Building permits inside Wellington come from the Town’s Building Department at 8225 Third Street (970-821-5078). Applications and plans must be filed online in Community Core, and SAFEbuilt, the department’s partner, carries out plan review and inspections. The 2026 fee schedule charges $75 plus $14 per $1,000 of valuation up to $25,000, with a 30% plan review fee on houses and a 10% Town administrative fee, and the Town allows 5 days for first comments on a residential plan.
What needs a permit in Wellington?
The Town sorts residential work into three groups: permits that go through plan review, One Stop permits that do not, and zoning permits reviewed by the Planning Department.
Building permit
- New buildings, additions, demolitions and remodels
- Basement finishes; new, replaced or removed walls; doors and windows
- Decks, patio covers, pergolas, patio enclosures and screened porches
- Garages and carports, attached or detached
- Sheds over 120 sq ft, pole barns and other accessory structures
- Residential and commercial re-roofing; siding, stucco and brick
- Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, boilers and gas fireplaces
- Gas piping, generators and fire pits
- Electrical work, plumbing changes and solar panels
- Retaining walls 4 ft or higher, measured from the bottom of the footing
- Lawn sprinkler backflow protection; pools, hot tubs and spas
Zoning permit
- Sheds and greenhouses of 120 sq ft or less that are no more than 10 ft high
- Fences not over 6 ft high
- Signs and other structures that need no building permit
Every shed needs one permit or the other, whatever its size. Flatwork needs a permit only when it is part of the exit route, such as steps, landings and ramps, and painting a metal roof needs none.
Who issues building permits in Wellington?
The Town of Wellington Building Department, in the Municipal Services Building across from Centennial Park. SAFEbuilt’s Windsor office is its building partner: SAFEbuilt conducts plan review, issues permits through the online system and performs all inspections. Kelly Dykstra is the Building Official.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 8225 Third Street, Wellington, CO 80549 (mail: P.O. Box 127, Attn: Building Department) |
| Building Department | 970-821-5078 |
| Building@wellingtoncolorado.gov | |
| Hours | Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to noon |
| Planning Department | 970-821-5014 |
| SAFEbuilt inspection line | 970-674-1036 or 866-671-1036 |
| SAFEbuilt Windsor office | 970-686-7511 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →The Town’s permits cover property inside the Wellington town limits; unincorporated land around it is permitted by Larimer County.
Community Core, permit categories and contractor licences
Applications and plans cannot be mailed or handed in: they must be completed in Community Core, also called Community Connect. Residents register free as a community member. Contractors and subcontractors get access only once they hold a current Town contractor licence.
- Permits with plan review: residential additions and alterations, accessory structures, basement finishes, decks, pergolas and patio covers, pole barns, sheds, pools and hot tubs, and gas line, generator, fire pit and fireplace work.
- One Stop permits, no plan review: residential re-roofs; air conditioner, furnace and water heater replacements; siding; windows; electrical-only and electrical service permits; lawn sprinklers; retaining walls; and miscellaneous electrical, mechanical and plumbing work.
- Zoning permits: filed the same way in Community Core, then reviewed by the Planning Department before processing.
- Commercial: separate submittal procedures and checklists for new commercial buildings, tenant finishes and remodels, and restaurants and kitchens.
The contractor licence costs $50 for the calendar year and expires on December 31. Applicants supply a liability certificate naming the Town as certificate holder, with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate; electrical and plumbing contractors add copies of their state master and contractor licences. The Town processes complete licence applications in 5 to 10 business days. Right-of-way and hydrant meter permits moved to the Public Works Department on December 16, 2025.
