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Broomfield Community Development
Department
Building Division
303-438-6370
303-438-6297 FAX
Frequently Asked Questions
(And other general information!)
Note: To download many of our forms and handouts, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 or newer installed on your computer. The reader is a free download from Adobe.
What are your office hours and who is on your staff?
How do I get to the Broomfield building department?
Do I need a building permit for my project?
How much will my building permit cost?
What plans do I need for a permit?
How do I avoid paying taxes twice on my project materials?
Do I need a contractor's license to get a permit?
What happens if I don't get a permit?
Can I do all the electrical and plumbing work on my own home?
Will a City and County building inspector come look at my house if I have problems?
How close can I build to my property line?
What inspections do I need for my project?
How do I call for an inspection on my project?
What time will the inspector arrive?
I have questions about my inspection. Who do I talk to?
What is a UFER, and how is it installed?
What are your office hours and who is on staff?
The building division is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Call 303-438-6370 to speak with one of our 4 plans analysts, 2 permit technicians, 8 inspectors, or the chief building official. Our staff information page has specific names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
How do I get to the Broomfield building department?
From Denver:
Go north on I-25 to 120th Avenue exit. Go west on 120th Avenue to Lamar Street. Lamar Street will be the 2nd traffic light past Sheridan Blvd. Turn right on Lamar (before Applebee's). Drive north to the third stop sign, a T-intersection with DesCombes Drive. Directly ahead is the entry to the parking lot, with the City and County building in front of you and the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the City and County building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.
From Boulder:
Go southeast on U.S. Hwy 36, Boulder Turnpike, take the Hwy 287 exit, #. Turn north onto US Highway 287/Wadsworth Parkway. Drive north to Midway Blvd. (the stoplight at the bottom of the hill) and turn right, going east. Continue on Midway Blvd. for about 1 1/2 miles, passing a signalized intersection at Main Street. Take the next right turn at Lamar Street. Two blocks south, Lamar Street curves around the City and County building to become DesCombes Drive. Turn right at the first parking lot entrance, and the City and County building will be directly in front of you with the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the City and County building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.From North of Denver:
Go south on I-25 to 120th Avenue exit. Go west on 120th Avenue to Lamar Street. Lamar Street will be the 2nd traffic light past Sheridan Blvd. Turn right on Lamar (before Applebee's). Drive north to the third stop sign, a T-intersection with DesCombes Drive.Directly ahead is the entry to the parking lot, with the City and County building in front of you and the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the City and County building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.
From Longmont or Lafayette:
Go south on US Highway 287 to Midway Blvd. Turn left, going east. Continue on Midway Blvd. for about 1 1/2 miles, passing a signalized intersection at Main Street. Take the next right turn at Lamar Street. Two blocks south, Lamar Street curves around City Hall to become DesCombes Drive. Turn right at the first parking lot entrance, and the City and County building will be directly in front of you with the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the City and County building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.
Click Here for a Map!
Call 303-438-6370 and talk to one of the plans analysts. They can answer a variety of questions on most phases of any project. If you manage to stump one of them, the plans analysts can always connect you with a specific inspector or they will research your question and call you back with an answer. You can also e-mail your questions to any of the plans analysts listed on the staff information page.
Do I need a building permit for my project?
Most construction projects require building permits and inspections to verify compliance with building codes and zoning regulations. Alterations, garage conversions, change of use, structural repairs, drywall, and fire or flood repairs all require permits. Links to handouts are below for certain projects. Links to permit application forms at each "yes" below.
Note: To download many of our forms and handouts, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 or newer installed on your computer. The reader is a free download from Adobe.
Project type
(link to handout)Permit Required? Project Type
(link to handout)Permit Required? Air Conditioner Installation Yes Hot Tub or Spa Installation Yes Basement Finish Yes Kitchen Cabinets (same appliance location) No Concrete or Stone Patio Slabs (not covered) No Lawn Sprinkler System Yes Curb and Gutter (replacement) Yes (E) Patio Cover Yes Decks (any height above grade) Yes Pool or Pond (>18" deep & >10 s.f. area) Yes Dog Run Yes Public Sidewalk Yes (E) Electrical Repairs No Re-roof Yes Electrical Re-wiring Yes Retaining Wall (> 36" from fnd to top of wall) Yes Electrical Service Change Yes Sheds (all sizes and uses) Yes Fence (new or replacement) Yes Siding Yes Fence Repairs No Solar Panels Yes Furnace (new or replacement) Yes Swamp Cooler Yes Furnace Repairs No Tile, Carpet, Flooring No Gas Log, Gas Stove, Gas Fire pit Yes Water Heater (new or replacement) Yes Gazebo Yes Water or Sewer Line Repair Yes Gutters No Windows (new and replacements) Yes (E) means that the permit needs to be obtained from Engineering Division.
Permit fees are based on the total value or cost of the project. The applicant provides this information on the permit forms at the time of submittal. Use tax is also charged on the value of the materials, assumed to be one-half of the total cost. Click Here for more information and to get a copy of our fee schedule. At this time, we are only able to accept checks and cash for payment.
What plans do I need for a permit?
