Aurora, Colorado Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Which Building Department Serves Your Property?

Aurora extends into Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties. For a property inside Aurora city limits, the city’s Building Division generally administers building permits. A nearby property with an Aurora mailing address but outside the city limits may fall under a county or another local authority.

Before applying, verify the property jurisdiction through the city’s Property Information system or contact the Permit Center with the complete street address. Do not choose a county permit office based only on the ZIP code.

What Building Permits Does Aurora Handle?

The Permit Center processes building-related applications for residential and commercial construction, including new buildings, additions, alterations, and qualifying trade work. It also handles public improvement, sign, lawn and irrigation, and certain other permit categories.

Aurora publishes permit categories and fee schedules for several of these projects. However, whether a specific fence, shed, repair, or interior improvement is exempt depends on the scope of work and applicable code. Confirm exemptions before construction rather than assuming small projects never need permits.

How to Apply for an Aurora Building Permit Online

The city’s published online procedures distinguish quick, over-the-counter permits from projects requiring plan submission and review. Use the path that matches your work.

Option 1: Common replacement and quick permits

1. Open Aurora4Biz and select the Building & Development area.
2. Choose Building Plan Review and Permit Management.
3. Sign in under My Account. If you do not have an account, use the new-account option.
4. Under Projects, select New Permit.
5. Review the displayed terms, select the agreement checkbox, and continue.
6. Choose the permit category, enter the property and project information, complete the required fields, and follow the system’s payment and issuance instructions.

This route is described by Aurora for projects such as water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, roof work, and electrical service upgrades. See the city’s quick-permit instructions (PDF).

Option 2: Projects requiring plan review

1. Gather the applicable application form, building plans, site information, and supporting documents.
2. Access Building Plan Review and Permit Management through Aurora4Biz.
3. Log in and locate your application under Projects > My Projects. If you do not yet have a project, follow the appropriate new-application procedure provided by the city.
4. For an existing project, select its upload-files option, then open Files.
5. Choose the document type, enter a description, browse for the file, and select Submit.
6. Check for review comments, upload revisions when requested, and complete required payments before permit issuance.

The city’s online permit and plan-upload guide (PDF) explains account creation, file uploads, payment searches, and retrieval of approved plans.

What information should you prepare?

Requirements vary by project, but Aurora’s building permit application requests information such as the project address and unit, contractor and owner details, work description, valuation, and building-material costs. New construction and engineered projects may need significantly more detail.

• Property details: Exact address, unit, project description, and relevant site information.
• Applicant details: Owner, contractor, contact person, and appropriate license information.
• Construction documents: Site plan, floor plans, structural details, and applicable trade specifications.
• Cost details: Project valuation and material costs for applicable permit and use-tax calculations.
• Additional approvals: Zoning, engineering, fire/life safety, or development approvals where required.

Find application materials in the Building Division document library, including the Forms and Applications section and Building Guides.

Aurora Building Permit Fees for 2026

Aurora uses published flat fees for certain common permits and separate fee methods for new buildings and other projects. The following figures come from the city’s 2026 flat-rate permit sheet, revised August 2026.

These are permit fees, not necessarily the total amount payable. The city’s flat-rate schedule states that material costs are still needed to calculate applicable city and county use taxes. Additional charges may apply depending on the project and location.

Official fee references: 2026 Flat-Rate Fees (PDF) and Building Fees.

Fees for new building construction

Aurora’s January 2026 new-construction schedule includes an R-3 single-family residential rate of $1.30 per square foot, with a $2,000 minimum, and a business occupancy (Group B) rate of $2.90 per square foot, with a $5,000 minimum. Other occupancy groups have different rates and minimums. The published fee schedule also identifies separate use taxes and possible additional development fees.

Review the 2026 New Building Construction Fees (PDF) before budgeting.

How to estimate your total cost

1. Identify whether the project is a published flat-rate permit, new construction, or another category.
2. Open the official Permit Fee Calculator page for applicable estimates.
3. Include the correct project valuation, square footage, and material costs.
4. Check additional taxes and development-related charges before paying.

