All Cities / Colorado / Denver
How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Denver?
✓ Fee schedule checked against city sources
Fee math from Community Planning and Development (CPD), not a national average
Data last verified: September 28, 2026
Denver prices every permit, building or trade, on one valuation table (ADMIN 138 Table 1). Quick permits for replacement work carry no plan review, express reviews and all demolition add 20% with a $100 minimum, and other reviewed projects add 50%. Most kitchen and bath remodels go through the Interior Remodel Quick Permit.
Permit Cost by Project
Kitchen Remodel$257.00
Building Permit ($25K project)$219.00
Demolition$199.00
Bathroom Remodel$185.00
Deck / Patio$183.00
Roof Replacement$115.00
Building Permit ($12K project)$115.00
Siding Replacement$99.00
HVAC Replacement$83.00
Building Permit ($8K project)$83.00
HVAC / Mechanical Permit$83.00
Solar Panel Installation$50.00
Solar Photovoltaic$50.00
Electrical Panel$43.00
Electrical Permit$43.00
Plumbing Permit$43.00
Water Heater$35.00
EV Charger Installation$35.00
Do You Need a Permit?
No: Paint, cosmetic updates, fixture swaps
Yes: Bathroom remodel ($185.00)
Yes: Kitchen remodel ($257.00)
Yes: Roof replacement ($115.00)
Yes: HVAC replacement ($83.00)
Yes: Water heater ($35.00)
Yes: Deck / patio ($183.00)
Exempt: Window replacement (same size)
Yes: Electrical panel ($43.00)
Yes: Solar panels ($50.00)
Verified Permit Cost by Project Type
Kitchen Remodel
$257.00
Building, Electrical, Plumbing
Building Permit ($25K project)
$219.00
Building
Demolition
$199.00
Demolition
Bathroom Remodel
$185.00
Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical
Deck / Patio
$183.00
Building
Roof Replacement
$115.00
Building
Building Permit ($12K project)
$115.00
Building
Siding Replacement
$99.00
Building
Compare these permit costs across U.S. cities
Two Types of Permits
Denver issues building permits for structural work and separate trade permits for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and roofing. Most remodels need both kinds. See the full breakdown of which projects need a permit and which are exempt.
Denver Permit Cost Calculator
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Estimated permit fee
$115.00
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✓ Verified local fee schedule
✓ Quick permit (roof covering replacement): ADMIN 138 (rev. May 21, 2024) Table 1, $35.00 + 10 started $1,000s x $8.00 = $115.00; "there are no plan review fees associated with quick permits".
Local sourceBuilt from Community Planning and Development (CPD) fee data, not a national average.
Formula-backedValuation-based projects recalculate from the local fee formula.
Bookmark friendlyThe tool lives on this city page so citations and saved links stay stable.
Denver charges building permits on one valuation table: $35 up to $2,000, then $8 for each $1,000 or fraction above that, so an $8,000 project is $83 and a $25,000 one $219. Replacement work such as a re-roof, water heater or furnace is a quick permit with no plan review. New construction and remodels over $2,000 add a plan review fee.
Denver Permit Fees Explained
Denver prices every permit, building or trade, on ADMIN 138 Table 1: $20 up to $500, $35 up to $2,000, then $35 plus $8 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof up to $25,000, and $220 plus $8 per $1,000 from $25,000 to $50,000. Each trade permit is valued on the work for that trade.
Plan review depends on the kind of project. Quick permits, for "small projects that replace existing systems" such as roof coverings and water heaters, carry no plan review. Express reviews over $2,000 and all demolition projects pay 20 percent of the permit fee with a $100 minimum. Other reviewed projects pay 50 percent.
That makes replacement work straightforward: a $12,000 re-roof is $115, a $25,000 re-roof $219, $10,000 of siding $99, an $8,000 air conditioner $83, and a $1,650 water heater $35. A $2,400 interior demolition is $43 plus the $100 express review minimum, $143.
Decks go through express review: every paid deck permit we read from July to September 2026 was charged the Table 1 fee plus the $100 express minimum, so a $7,100 deck is $83 + $100 = $183. Rooftop solar takes one electrical permit at the $50 flat fee. Kitchen and bath remodels mostly go through the Interior Remodel Quick Permit, which carries no plan review: 139 of 185 remodel filings from July to September 2026 took that route. A $25,000 kitchen, with plumbing and electrical quick permits on their shares, comes to $257, and a $15,000 bathroom to $185.
Chuck's Take
"I see bids come in all the time without permits figured in. Denver's numbers aren't crazy but they aren't zero, and on a remodel the plan review fee rides on top. Tell your customers up front. Nobody likes the surprise invoice at the end."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
What Needs a Permit in Denver?
Most work on a Denver house needs a permit, including roof replacement, decks, remodels, siding, water heaters, HVAC swaps and panel upgrades. The 2025 Denver Building Code (Sec. 130.3) exempts repairs that do not cut structural members or change egress, and a list of specific items.
The list includes fences of any type up to 4 feet and posthole-dug fences up to 8 feet; one-story sheds up to 200 square feet; uncovered decks up to 200 square feet with walking surfaces no more than 30 inches above grade; painting, flooring, cabinets and countertops; drywall repair up to 32 square feet; and replacing windows and doors with no structural change and no change in opening size in a one- or two-family home.
Like-for-like plumbing fixture swaps such as sinks, disposals and toilets need no plumbing permit in a one- or two-family home (130.3.3). Better to ask up front than fight code enforcement down the road.