For typical homeowner projects, two sets of plans are required. The plans should include a site plan that shows where the proposed construction will be located on the property, including lot dimensions and all existing structures; a floor plan showing the use of the spaces, any framing proposed, and dimensions; and a section view, if needed, to show how the structure is attached to the existing building. Please click here for homeowner handouts on many projects.
For commercial projects, three complete sets of plans are required for new buildings or food service tenants, otherwise, two complete sets shall be submitted. Click here for commercial submittal information.
How do I avoid paying taxes twice on my project materials?
The City and County of Broomfield collects use tax on building materials at the time of building permit issuance. For use tax purposes, 50% of the total project valuation is assumed to be materials with the balance being labor. When purchasing materials for the project, show the building permit payment receipt to the supplier or retail home center. The supplier should not charge any city sales tax since the Broomfield use tax has been paid. You will still be required to pay the state and RTD taxes when you purchase materials. Questions regarding use tax audits can be answered by the Sales and Use Tax Division of the Broomfield Finance Department at 303-464-5811. Information on use tax classes can be found through this Sales Tax classes link.
Use Tax = Total valuation x 50% x 4.15%
Do I need a contractor's license to get a permit?
A homeowner getting a permit for performing construction work on his/her own dwelling does not require a contractor's license. If a homeowner hires a contractor for any type of construction on a home, the contractor shall be licensed by the City and County of Broomfield. The contractor is responsible for obtaining all required permits, but the homeowner should verify that the necessary permits have been issued. All contractors who perform work for pay or other compensation are required to be licensed as a contractor in City and County of Broomfield. Download contractor license applications here.
What happens if I don't get a permit?
If the work is started without a permit, a special investigation fee may be charged before the permit can be issued. If the entire project is completed, such as a deck or basement finish, the homeowner remains responsible for obtaining the proper permits and inspections. In some cases, this may mean removal of wall coverings to check concealed work. Homeowners should also contact their insurance company to verify that the new work will still be covered if no permit has been obtained. Often a completed project is not caught until a prospective buyer or private home inspector checks with the building department or a disaster occurs.
Can I do all the electrical and plumbing work on my own home?
Homeowner-occupants may do all the work on their own home if they are confident in their abilities. However, the homeowner-occupant needs to sign an acknowledgement form indicating compliance with the state law prior to issuance of the permit.
Will a City and County building inspector come look at my house if I have problems?
If you smell natural gas or think there might be carbon monoxide in the home, call 911 from a neighbor's phone or from a cell phone outside the house. Please call the building department at 303-438-6370, and we can answer any questions you may have about your home or its systems; however, the building inspectors are authorized to come make inspections at a home or business only if a building permit has been issued. If you have urgent concerns about your home's foundation or structure, a professional structural engineer should be called to check the building.
How close can I build to my property line?
All structures (houses, garages, sheds, decks, pools, spas, patio covers, gazebos, etc.) are required to be located a certain distance away from all property lines of your lot. This distance varies with both the type of structure and the zoning of your neighborhood. Straight zoning (usually older neighborhoods) has regulations adopted by ordinance in the Municipal Code (Title 17, Zoning). Newer subdivisions have PUD (planned unit development) zoning, which has regulations unique to each subdivision or filing adopted through the development plan process.
Typically, all structures shall be at least 5 feet away from the side property lines, and could be required to be set back even greater distances. In a majority of cases, the house is constructed at the minimum front setback line, and no structure can be built closer to the street than the house. The rear yard setbacks vary considerably, depending on the subdivision and the structure. There may also be utility or drainage easements in various locations on your lot that restrict the placement of any structure.
For correct setback information in all zoning districts, please call the City and County of Broomfield Planning Division at 303-438-6239.
You can check your zoning on the City and County Zoning Map.
What inspections do I need for my project?
The simplest answer is that the inspectors need to check all work before it is concealed by the next phase of construction. The plans examiners will also explain the inspections you need during the plan review process. For some common projects and required inspections, click here for our handout page. Most major projects need three basic sets of inspections: underground, rough, and final for each trade: building, electrical, mechanical/heating, and plumbing. For a link to a single family home rough inspection checklist, click here. For a link to a single family home final inspection checklist, click here. Please call us with any questions at 303-438-6370.
How do I call for an inspection on my project?
Call 303-438-6376 to schedule an inspection. (This number will be on your inspection record card as well.) If you call our office prior to 4:00 p.m., your inspection will be made the following business day. Please have your address, permit number and type of inspection requesting available when you call.
What time will the inspector arrive?
Our inspectors receive their assignments in the morning and determine the most efficient route for the day prior to leaving the office around 9:00 a.m. Your inspection could be any time during the inspector's working hours. If you need a more exact time frame, you may call the specific inspector for your project on the morning of your scheduled inspection, and ask for his estimated time of arrival. Call the main office number, 303-438-6370.
I have questions about my inspection. Who do I talk to?
What is a UFER, and how is it installed?For any general questions about your project, you may call and speak to one of the plans examiners, 303-438-6370, any time between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.. For specific questions regarding an inspection that has already been made, call 303-438-6370 to talk with the individual inspector between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m.
A Ufer is a nickname for one of the required grounding methods in the 2005 National Electrical Code. This refers to Article 250.52 (A) (3), Concrete Encased Electrode. Click here for a rough sketch of this grounding method.