Roof permits and any other quick permits involving exterior work in landmark or historic districts cannot be issued online via e-permits. For these locations, submit via email or in person 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:

• Email the Landmark Quick Review application form (PDF) to Landmark Staff at landmark@denvergov.org. Landmark quick review applications are typically processed within 1 business day.  
• Then, submit your quick permit application (located in the drop-down menus below) to quickpermits@denvergov.org.

Quick review approvals may be issued by Landmark Preservation staff for like-for-like replacement of 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
• sheds not on foundations (less than 100 square feet)
• exterior HVAC work (no change in geometry, demand or materials)
• simple exterior mechanical work
• reroofing (no change in materials)

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

Permit application

• Application for steam/hot water boilers, radiation for heating systems and commercial A/C (PDF)

What’s 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. Apply in person at the walk-through counter for the following:

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

Permit application

• Application for an electrical permit (PDF)

What’s allowed under an electrical quick permit

Single-family and duplex structures only

• New service rated 200 amps or less
• Service change rated 200 amps or less
• Panels, subpanels etc., as long as the service is rated 200 amps or less. Only single-phase services are allowed - three-phase services will require a review of engineered plans.
• Appliances
• Interior/exterior wiring or rewiring of the home and/or garage as long as the service is rated 200 amps or less
• Disconnect switches
• Temporary service with utility meter for construction power, as long as the service is rated 200 amps or less
• New or replacement mechanical equipment, as long as the service is rated 200 amps or less

Multifamily or commercial structures

Minor Work Only:

• Fewer than 10 new circuits that do not exceed 20 amps/120 volts or 277 volts each
  • All new circuits must be single pole
• Relocating lights, no new lights added
• Relocating outlets

The electrical items listed below CANNOT be permitted under a quick permit. All of the work below, except for special events, will require stamped and signed, engineered plans brought in person to the electrical walk-through counter for review. 

• Solar 
  • Residential solar/PV systems under 10kW go to the electrical walk-through counter.
  • Solar 10kW and above must go to the Log In counter.
  • All commercial solar must go to the Log In counter.
• Feeders
• Transformers
• Other electrical distribution (UPS, transfer switches, 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, subpanels, etc. for multifamily/commercial
• All electrical work for single-family/duplex, including new/replacement panels, subpanels, etc., if the service is rated over 200 amps
• Temporary services for multifamily/commercial structures, including temporary construction services
• Special events lasting no longer than 72 hours without prior permission

• Application for a mechanical permit to install forced-air furnaces, ventilation and A/C, and gas piping (PDF)

What’s 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
• Residential A/C*
• Roof-top units (10 tons or less)
• Through-wall heaters
• Unit heaters
• Ventilating systems
• Water heaters

*The building permit for a residential A/C can be issued as a quick permit. Zoning reviews are done at the single-family/duplex walk-through counter.

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. Apply in person at the walk-through counter for the following:

• 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)

Permit application

• Application for a plumbing and gas piping permit (PDF)

What’s 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 heater* and piping
• Washer
• Water closets and urinals
• Water heaters
• Water service
• Water softeners

*The building permit for a pool heater can be issued as a quick permit. Zoning reviews are done at the single-family/duplex walk-through counter.

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:

• 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 under a quick permit. Apply in person at the walk-through counter for the following:

• Fire lines
• Grease interceptors

Permit application

• Application for a general permit for roofing, siding, fascia/soffit, and blown-in insulation (PDF)

A roof permit is always applied for separately from the general construction permit, even for new construction. All roofing/siding work on landmarks or in historic districts must be first approved by Landmark Preservation (PDF).

What’s allowed under a roofing/siding quick permit

• New roofs
• Roof repair/replacement
• New roof penetrations
• Exterior wall coverings
• Blown-in insulation
• Soffit/fascia work

The roofing/siding items listed below CANNOT be permitted under a quick permit. Apply in person at the Log In counter for the following:

• Green roofs
• Changing the structural framing of the roof (e.g., going from a flat to a pitched roof) or structural repair

Denver Green Roof Ordinance

As of January 1, 2018, new and replacement roofs on buildings over 25,000 square feet must meet the Denver Green Roof Ordinance, unless exempted.

Green roof permits cannot be issued as a quick permit; the entire roof must be logged in for plan review.

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