New Commercial Buildings, Commercial Additions and Multi-Family

Landscape inspections will be required to be completed before Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. More information below.

This online handbook will help you with the common process for applying and obtaining permits for new commercial buildings and additions.

If your project is currently in the Development Process with the City of Arvada your permit will not be approved until the Final Development Process is completed.

Getting Started

Review the list of required documents and steps below before beginning the application process. Once you are ready to apply, you will login to our permitting system, www.arvadapermits.org, enter the required information and upload .pdf plans and related documents to your application.

eTRAKIT Application

Who Can Do the Work?

Commercial permits are issued to Licensed Contractors. To ensure your permit is issued in a timely manner please make sure to submit all of your subcontractors, permits without sub-contractors listed will be placed into a hold. Please review contractor qualifications and download applications before applying for permits.

Review Timelines

The City of Arvada is committed to providing plan reviews within our timelines, however, workload of the current development environment in the City of Arvada can affect these timelines. Complete submittals help will assist with keeping within this timeframe. If your application package is incomplete your project may not be accepted.

		Commercial & Multi-Family
Review Process	Tenant Finish	1 - 100 Sheets	100+ Sheets
Staff review for code compliance	4 weeks	4 weeks	6 weeks
Customer review and code corrections	2 weeks	2 weeks	4 weeks
Staff review for code compliance	2 weeks	2 weeks	4 weeks
Total number of business days	40	40	70
Total number of weeks	8	8	14

Fees

Fees are charged based on the over job contract value or on the square footage. You can get an estimate on your fees at www.arvadapermits.org. Please be aware that additional fees may apply and will be identified through the permitting process.

Fee Name	Fee
Building Permit Fee (Table 18-1)	Variable
Use Tax	Variable
Plan Review Fee	65% of Permit Fee
If being completed on the project:
Plumbing	Variable
Mechanical	Variable
Electric	Variable

Fee Calculator

Required Submittal Documents

Permit applications must be submitted with the correct documentation. Applications that are submitted without the proper documentation will not be accepted. If you have questions about items that are required please contact us at buildingpermits@arvada.org.

Plan Set

Please provide each plan set individually in a single PDF. All plans must be stamped by a professional licensed in the State of Colorado (engineer or architect)

Plans must include a building code summary including assumptions made with regard to proposed occupancy classification(s), proposed square footage, building area limitations, construction type, exiting, occupant load, wind speed design, snow load, frost depth, and any other pertinent design information.

Plans included in package:

1. Civil, Landscaping and Grading Plans

2. Architectural Plans

3. Structural Plans

4. Mechanical Plans

5. Plumbing Plans

6. Electrical Plans

7. COMCheck reports

Building Envelope
Mechanical System
Electrical Lighting

Plot Plan

Plot Plan Instructions

A detailed sitemap of your project should show the following, if applicable:

The building department utilizes a site plan to verify distances between buildings and distances from buildings to public right of way or property lines. The building department also uses a plot plan to verify site accessibility elements including parking, ramps, walks, etc. meet the requirements of building code. A plot plan with these elements and dimensions must be submitted with an application for a new commercial, new multi-family, or commercial addition permit.

Note: The plot plan that is completed through the Development Process will be accepted.

Setbacks
Lot coverage
Dimensions on all improvements

Soils Report

Asbestos Abatement (If Demolition is required)

Fire Protection Plans

Project Specifications

Exterior Changes

Indicate exterior changes are being proposed with this permit.

Include the following on your plans and applications. Failure to identify any exterior building changes may result in delayed permit issuance due to required Planning Division reviews. It is important to clearly identify any changes to the building exterior or site on this checklist.

Parking
Lighting
Signage (Separate permit is required)
Paving, ramps, patios
Glazing, doors
Awnings, canopies, shade structures
Rooftop, Wall Mounted and Ground Mounted Mechanical Equipment, Flues and Exterior Building Elements
Landscaping

Permit Issuance and Inspections

Once the permit application has been reviewed and approved by Building Inspections, Planning and Engineering the permit will be ready for issuance. All fees must be paid and the applicant must download the proper permit documents to have available on site. Fees can be paid online using a credit card, if other type of payment is requested, please visit the building inspections office to make a payment.

Field Documents

All projects are required to have the following City of Arvada approved documents on site. All approved plan sets can be downloaded on arvadapermits.org and can be made available either in a physical paper copy or as an electronic copy, unless noted otherwise.

Plan Set Approved (Electronic or physical)
Inspection Sign Off Sheet (Physical copy)
Permit (Physical copy)

Inspections

Depending on the scope of your project, various inspections are required throughout the duration of construction. Third party inspection companies typically perform all foundation inspections and special inspections required in accordance with the International Building Code. City building department staff perform the remaining structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and building inspections.

Separate permits and inspections are required for public improvements, right of way work, utility connections, and fire system installation. These are provided by the City Engineering Department, special districts providing utility services (if the area is not served by a city owned utility), health department, and the Fire District serving the property, respectively.

Certificate of Occupancy

No space or structure shall be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been obtained from the City Building Department. All final inspections must be performed and approved by City building inspectors. In addition approval by all development related departments within the City including Planning, Engineering, Traffic, and Utilities and related Special Districts including the Fire Department and Public Health Department (for restaurants) must be obtained with proof provided to the Building Department.

An Improvement Location Certificate and Final Grading Plan, including impervious surface, special inspection reports, foundation inspection reports, backflow test reports, mechanical balance reports, Landscape Inspection, and any other project specific certifications or documentation must be provided before the Certificate of Occupancy can be issued.

All commercial projects in the City of Arvada require a Certificate of Occupancy to be issued before occupancy can occur.

All final inspections are completed. Final Building, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing. CO-Public Improvement.
Test and proof of compliance for Emergency Responder Radio Coverage.
Tap fees have been paid in full. If you pay with non-certified funds you will have a two week wait before the sign off can be complete.
Landscape Inspection: Developers (or builders) are required to construct landscape improvements consistent with approved landscape plans prior to receiving a Certificate of Occupancy. After landscape construction is completed, developers (or builders) must provide landscape inspection by a licensed Landscape Architect (or a representative of the licensed Landscape Architect) who will certify that required landscape improvements are complete. Proof of inspection must be completed and uploaded to the permit through arvadapermits.org.
Request C.O. through www.arvadapermits.org, five days before desired issue date.
Review permit reviews on arvadapermits.org to make sure all of the reviews are completed and approved by the following departments:
- Engineering
- Planning
- Utility Billing
- Fire Department
- Building Inspection