Building Permits, Inspections & County Services
Need a building permit in Arapahoe County? The county Building Division handles building permits, construction plan reviews, inspections and code compliance for unincorporated Arapahoe County. Applications and inspection requests are managed through its online Customer Access portal.
Check your jurisdiction first. Properties inside incorporated cities may be served by a different permitting authority, even though their mailing addresses are in Arapahoe County.
Apply for a Permit ↗ Check Your Jurisdiction ↗Building Division Contact Information
6924 S. Lima St.
Centennial, CO 80112
PWDBuildingSupport@arapahoegov.com
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Mountain Time
The county recommends calling 720-874-6600 to schedule an appointment before visiting. Many services can be completed online without an office visit.
Official Arapahoe County Building Division website ↗
Does Arapahoe County Handle Your Property?
County building permits generally apply to unincorporated properties. Incorporated municipalities such as Aurora, Englewood, Littleton and Sheridan generally administer their own building-permit services for properties within their boundaries.
- Open the county’s Property Search page.
- Find Location Information and select the location-search tool.
- Search using the property address or parcel information.
- Review the jurisdiction and municipal-boundary details.
- If the property is unincorporated, contact the county Building Division. If it is incorporated, verify the appropriate city department.
Which Projects Need Building Permits?
Arapahoe County generally requires permits for construction covered by the adopted International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC) and county amendments. Requirements depend on the work involved.
| Project | Permit guidance |
|---|---|
| New homes and additions | Building permits and plan review are generally required, with supporting architectural, structural and site documents. |
| Basement finishing and remodeling | Permits commonly apply, especially when electrical, plumbing, mechanical or structural work is involved. |
| Decks and detached garages | The county publishes project-specific requirements for decks, garages and accessory structures. |
| Roof replacement | The county’s roofing guide requires permits for full replacement or repairs exceeding 100 square feet of roof area, subject to its detailed provisions. |
| Solar panels | County residential solar permit requirements cover roof-mounted systems, ground-mounted systems and solar roof shingles. |
| HVAC, electrical and plumbing | Covered installations, replacements and alterations may require the appropriate permit. |
| Commercial construction | New buildings, tenant improvements, alterations and changes of occupancy may require permits and commercial plan review. |
| Demolition | Applicable demolition projects require permit review and may involve utility-disconnection and asbestos requirements. |
For the exact documents and permit category for your project, use the Residential Permit Requirements or Building Guidelines.
How to Apply for a Building Permit Online
Arapahoe County uses its Accela Customer Access system for permit applications, document uploads, payments and case communications.
- Confirm your property and permit type.
Determine the property’s jurisdiction and identify the appropriate residential, commercial or trade permit. Check zoning requirements before preparing plans.
- Prepare the required documents.
Gather the project description, site address, property-owner information, construction valuation, applicable plans and supporting reports. Follow the county’s project-specific checklist and required file-naming rules.
- Open Customer Access.
Go to Arapahoe County Customer Access and register or sign in.
- Start the application.
Choose the relevant building permit category. Enter the property and project details, identify the responsible contractor or owner-builder, and upload the required documents.
- Submit and monitor the review.
Submit the application and watch for messages or correction requests. Respond through Customer Access with revised plans or missing documentation.
- Pay, obtain approval and schedule inspections.
Pay the applicable charges when requested. Obtain the issued permit before beginning work that requires prior approval, then schedule inspections at the required construction stages.
Project-Specific Document Checklist
| Project | Examples of required documents |
|---|---|
| Basement finish | County basement questionnaire, site plan, construction plans and included trade-work details. |
| Uncovered deck | Site plan, construction drawings and completed county deck-building guide. |
| Detached garage | Site plan, foundation and construction plans, and applicable engineered truss calculations. |
| New single-family home | Site, architectural, foundation and structural plans; soils report; energy documentation; utility and fire approvals where applicable. |
| Residential solar | Completed solar checklist, site plan, roof information, electrical drawings, equipment specifications and required engineering documentation. |
These are examples, not complete requirements for every project. Commercial work, structural alterations and special site conditions can require additional documents.
Permit Fees and Processing Times
How Much Does a Permit Cost?
Building permit fees vary with the type and valuation of construction. Some applications also have plan-review charges, sales and use tax, reinspection fees or development-related charges.
The county provides a valuation-based permit fee schedule and online calculator. Its published schedule shows, for example, a combined building permit and plan-check amount of $156.30 for a project valuation from $1 to $1,800. This is a schedule example, not a complete quote for a particular project.
Online payment processing fees effective September 22, 2025: $1.80 for ACH/e-check payments and 3.20% for credit-card payments. These are additional transaction charges, not the building permit fee itself.
Official fee information and calculator ↗
How Long Does Plan Review Take?
| Application category | County-published average first review |
|---|---|
| Project valuation below $100,000 | 6–8 weeks |
| Project valuation above $100,000 | 10–12 weeks |
| Solar permit applications | 6–8 weeks |
These are county-published averages for first-round review after a complete application is accepted, not guaranteed permit issuance dates. Corrections, workload and project complexity may extend the process. Certain qualifying non-review permits follow a different process.
Schedule, Track or Cancel Building Inspections
Most building inspections can be scheduled through Customer Access using an existing permit record.
- Sign in.
Open Customer Access and sign in to the account associated with your permit.
- Find the inspection section.
Choose the Building inspection scheduling option, then select the appropriate permit record number.
