Quick Permits

Quick permits are trade-specific permits that can be issued without the need for a plan review. Structural work CANNOT be permitted as a quick permit.

Individual landmarks/historic districts

Roof permits and any other quick permits involving exterior work on an individual landmark or within a historic district cannot be issued online via e-permits. For these locations, submit via email after receiving approval from Landmark Preservation.

How to apply

For minor work requiring quick permits but introducing little to no visible change to a historic structure or property:

Quick review approvals may be issued by Landmark Preservation for the following existing exterior features providing that the applicable design guidelines and standards are met:

  • Rear-yard decks and porches (must demonstrate no change in size, height, materials and ornament)
  • Rear-yard fences (no change in height, openness, and materials)
  • 1-2 flat profile skylights on rear- or side-facing roofs
  • Sheds not on foundations (less than 100 square feet)
  • Exterior HVAC work (no change in geometry, demand, or materials)
  • Simple exterior electrical or mechanical work that is not visible from the public street
  • Reroofing (no change in materials, color, or installation pattern)

For more significant alterations, visit the Landmark Design Review webpage for guidelines and instructions on how to apply.

Boiler and commercial A/C

What IS allowed under a boiler and commercial A/C quick permit

Single-family and duplex structures and garages:

  • Heat exchangers
  • Potable hot water (over 200,000 BTU)
  • Radiant heating
  • Baseboard heating
  • Boilers, hot water or steam (cast iron, steel, low-pressure)
  • Piping (gas, steam, or hot water)

Multifamily or commercial structures:

Like-for-like replacements of the following — no new installs — and the replacement does not have a change in geometry, demand, or material.

  • Piping (fuel oil, process, gas, hot water, steam)
  • Heat exchangers
  • Pressure vessels
  • Boilers, hot water or steam (cast iron, steel, high-pressure, low-pressure)
  • Potable hot water heaters
  • Commercial pool heater
  • Radiant heating
  • Baseboard heating
  • Refrigeration with condenser water piping, refrigerant piping, split system
  • Roof-top units

The boiler and refrigeration items listed below CANNOT be permitted under a quick permit. Select the Building Log application in e-permits to submit plans for review for the following projects:

Plans uploaded for review must be signed and stamped by a licensed design professional or professional engineer. 

  • Walk-in coolers/freezers
  • Chillers
  • Cooling towers
  • Incinerators
  • Crematories
  • Oil burner systems

Electrical

What IS allowed under a electrical quick permit

Single-family and duplex structures and garages:

The following electrical work can be issued as a quick permit only if the utility service is rated 200 Amps or less. Applies only to single-phase services, not three-phase services.

  • New utility service installation rated 200 Amps or less
  • Utility service upgrade rated 200 Amps or less
  • New or replacement panels and subpanels
  • Interior/exterior wiring or rewiring
  • Electric vehicle chargers
  • GFCI outlets
  • Appliances
  • Disconnect switches
  • Any other equipment or appliance with a rated voltage of over 50 volts
  • New or replacement mechanical equipment
  • Temporary service with utility meter for construction power, provided the service is rated 200 Amps or less

Multifamily and commercial projects:

  • Fewer than 10 new circuits, where each circuit does not exceed 20 Amps at 120 or 277 Volts
    • All new circuits must be single pole
  • Relocating lights within the same room or space, with no new lights added

The electrical items listed below CANNOT be permitted under a quick permit. Select the Building Log application in e-permits to submit plans for review for the projects listed below.

Unless noted differently below, electrical plans uploaded for review must be signed and stamped by a professional electrical engineer. Engineered plans must contain a one-line diagram, load calculations, fault current calculations, site and/or floor plans, scope of work narrative, code references, and a verifiable digital signature and stamp of the electrical engineer.

  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
    • Single-family and duplex PV systems rated under 10kW DC will not require engineered electrical plans, but do still require a review of non-engineered electrical plans
    • All commercial and multifamily PV systems, regardless of kW DC rating, will require stamped and signed engineered plans
  • Feeders and raceways, new or replacements
  • Transformers
  • Changes to existing grounding systems
  • Other electrical distribution (UPS, transfer switches, switchboards, etc.)
  • New, replacement, or upgraded services over 200 Amps for single-family/duplex
  • New, replacement, or upgraded services (of any rating) for multifamily/commercial
  • Panels and subpanels
  • All electrical work for single-family/duplex, including new/replacement panels, subpanels, etc., where the utility service is rated over 200 Amps
  • Temporary services for multifamily/commercial structures, including temporary construction services
  • Special events lasting longer than 72 hours
  • Electric vehicle charging stations
  • Any other electrical work, equipment, or appliance installations not listed above

