Cherry Hills Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Cherry Hills Village Building Permits & Inspections: 2026 Guide

If you searched for the Cherry Hills Building Department, the office you normally need is the City of Cherry Hills Village Building Division within Community Development. It handles building permit applications, plan review coordination, construction inspections, building-code compliance, revisions and permit-related services for projects within Cherry Hills Village.

The city adopted the 2024 International Codes at the beginning of 2026. That is important because some older project handouts still contain references to earlier code editions or older fee figures. For a 2026 project, use the City’s current adopted-code page and current fee schedule when they differ from an older handout.

Cherry Hills Village is located in Arapahoe County, but the City operates its own Building Division and permitting system for property under City jurisdiction. Do not submit an application to another jurisdiction simply because the mailing address or county name looks similar. For example, a property actually located in Aurora follows a different process covered in our Aurora building permit and inspection guide.

Cherry Hills Village Building Division Contact Information

The department’s role goes beyond issuing a permit. Building staff coordinate review of construction documents and inspections, while projects can also pass through planning, zoning, engineering, Public Works, South Metro Fire Rescue or other agencies depending on the work.

Start With the Correct Permit Portal

The City’s official permit system is the best starting point for a new application. It can be used to apply, upload plans, monitor review, respond to comments, pay permit charges, submit revisions and schedule inspections.

How to Apply for a Cherry Hills Building Permit

1. Create a portal account before submitting.
   Open the official permit portal and select registration. The City manually approves new registrations. Its current instructions say approval can take up to one business day, so do not wait until the day your plans are due.
2. Log in and select the correct permit.
   Choose Apply for Permit from the portal menu, find the permit category that matches your work and select the online application option.
3. Search for the property.
   Use the Land Address search. If a full address does not return the property, the City recommends trying only the street number. Select the correct parcel before continuing.
4. Create the application and describe the work accurately.
   Enter the owner, applicant, contractor and project information requested. Your scope should clearly identify what is being built, removed, relocated or replaced.
5. Upload the required plans and supporting documents.
   The City requires uploaded files to follow its naming convention. A typical format is: submittal number – address – application/permit number – document type. Files that do not follow the requested naming format can be returned for resubmittal.
6. Complete the application.
   After all required documents are uploaded, use the portal’s final completion step rather than assuming that saving a draft submitted the permit.
7. Watch the portal and your email during review.
   The portal is the central record for status, review comments and newly uploaded documents. To respond or upload revisions, open My Dashboard, choose My Permits and update the applicable permit.

Which Projects Commonly Need a Permit?

Permit requirements depend on the exact project. Cherry Hills Village publishes separate handouts for interior remodels, exterior work, additions, accessory structures, pools, roofing, fences, solar installations and new homes.

Use the City’s building handouts and forms page before preparing drawings. It includes current access to permit checklists for interior and exterior remodels, new construction, pools, fences, roofing, solar, drainage, fire suppression and related work.

New Homes and Major Additions Need More Preparation

Large residential projects should not be treated like an ordinary remodel. The City’s published new-home and major-addition requirements call for a Pre-Application Neighborhood Input Meeting before the permit is submitted.

Depending on the project, the application package can include:

• Complete construction plans and stamped structural drawings.
• A scaled site plan based on an accurate survey.
• Existing and proposed structures, eaves, overhangs and setbacks.
• Existing and proposed grades and contours.
• Building elevations and applicable bulk-plane information.
• Floor Area Ratio calculations where applicable.
• Soils information when required by the structural design.
• Energy calculations and Manual J documentation for conditioned space.
• Exterior-lighting information.
• Tree survey/protection information when applicable.
• Construction staging information and right-of-way photos.
• Drainage or stormwater documents when project thresholds are triggered.
• Sewer approval or release documentation.
• Colorado demolition/asbestos approval where demolition is involved.
• South Metro Fire Rescue documentation where required.
• A City Public Works right-of-way permit when applicable.

The practical lesson is simple: for a substantial addition or new residence, confirm zoning, drainage, fire, utilities and site access early. Waiting until architectural plans are finished to discover a site requirement can make an expensive set of drawings harder to revise.

Planning and Zoning Review Happens With Building Review

The Cherry Hills Village Planning and Zoning Division reviews building permits for compliance with the City’s zoning ordinance. Setbacks, building height, bulk plane, Floor Area Ratio, lot coverage and the location of accessory structures can therefore matter before building-code review is complete.