Wellington building permit fees
Fees come from the Town of Wellington Fee Schedule effective August 14, 2026, adopted by Resolution 38-2025. The Building Official sets the valuation, which the department works out from the floor area or scope of work and the ICC Building Valuation Data.
| Valuation of work | Building fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $1,000 | $75 |
| $1,001 to $25,000 | $75 plus $14 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $391.25 plus $10.10 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $643.75 plus $7 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $993.75 plus $5.60 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,000 to $1,000,000 | $3,233.75 plus $4.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,000 or more | $5,608.75 plus $3.15 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Permit issuance | $25 |
| Plan review, single-unit, two-unit and townhome | 30% of the building fee, added to it |
| Plan review, commercial and multi-unit | 65% of the building fee, added to it |
| Town administrative fee | 10% of the building fee |
| Furnace or AC, water heater, lawn sprinkler, re-roof, siding or window replacement | $75 each |
| Demolition | $50 |
| Water or sewer service line inspection | $50 each |
| Zoning permit | $30 |
| Re-inspection or consultation | $75 |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy | $150 |
| Investigation fee, or reactivating an expired permit | 50% of the building permit fee |
| Inspection outside business hours | $100 per hour, 1 hour minimum |
| Contractor licence | $50 per calendar year |
For a basement finish valued at $20,000 the building fee is $75 plus 19 × $14, which is $341. Plan review adds $102.30, the administrative fee $34.10 and permit issuance $25, for $502.40. Use tax is collected with the permit at 3% of half the valuation, here $300, and any electrical fee is separate.
A new home also pays impact fees per dwelling unit: $1,000 park, $1,700 road, $250 library, $450 trail, $840 storm drainage and $1,480 fire, $5,720 in all. For a 3/4 in. single-unit tap the water capital investment fee is $7,340, or $16,312 where potable water also serves irrigation, the wastewater fee is $13,363, and raw water of 0.25 or 0.50 acre-feet must be supplied or paid for at $124,100 per acre-foot.
Fees are invoiced by email and paid online or by check at the Municipal Services Building. Showing the permit payment receipt to a materials supplier avoids paying Town sales tax a second time.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits in Wellington
Wellington permits and inspects the trades itself through SAFEbuilt, so electrical and plumbing permits are Town permits filed in Community Core, not state permits. Electrical-only and electrical service jobs are One Stop permits, and the 2026 fee schedule takes the electrical fee from the state electrical fee schedule.
Section 18-6-10 of the Town code makes the electrical code the 2020 National Electrical Code or the succeeding edition currently adopted by the State Electrical Board, and the Board’s edition has been the 2026 NEC since August 1, 2026. The Building page still carries a 2023 NEC entry in its code list, next to a notice telling applicants to look for the 2026 edition. Plumbing, mechanical and gas work falls under the 2024 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes with local amendments. Gas line, generator, fire pit and fireplace applications include SAFEbuilt’s gas line inspection form and a one-line drawing.
Wellington Fire Protection District runs its own plan review and permits for fire protection work, on a Fire Protection District Permit Application, and the fire district’s fees are paid to the district.
What to upload and how long review takes
The Town’s advice is to read the SAFEbuilt Building Guide for the project type and the matching Wellington Project Checklist before applying. Building Guides are posted for additions, accessory structures, basement finishes, decks, patio covers and carports, pole barns, pools and re-roofs.
Shed (example checklist)
- Site or plot plan following the Town’s example
- Pre-manufactured shed specifications showing compliance with local design criteria
- The required pages of the SAFEbuilt Accessory Structure Building Guide
- HOA approval where the neighborhood has an association
- Permit type Shed Zoning Permit, or Pole Barn & Shed for anything over 120 sq ft
Commercial
- The submittal checklist for a new commercial building, a tenant finish or remodel, or a restaurant or kitchen
- The Town’s Standard Design Criteria and Standard Construction Requirements
- Landscape and irrigation plans to the Wellington Landscape and Irrigation Manual
- Wellington Fire Protection District submittal
Structural modifications need an engineer’s letter, and whether stamped plans are required depends on the project type.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →A permit technician first checks the application for completeness. Once accepted it is in plan review, and the Town says to allow 5 days for first comments or approval on a residential project and 10 days on a commercial one. SAFEbuilt emails any request for revisions.
How to apply: 7 steps in Wellington
Residents register free; contractors first obtain the $50 Town licence.
Plan review, One Stop or zoning permit, using the Town’s permit naming guide.
Complete the online application and attach the Building Guide pages and checklist items.
A permit technician asks for corrections or extra files if anything is missing.
SAFEbuilt reviews and emails comments; send revisions back to its plan review address.