Penalties for Unpermitted Work in Denver
Under Sec. 138.2 of the 2025 Denver Building Code, work started without a permit pays late fees of double the standard permit fee, with a $100 minimum. Sec. 138.3 adds an investigation fee equal to the late fee. On a $219 permit that is $438 in late fees plus a $438 investigation fee.
Paying does not excuse the work from code compliance, and the city can still stop the job. Emergency repairs are exempt from the late fee if you apply within 3 working days.
How Long Is a Building Permit Good For in Denver?
Under Sec. 131.7 of the 2025 Denver Building Code, the city may void a construction permit if work does not start within 60 days of issuance, stops for 60 days after starting, or goes 60 days with no inspection request.
Demolition permits are tighter: 30 days to begin and no more than 10 days stopped. A suspended permit can be re-established within one year under Sec. 131.8, for a fee, if the problems are fixed and the same code edition is in force.
Who Can Pull a Permit in Denver?
Licensed Denver contractors pull most permits. A homeowner can get a permit for a one-family dwelling and its accessory structures under Sec. 131.4, but must own and occupy the home (or agree to for 12 months after the work), obtain the permit, pass the homeowner exams, and do the work, with a designated worker's help if needed. A homeowner permit at a second address requires a 5-year wait. ADMIN 138 excludes accessory dwelling units.
Never let a contractor talk you into pulling the permit yourself. The person whose name sits on the permit owns the legal responsibility.
Chuck's Take
"If a contractor asks you to pull the permit, walk away. I don't care what story they tell. The guy who pulls it owns the work. Denver makes that crystal clear. Hire someone willing to put their license on the line."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
Denver's Uniform Trade Permit Formula
Denver does something most cities won't. It applies the same valuation table to building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. No separate trade schedules and no per-fixture math.
The variable is plan review. Replacement work pays none, demolition pays at least $100, and new or remodeled construction over $2,000 pays 20 or 50 percent depending on how the city classifies the review.
The numbers on this page come from ADMIN 138, revised May 21, 2024, which is still the city's current fee policy.
Quick Reference · Denver Permit Requirements
| Homeowner Task | Permit? | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Paint interior / exterior | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace flooring | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace kitchen cabinets (same layout) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Swap a light fixture (same location) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace a water heater | YES | $35.00 Plumbing |
| Upgrade an electrical panel | YES | $43.00 Electrical |
| Remodel a bathroom | YES | $185.00 Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical |
| Remodel a kitchen | YES | $257.00 Building, Electrical, Plumbing |
| Replace / repair roof | YES | $115.00 Building |
| Build a deck or patio | YES | $183.00 Building |
| Build a fence (≤6 ft) | NO | Typically exempt |
| Install solar panels | YES | $50.00 Building, Electrical |
| Replace HVAC system | YES | $83.00 Mechanical |
| Replace windows (same size, same opening) | NO | Exempt |
∗ Costs are verified for Denver, CO from published fee schedule. Always confirm with your local building department.
Internal Comparison · separate trade permits
Compare Denver Permit Fees With Related Cities
Use these source-linked city pages to compare Denver against other Colorado markets and cities with similar permit fee structures.
Baltimore, MDAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $182.00 · -$3.00 vs Denver
Memphis, TNAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $207.50 · +$22.50 vs Denver
St. Louis County, MOAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $208.00 · +$23.00 vs Denver
Chicago, ILCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $325.00 · +$140.00 vs Denver
Fort Worth, TXCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $525.95 · +$340.95 vs Denver
Dallas, TXCross-market benchmark
Permit Guides
Permit Cost and Process Guides
Pricing a specific project in Denver? These guides cover what each permit runs and how the approval process actually works.
Building permit cost, every verified city ranked
How much does a building permit cost?
How long does a permit take to get?
When is a permit not required?
Deck permit cost
Roof replacement permit cost
HVAC permit cost
Kitchen remodel permit cost
Solar panel permit cost
EV charger permit cost
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?
Do I need a permit for an electrical panel upgrade?
How to speed up a building permit
Getting an electrical permit online
What happens if you build without a permit
Before You Build
Before you build, check deck and patio costs in Denver at TheFatBook, the cost index behind these permit numbers.
Frequently Asked · Denver
How much does a building permit cost in Denver?
Denver's Table 1 permit fee is $115 for a $12,000 project and $219 at $25,000. Replacement work like a re-roof pays no plan review. New construction and remodels over $2,000 add a plan review fee of 20 or 50 percent, which the city decides by project type.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Denver?
Yes. A water heater replacement is a quick permit priced on Table 1: $35 for a typical $1,650 job, with no plan review. Don't skip it.
How much is a plumbing permit in Denver?
Plumbing permits use the same Table 1 as every other trade, valued on the plumbing work alone: $35 up to $2,000, then $8 per additional $1,000. Like-for-like sink, disposal and toilet swaps in a one- or two-family home need no plumbing permit.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Denver?
Usually. An uncovered deck up to 200 square feet with its walking surface no more than 30 inches above grade is exempt. Otherwise a $7,100 deck pays the $83 Table 1 fee plus the $100 express review minimum, $183, which is what the city charged on every paid deck permit we read from July to September 2026.
Why does Denver use the same formula for every trade permit?
Denver applies one valuation table across building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits. That makes the permit fee predictable; the plan review fee on top depends on whether the job is a quick, express or full review.
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