For zoning information, use the official Cherry Hills Village Planning and Zoning Division.

If your project is actually outside Cherry Hills Village, do not reuse these zoning figures. Building and zoning standards change by jurisdiction. Our Adams County, Colorado building department guide, for example, covers a completely different authority and permit system.

Cherry Hills Village Permit Fees in 2026

Permit cost depends on valuation, project type, review time and additional City or county-related charges. The City’s current building-fee summary lists the following base figures.

The fee summary also lists service expansion charges of $0.90 per square foot for buildings, $0.40 per square foot for garages/swimming pools/spas and $0.10 per square foot for sport courts.

It also lists an Arapahoe County use tax of one-quarter of one percent of valuation, with stated exceptions for electrical permits, demolition permits and building permits valued at $2,000 or less.

Plan-review fees are minimum amounts based on included review hours. Additional review can result in additional hourly charges, so a project returned several times for incomplete drawings can cost more than the starting review fee.

Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC Permits

Cherry Hills Village does not issue a general City contractor license. Most contractors therefore do not need a separate Cherry Hills Village contractor registration simply to apply for a permit.

Electrical work is different. The City’s current instructions require electrical contractors to register with the Building Department and provide:

• Colorado electrical contractor license.
• State master electrician license.
• Driver’s license for the master electrician.

All electrical work requires a separate electrical permit. Electrical work involving a 400-amp service, or 320 amps continuous, or greater also requires a separate plan review.

Plumbers working in the City must hold the required Colorado state license. The City says plumbers do not need separate City registration, but the license must be available if requested by an inspector.

HVAC and plumbing work can generally be included under the main building permit when it is part of that permit’s scope. Stand-alone plumbing or HVAC work requires the appropriate permit for that work.

Contractor rules vary sharply between Colorado jurisdictions. If you are researching another Front Range project, compare the local process rather than assuming Cherry Hills rules apply. For example, see our Broomfield Building Division permit guide.

Right-of-Way and Stormwater Permits

A building permit does not automatically cover every part of a construction project.

The City specifically warns that most additions and some remodels may require a Right-of-Way Construction Access Permit. This can matter when construction vehicles, excavation, utility work, driveway access or other activity affects public right-of-way.

Public Works can be reached at 303-783-2744. The official process is available on the City’s Right-of-Way Permit page.

Stormwater review can also be triggered. The City’s building-permit guidance says a Stormwater Construction Permit may be required when work disturbs more than one acre or is within 100 feet of a floodway or floodplain. Project-specific drainage requirements can apply at smaller disturbance levels depending on the type and amount of impervious surface being added.

Fire Review for Additions and New Homes

Fire review is one of the details homeowners can easily miss.

If an existing residence has a fire-suppression system, additions to that residence must also be protected. The City requires the applicable South Metro Fire Rescue permit before the building permit is issued.

For additions to residences without an existing fire-suppression system, the City’s current instructions call for a fire-flow analysis and plans to be submitted to South Metro Fire Rescue. Depending on available water flow and project size, additional water-distribution or suppression improvements may be required.

Do not treat fire review as something to solve at final inspection. For a large addition, address it during design.

Building Codes Used in Cherry Hills Village in 2026

Cherry Hills Village adopted the 2024 I-Code family effective for 2026. Its current code page lists:

The City’s current code page also publishes climate/design information and identifies a window U-factor of 0.30 or better.

Use the official Cherry Hills Village adopted building codes page before designing to a specific code edition. Older downloadable handouts can remain useful for project checklists while still containing historical code references.

That local-code distinction is important throughout Colorado. The City of Boulder, for example, has its own permitting and adopted-code framework; our Boulder building department guide covers that jurisdiction separately.

How to Schedule a Cherry Hills Building Inspection

All current inspection requests must be made online.

1. Open your issued permit in the portal.
   Use the same City portal used for permitting and locate the active permit.
2. Select the required inspection.
   Choose one inspection date. Add a contact name and a mobile number that can receive text messages in the notes.
3. Submit before 3:00 p.m. when possible.
   Requests received before 3:00 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day under the City’s published procedure. Requests submitted after 3:00 p.m. are performed in two business days.
4. Have the work ready by 8:00 a.m.
   Do not request the inspection while work is still being completed or required components are concealed.
5. Watch for the inspector’s text.
   The City does not assign a guaranteed inspection time when the request is submitted. The inspector sends the contact a timeframe.

