections are handled by the Colorado State Electrical Board, not the county. The county’s packet gives the State electrical inspector’s line for La Plata County as 303-869-3456. A homeowner may wire their own primary residence; anyone else doing the work must be a Colorado licensed electrical contractor and must pull the permit.
Plumbing and mechanical. These stay with the county. Plumbing and mechanical fees are added to the building permit, county inspectors check plumbing, mechanical and energy compliance along with the structure, and the county has a written procedure for checking plumbers’ State licences on site.
Septic. La Plata County Public Health is the regulatory authority for onsite wastewater systems, under county regulations that took effect March 2, 2026. A permit is required to construct, alter or repair a system, and the installer must hold a current Public Health installer licence and have the signed permit before breaking ground. Applications are emailed to eh@lpcgov.org or dropped at 281 Sawyer Drive, Durango (970-247-5702), Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Systems for commercial or multi-family buildings, or on poor soils, high groundwater, shallow bedrock or steep slopes, must be designed by a professional engineer. The Building Department holds back the final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy until Public Health has approved the installed system.
Application documents and plan review
New single-family home
- Complete construction plans: foundation, elevations, cross sections and framing details with member sizes and spacing
- Site plan showing every structure and its distance to the property lines
- Proof of water supply: State well permit or water district tap
- Proof of sewage disposal: Public Health septic permit or sewer district tap
- Driveway permit from county Engineering
- Engineered foundation plan where the county GIS shows highly expansive soils
- Pre- and post-construction Elevation Certificates in a floodplain hazard area
- Survey or soils reports in a geologic hazard area
Garages, decks and accessory structures
- Construction plans with the same foundation, elevation, section and framing content
- Site plan with distances to property lines
- Stamped engineered plans, including an engineered foundation, for any metal building
- Truss drawings sealed by a Colorado licensed structural engineer, where trusses are used
- Before-and-after floor plans and elevations for remodels and additions
Rather not deal with the La Plata County building department?
Get a free quote →The county’s FAQ puts the whole permitting process at 4 to 6 weeks on average once every document is in; its application packet, last revised in September 2024, quotes 4 to 8 weeks depending on the season. Plans are reviewed first come, first served. On payment the County’s documents differ: the building code as amended on June 23, 2026 (Sec. 109.2) says all applicable fees are submitted with each application and are non-refundable, while the 2024 application packet, written before that change, says no fees are collected during review and that they are collected before the permit is issued. The 2026 code is the adopted text. The approved, stamped plans are posted to your portal account for you to print and keep on site.
How to apply in La Plata County: 6 steps
Land inside Durango, Bayfield or Ignacio, or on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, is not permitted by the county.
Ask GIS for an address, then use the county GIS map’s Hazards layer to find the roof snow load and whether the soil is highly expansive.
Obtain the well permit or tap, the Public Health septic permit and the Engineering driveway permit.
Upload unlocked PDFs of the plans, site plan and supporting permits.
The 2026 code calls for the applicable fees with the application; the older packet collects them once the permit counter phones or emails that review is complete. Under either document they are paid before the permit is issued.
Book by phone or in the portal and keep the stamped plans on site.
County inspections and permit life
Inspections are scheduled by calling the Building Department on 970-382-6250 or through the CityView portal, at least 1 business day in advance. Same-day inspections are not available, and the county warns that a next-day request can slip when inspectors’ schedules are full.
- County inspectors check footings, stem walls, nailing, framing, plumbing, mechanical and energy compliance; electrical inspections are the State’s.
- A Certificate of Occupancy is issued after a successful final inspection. For a home on a septic system it waits for Public Health’s approval, and on a central system for the district’s final tap approval.
- A failed inspection costs $79, paid before the re-inspection.
- Work must start within 12 months of the permit being issued, and must not stop for 12 months once started, or the permit lapses. The county’s FAQ says a permit stays active as long as inspections show progress each year.
- A lapsed or abandoned permit can be renewed for up to 25% of the original fee if the construction documents have not changed.
Local La Plata County details that matter
Three code changes in 2026. The Wildfire Resiliency Code was adopted on March 17, 2026 and took effect on June 17, 2026; it sets wildfire-resilient construction standards for new development in designated wildfire hazard areas. The Board adopted the 2024 International Codes, with the 2024 energy code and the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, on June 23, 2026. An updated Fire Code took effect on July 12, 2026.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Snow load and soils. The minimum roof snow load depends on the property’s elevation and is shown, with expansive soil areas, in the Hazards layer of the county GIS map. The county packet says snow loads above 70 psf may need a licensed engineer, and its Minimum Foundation Details cannot be used on expansive soils without an engineer’s stamp.
Design criteria in the county packet. Wind speed 115 mph (ultimate, 3-second gust), seismic design category B, a 32-inch frost depth, Climate Zone 5 and ice barrier underlayment required.
Floodplain. Development in a mapped flood hazard zone needs a Floodplain Development Permit and a FEMA elevation certificate under Chapter 78 of the county code.
Fire impact fees. These vary by location; the county refers applicants to their local fire protection district for the amount.
Records. The Building Department holds electronic building plans only from 2019 onward. Older permit records are requested through a Parcel Research request, which costs $53 for a residential parcel.
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 La Plata County resources
- La Plata County Building Department
- La Plata County CityView Permit Portal
- La Plata County building FAQs
- La Plata County Code, Appendix A: building fee schedule
- La Plata County Code, Chapter 18: Buildings and Building Regulations
- La Plata County adopted building codes
- La Plata County Building Permit Application Packet
- Contact the La Plata County Building Department
- La Plata County Public Health: septic systems
- La Plata County Engineering: driveway and transportation permits
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations: state electrical permits
- City of Durango: applying for a building permit
- Town of Bayfield Building Division
- Town of Ignacio Planning Department
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →La Plata County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in La Plata County?
The county Building Department, for unincorporated land. Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio issue their own, and the Southern Ute Indian Reservation is outside county jurisdiction.
How much is a building permit for a new house in La Plata County?
$2.36 per sq ft, plan review included, plus plumbing and mechanical fees. A 2,000 sq ft house with 2 baths and one furnace comes to $5,329 before impact fees.
Which building code does La Plata County use in 2026?
The 2024 International Codes, adopted by Resolution 2026-14 on June 23, 2026 and applied to permit applications filed from July 1, 2026, plus the Wildfire Resiliency Code in effect since June 17, 2026.
Do I need a permit for a shed, fence or deck?
Not for a one-story storage shed up to 200 sq ft and 12 ft high, a fence not over 8 ft, or an unroofed deck no more than 30 inches above finished grade.
How long does a permit take?
The county says 4 to 6 weeks on average when all required documents are submitted.
Does a building permit cover grading and floodplain work?
No. The code says a building permit does not replace separate permits for grading, floodplain development, temporary uses or land use.
Who issues electrical and septic permits?
The State Electrical Board issues electrical permits. La Plata County Public Health issues septic permits.
How do I schedule an inspection?
By phone or in the CityView portal, at least 1 business day ahead. Same-day inspections are not offered.
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More Colorado permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about La Plata County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.