The invoice is emailed once the permit is approved for issuance. Pay online or by check at 8225 Third Street.
Log back in to print the approved plans, inspection card and permit, then schedule inspections.
Wellington inspections
Inspections are booked on SAFEbuilt’s inspection line, 970-674-1036 or 866-671-1036, or online in Community Core. Have the permit number or address, a site contact phone number, the date and the inspection type ready.
- A request received before 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday, is scheduled for the next business day.
- A request on Friday before 4 p.m. is scheduled for the following Monday, and weekend requests for the following Tuesday.
- Homeowners can ask for a morning (8 a.m. to noon) or afternoon (noon to 4 p.m.) window, which is not guaranteed.
- Commercial inspections are scheduled for the day requested; call SAFEbuilt on 970-686-7511 that day for the inspector’s contact details.
- All residential rough inspections are scheduled for the same day, and so are all residential finals.
- The owner or contractor must supply and set ladders for roof inspections.
- To cancel, email Windsor@safebuilt.com or call 970-686-7511 first thing in the morning.
In snow or rain SAFEbuilt contacts the applicant on the day to reschedule, and roof inspections may be done later in the afternoon once roofs are clear. A repeat visit is charged the $75 re-inspection fee, and a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy costs $150.
Local Wellington details that matter
2024 codes: the Town Board adopted the 2024 International Codes on November 12, 2025 by Ordinance 15-2025. They have applied to every submittal received since January 1, 2026, with a 6-month education period for local contractors and homeowners, and Ordinance 11-2026 followed on September 8, 2026. The Town also applies the Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code and the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Exemptions in the code: the Town’s amendments exempt one-story detached sheds up to 120 sq ft and 10 ft high, fences up to 6 ft and shingle repairs of up to 100 sq ft from a building permit. The first two still need the $30 zoning permit, and a swimming pool barrier always needs a permit.
Permit life: a permit expires if work does not start within 180 days or is suspended for 180 days. Reactivating one costs 50% of the building permit fee.
Right-of-way work: a Right-of-Way Construction Permit costs $100 with a $1,000 deposit, and contractors attach their Wellington contractor licence to the Public Works application.
Homeowners: an owner taking out a permit for their own dwelling needs no contractor licence, but any contractor they hire must be licensed with the Town.
HOAs and locates: the Town’s checklists tell applicants to check HOA rules first and to call 811 before digging.
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 Wellington permitting resources
- Wellington Building Department
- Wellington homeowner permit resources
- Wellington contractor permit resources
- Wellington Community Core / Connect
- Town of Wellington Fee Schedule (effective August 14, 2026)
- Wellington contractor licence
- Wellington scheduling inspections
- Wellington handout: Do I Need a Permit
- Wellington handout: Permitting Process
- Wellington permit Frequently Asked Questions
- Wellington Building and Planning contacts
- Wellington Municipal Code, Chapter 18 (Municode)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Wellington building permit FAQs
How much is a building permit in Wellington, Colorado?
The building fee is $75 for work valued up to $1,000, then $75 plus $14 per additional $1,000 up to $25,000, with lower increments above that. Add $25 for issuance, 30% plan review on a house, a 10% administrative fee and 3% use tax on half the valuation. A $20,000 basement finish comes to $502.40 plus $300 use tax.
Can I mail or drop off a permit application?
No. The application and plans must be completed online in Community Core. Payment can be mailed or delivered by check.
How long does plan review take in Wellington?
The Town says to allow 5 days for first comments or approval on residential projects and 10 days on commercial projects.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence?
Yes. A shed of 120 sq ft or less and no more than 10 ft high, or a fence up to 6 ft, takes a $30 zoning permit. A bigger shed takes a building permit.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof or water heater?
Yes. Both are One Stop permits with no plan review, at $75 each.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call SAFEbuilt on 970-674-1036 or 866-671-1036, or book in Community Core. Requests before 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday are scheduled for the next business day.
Does a homeowner need a contractor licence?
No, not for a permit on their own dwelling. Contractors and subcontractors need the Town’s $50 annual licence.
Simplify Wellington permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Colorado. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Wellington sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Wellington permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Colorado permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Wellington permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.