The city’s online permit payment system also publishes a credit-card processing fee of at least 2.25% for payments through designated processors. Check the displayed payment terms before completing a transaction.

How to Schedule a Building Inspection in Aurora

Inspections confirm that permitted work follows the approved plans and applicable requirements. Aurora offers online, phone, and email scheduling options.

Online inspection scheduling: exact steps

1. Open Aurora4Biz and select Building & Development.
2. Choose Building Plan Review and Permit Management.
3. Log in using the email associated with your contractor account.
4. Click New/View Inspections.
5. Locate the project and select Request Inspection.
6. Select the inspection type, enter the unit number if necessary, and provide a contact number.
7. Use the call-ahead option and add necessary site-access comments.
8. Select an available inspection date and click Schedule Inspection.

For another inspection on the same project, repeat the applicable selection steps. The city’s inspection request guide (PDF) provides the portal procedure.

What to have ready for the inspector

• Building permit number and exact property address.
• Unit number, when applicable, and inspection type.
• Contact telephone number and safe access to the work area.
• Issued permit card, approved stamped plans, and required inspection records at the job site.
• Exposed work that must be inspected before covering it with insulation, drywall, concrete, or other materials.

Common inspections include foundation, framing, electrical rough and final, plumbing rough and final, mechanical, insulation, and final building inspections. The required sequence depends on the permit.

If an inspection identifies corrections, complete them and request the required follow-up inspection. Use the official Inspections and Certificate of Occupancy guide for inspection requirements.

Building Codes Adopted in Aurora for 2026

The City of Aurora lists the following adopted construction codes. Although the current article concerns 2026, most of the city’s listed International Code Council editions remain the 2021 editions.

2026 electrical-code change: Aurora states that the 2026 NEC became effective August 1, 2026. New electrical permit applications are reviewed and inspected to that edition. Permits drawn from existing single-family master plans automatically follow the 2026 NEC, while multifamily master plans require applicable compliance revisions before additional permits are pulled.

Use the official Adopted Building Codes page and applicable municipal amendments to confirm the requirements for your project. Do not assume the latest published national code edition applies unless adopted.

Contractor Licensing and Homeowner Responsibilities

Aurora requires contractors performing regulated construction work to hold the appropriate authorization. Contractors should confirm their applicable city licensing status before accepting or beginning permitted work.

The city’s contractor guidance explains that electrical and plumbing contractors must have the applicable Colorado state master and contractor licenses on file with the Building Division. Aurora does not issue separate city plumbing or electrical contractor licenses.

Before hiring someone, use the Contractor Licensing and Lookup page to access the city’s verification tool and licensing requirements.

Property owners planning their own construction should confirm the limitations of the city’s DIY/homeowner process before purchasing materials or beginning regulated work.

Check Permit Status, Approved Plans & Property Records

Aurora provides online access to building project management and certain public property documents. Use the correct service for the information you need.

To check an active application

1. Open the Aurora4Biz Building Plan Review portal.
2. Sign in with the account associated with the application.
3. Open the relevant project to review available application, plan, fee, or permit information.
4. If you cannot locate the record, contact the Permit Center with the permit number or property address.

To find approved plans or public documents

1. Visit the City of Aurora website and locate the Property Info search.
2. Enter the complete property address.
3. Open the matching My Property result.
4. Find Public Document Search and choose Documents with this address.
5. Review the documents made available for that property.

This public-document process is described in the city’s online instructions and does not require the same contractor login used for project management. Availability varies by property and record type.

Final Inspections and Certificates of Occupancy

Some projects require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or other final approval before occupancy or use. Aurora’s process can include structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire/life safety, and applicable public-improvement inspections.

For projects involving new development, outstanding engineering work, required site improvements, or other approvals can affect final occupancy clearance even after substantial building construction is complete.

If you need a Certificate of Occupancy, Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, or stocking permit, contact the Building Division at 303-739-7420 and request guidance from an inspector supervisor about outstanding requirements.

Official resource: Aurora Certificate of Occupancy guidance.

Official Aurora Building Department Resources

Use these City of Aurora sources for direct permit-related actions and verification.

Frequently Asked Questions