Mechanical

What IS allowed under a mechanical quick permit

Single-family and duplex structures and garages:

  • Compressor units
  • Ductwork
  • Evaporative cooling units
  • Exhaust systems
  • Fireplaces (prefab metal, gas log, gas piping, gas vent)
  • Forced air heating systems
  • Gas piping
  • Make-up air units
  • Range hoods
  • Roof-top units (10 tons or less)
  • Through-wall heaters
  • Unit heaters
  • Ventilating systems
  • Water heaters

Multifamily or commercial structures:

Like-for-like replacements of the following — no new installs — and the replacement does not have a change in geometry, demand, or material.

  • Compressor units
  • Ductwork
  • Evaporative cooling units
  • Exhaust systems
  • Fireplaces (prefab metal, gas log, gas piping, gas vent)
  • Forced air heating systems
  • Gas piping
  • Make-up air units
  • Medical gas
  • Roof-top units
  • Through-wall heaters
  • Unit heaters
  • Ventilating systems
  • Water heaters

Ensure that replacement equipment meets current IECC efficiency standards, which will need to be verified upon inspection.

The mechanical items listed below CANNOT be permitted under a quick permit. Select the Building Log application in e-permits to submit plans for review for the following projects:

Plans uploaded for review must be signed and stamped by a licensed design professional or professional engineer. 

  • Residential A/C
  • Duct, stock, and vapor removal systems
  • Repair/replace of equipment for which the system was not originally designed (e.g., replacing equipment under a kitchen hood for which the hood was not originally designed)
  • Repairs/replacements that are not like-for-like or that require other associated upgrades (e.g., replacing toilet fixtures in a commercial restroom that may require ADA improvements, or replacing gas-fired equipment with higher efficiency equipment that might also require a new chimney liner or separate flue)

Plumbing

What IS allowed under a plumbing quick permit

Single-family and duplex structures and garages:

  • Back flow preventers
  • Dishwasher
  • Drinking fountain
  • Floor drain
  • Garbage disposals
  • Gas piping outlets
  • Showers, tubs, and sinks
  • Swimming pool piping
  • Washer
  • Water closets and urinals
  • Water heaters
  • Water service
  • Water softeners 

Multifamily and commercial structures:

Like-for-like replacements of the following — no new installs — and the replacement does not have a change in geometry, demand, or material.

  • Back flow preventers
  • Dishwasher
  • Drinking fountain
  • Floor drain
  • Garbage disposals
  • Gas piping outlets
  • Showers, tubs, and sinks
  • Swimming pool piping
  • Washer
  • Water closets and urinals
  • Water heaters
  • Water service (New water service lines can be done on a quick permit but are not yet available in e-permits. Please continue to apply via email for this in the meantime.)
  • Water softeners

The plumbing items listed below CANNOT be permitted as a quick permit. Select the Building Log application in e-permits to submit plans for review for the following projects:

Plans uploaded for review must be signed and stamped by a licensed design professional or professional engineer. 

  • Fire lines
  • Grease interceptors
  • Swimming pool heaters

Roofing and siding

A roof permit is always applied for separately from the general construction permit, even for new construction. All roofing/siding work on individual landmarks or buildings within a historic district must be first approved by Landmark Preservation.

What IS allowed under a roofing/siding quick permit

  • New roofs
  • Roof repair/replacement - All repairs that are more than 10% of the roof square footage or two roof squares (whichever is smaller) require a roof permit
  • New roof penetrations (e.g., skylights, roof-top units, pipes, solar)
  • Exterior wall coverings
  • Blown-in insulation
  • Soffit/fascia work

The roofing/siding items listed below CANNOT be permitted as a quick permit. Select the Building Log application in e-permits to submit plans for review for the following projects:

  • Roof permits for any commercial or multifamily building 25,000 square feet or more (these projects are subject to the Green Building Ordinance)
  • Green roofs
  • Changing the structural framing of the roof (e.g., going from a flat to a pitched roof) or structural repair

Work exempt from building permits

Some projects do not require building permits. See more detailed information in the Denver Building and Fire Code, Section 130.3 Exempted Work.

Other Permits May be Required

A permit from Wastewater, Zoning, or the Fire Department may be required depending on your scope of work. Permits to use the right-of-way or for street closures are issued by the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure. 

Ready to Apply?

Visit e-permits to apply for permits, view e-permits tutorial videos, FAQs, and more. Once signed into the e-permits portal, go to "Apply for a Permit" under the "Development Services" section and follow the prompts.

Go to e-permits now

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