- Select the inspection.
Under the Inspections section, use Actions → Schedule beside the inspection that is ready.
- Choose an available date.
Follow the date-selection prompts, verify the inspection site and contact information, and include any necessary access instructions.
- Confirm the request.
Review the details and select Finish. Keep the confirmed inspection information for your records.
On the inspection date, use the county’s Building Inspections for Today lookup to search by permit number or address. The county generally provides an approximate arrival window, not an exact appointment time.
To reschedule or cancel, open the permit’s inspection record in Customer Access and select the corresponding action. The county also offers an after-hours inspection program, subject to advance notice, staff availability and additional fees.
Building Codes Applicable in 2026
According to the county’s published Code Central page, the following code editions apply to its building program, together with applicable amendments and state requirements.
| Standard | Published adopted edition |
|---|---|
| International Building Code (IBC) | 2021 |
| International Residential Code (IRC) | 2021 |
| National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2023, adopted July 9, 2024 |
| Accessibility standard | ANSI A117.1-2017, as identified by the county |
| Energy, electric-ready and solar-ready provisions | Applicable county amendments and Colorado state requirements |
The county’s 2021 IBC and IRC adoption became effective April 1, 2022. These are code edition years, not a claim that every code was newly adopted in 2026.
View adopted building codes and amendments ↗
Contractors, Owner-Builders and Other Approvals
Contractors: Arapahoe County operates a contractor licensing program for work in its unincorporated jurisdiction. Contractors should confirm their county license category and any applicable Colorado trade-license requirements before applying. Applications and renewals are available through Customer Access.
Owner-builders: The county’s residential permit instructions require a signed Certificate for Owner-Generated Permits when work is performed directly by a homeowner rather than by a licensed contractor. This does not waive code, safety or permit requirements.
Related approvals: Some projects require separate zoning, engineering, floodplain, grading, utility, fire-district or public right-of-way approvals. For zoning questions, contact 720-874-6711 or Zoning@arapahoegov.com.
For grading, stormwater and right-of-way work, see the county’s Engineering Permits and Inspections resources.
Find Existing Permits and Building Records
Applicants can use Customer Access to review their application records, case communications and inspection information. For older building plans or public development records, contact the county’s Public Works and Development records coordinator.
Email: PWDRecords@arapahoegov.com
Official records request information ↗
Provide the property address, parcel number if available, and the permit or project details. Records for incorporated municipalities must generally be requested from the appropriate city.
Common Permit Delays and How to Avoid Them
- Wrong jurisdiction: Verify the property boundary before submitting anything.
- Incomplete plans: Follow the residential or commercial project checklist and include required calculations.
- Missing approvals: Confirm zoning, fire, utility and engineering requirements before submitting.
- Incorrect file formatting: Use clear PDFs and the county’s required naming conventions.
- Unanswered review comments: Check Customer Access regularly and respond with complete revisions.
- Inspection access problems: Provide safe access and keep required work exposed until approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Arapahoe County issue building permits for every city in the county?
No. The county Building Division primarily serves unincorporated Arapahoe County. Incorporated municipalities generally administer their own permits. Check the property’s jurisdiction before applying.
2. How do I apply for an Arapahoe County building permit?
Use the county’s online Customer Access portal. Create an account, choose the permit type, enter your project details, upload the required documents and follow the review and payment instructions.
3. What documents are needed for a building permit?
Requirements vary by project. Common documents include a site plan, construction drawings, project valuation and applicable structural, energy or engineering information. Follow the county’s checklist for your permit type.
4. Do I need a permit to build a deck in Arapahoe County?
Deck construction may require a county permit. The county publishes an uncovered-deck permit guide requiring a site plan, construction documents and completed guide information. Verify the rules for your specific design.
5. Does roof replacement require a permit?
The county’s residential reroofing guide requires permits for full roof replacement or roof repairs exceeding 100 square feet, subject to its detailed requirements. Check the guide before starting work.
6. How do I schedule a building inspection?
Sign in to Customer Access, open your building permit record, select the appropriate inspection under Actions, choose an available date and confirm your request. The county also provides an inspection-day arrival-window lookup.
7. How much does an Arapahoe County building permit cost?
Costs depend on the project type, valuation, plan review and applicable additional charges. The county provides an official fee schedule and estimator. Online payment processing charges may also apply.
8. How long does building permit review take?
The county publishes average first-round review estimates of 6–8 weeks for projects below $100,000, 10–12 weeks for projects above $100,000 and 6–8 weeks for solar permits. Actual timing varies.
9. Which building codes does Arapahoe County use in 2026?
The county’s published Code Central identifies the 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC and 2023 NEC, along with applicable amendments and other state-mandated requirements. Confirm the code requirements for your project before submitting plans.
10. Can homeowners apply without hiring a contractor?
Homeowners performing their own work may apply under the county’s owner-generated permit procedures when eligible. The county requires a signed Certificate for Owner-Generated Permits for such work, and all applicable code requirements still apply.
Official Arapahoe County Resources
- Building Division — contact details and services
- Customer Access — permits, payments and inspections
- Residential permitting requirements and forms
- Permit fees, calculator and review estimates
- Adopted building codes and amendments
- Daily building inspection arrival-window lookup
- Building and development records
Information reviewed: October 8, 2026. This is an independent informational guide, not an official Arapahoe County government website. Permitting procedures, fees, review times and applicable codes may change. The county is the final authority for project-specific requirements.