To cancel an inspection, the current City page instructs applicants to submit the cancellation through the portal before 8:30 a.m. on the scheduled inspection day.

Inspections will not be scheduled on a property subject to an active stop-work order. Contact the Building Department at 303-783-2721 if a stop-work condition must be resolved.

Prepare for the Inspection

A simple inspection delay often happens because the work is not accessible or required project information is missing. Before requesting an inspection:

• Confirm the correct inspection stage on your permit card.
• Keep City-approved plans available at the project.
• Do not cover framing, wiring, plumbing or other work that still needs inspection.
• Make the inspection area safely accessible.
• Confirm required engineering or survey documents have been uploaded.
• Make sure the responsible contact can receive the inspector’s text message.
• Correct earlier inspection deficiencies before requesting reinspection.

New construction and larger additions can also require survey, drainage, fire, Public Works, zoning and other sign-offs as the project moves toward completion.

Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy is required before occupancy for new single-family dwellings and major additions.

The City’s published CO checklist includes final building and electrical inspections plus project-specific approvals such as fire, sewer, water-service, drainage, Public Works and zoning documentation where applicable.

Do not plan a move-in date based only on when the contractor expects construction to end. Leave time for final inspections, correction work and required outside-agency releases.

2026 Construction Hours

Cherry Hills Village publishes specific construction times for 2026.

The City’s 2026 notice also says amplified music may not emanate from construction or demolition sites during construction hours. HOA rules can impose additional restrictions, so City approval does not replace applicable private covenants.

A construction-times waiver currently carries a $200 application fee under the City’s 2026 fee schedule.

Common Reasons a Permit Gets Delayed

• Wrong jurisdiction: confirm the property is actually regulated by Cherry Hills Village.
• Incomplete portal registration: account approval is not instant.
• Wrong permit category: additions, exterior remodels and stand-alone trade work can require different applications.
• Poor file naming: the City specifically requires its document naming convention.
• Missing zoning information: setbacks, bulk plane, height or lot coverage may stop the review.
• Missing survey or site plan: especially important for additions and exterior construction.
• Drainage overlooked: additional impervious surface can trigger engineering requirements.
• Missing fire-flow or suppression review: this can hold up larger residential permits.
• No ROW coordination: construction access may need Public Works approval.
• Incomplete resubmittal: respond to every review comment together when possible.

Published project guidance has historically identified approximately 7-10 business days per review cycle for plan-reviewed remodel permits. That should be treated as a planning reference rather than a guaranteed approval date. Complex projects, zoning issues, engineering review and revised plans can create additional cycles.

How to Check Permit Activity or Existing Records

Applicants can check their own permit progress from the portal. The City also publishes weekly permit reports showing permits applied for during each reporting week.

If you need older files, inspection history, plans or another City record that is not publicly available online, use the City’s public-records process rather than assuming the permit portal contains every historic document.

A Practical Checklist Before You Submit

• Verify the property is inside Cherry Hills Village jurisdiction.
• Identify whether the work is interior, exterior, addition, accessory structure, trade work or new construction.
• Check current zoning restrictions before finalizing the design.
• Review the correct City project handout.
• Create the permit-portal account early.
• Prepare site plans, structural drawings and required supporting documents.
• Check drainage and stormwater triggers.
• Determine whether a ROW permit is required.
• Resolve South Metro Fire Rescue requirements where applicable.
• Use the required document naming convention.
• Budget both permit and plan-review fees.
• Watch the portal for review comments.
• Do not begin regulated work until the permit is issued.
• Schedule inspections before work is covered.
• Complete all final sign-offs before occupying work that requires a Certificate of Occupancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Cherry Hills Village Resources

For the final application, payment, inspection request or current form, use the City’s own services:

• Building Permit Instructions
• Official Permit Portal
• Building Forms and Project Handouts
• Inspection Requests
• Building Permit Fees
• Adopted Building Codes

Permit requirements can change with project scope, amendments and City policy. Use the information above to prepare your project, then confirm the final permit type and any unusual project-specific requirement with Cherry Hills Village before construction begins.