HVAC Permit in Denver, Colorado
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
For all HVAC and mechanical equipment installation or replacement
Issued byCity and County of Denver Community Planning and Development
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A mechanical permit is required in Denver for all residential HVAC work including installation, replacement, and ductwork modifications. HVAC work qualifies for a quick permit without plan review in most cases. Quick permits cover boilers, heat exchangers, radiant heating, air conditioning units, ductwork, and exhaust systems.
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When a permit is usually needed
For all HVAC and mechanical equipment installation or replacement
What an HVAC permit costs in Denver
How Denver compares in Colorado
No Colorado jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | It depends | On the 2026 flat-rate schedule (Form #A175, footer "Flat-Rate Fee (Revised... |
| Denverthis page | Permit required | Valuation-based fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum |
| Jefferson County | Permit required | Mechanical permits not tied to an active building permit bill on the... |
How to apply in Denver
In Denver, a residential HVAC (mechanical) permit application must identify the covered equipment and scope of work, since installing, altering, or replacing a heating or cooling system is regulated work that cannot start until the application is submitted and the permit issued. The equipment itself must be picked by a real sizing calculation rather than a rule of thumb.
What most HVAC permit applications include:
- For Denver, a mechanical permit is required before anyone may install, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system regulated by the code, and the work may not begin until the application is submitted and the permit is issued (IRC R105.1).
- For Denver, the application identifies the specific equipment being installed, such as a furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner, since the unit must be installed according to its listing and the manufacturer's installation instructions (IRC M1401.1).
- For Denver, the proposed equipment location must leave the clearances needed to clean coils and replace filters, blowers, motors, and controls after installation (IRC M1401.2).
- For Denver, the application carries the equipment sizing basis: ACCA Manual J building loads and Manual S equipment selection, or another approved sizing method, not a rule of thumb (IRC M1401.3).
- For a split system, the work covered by the permit includes refrigerant suction line insulation, since the piping is inspected against that standard once installed (IRC M1411.6).
General submittal guidance from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Chapter 1 (Permits) and Chapter 14 (Heating and Cooling Equipment and Appliances). Source. City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development sets the exact checklist for Denver.
Where to apply in Denver:
City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development
- 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 205, Denver, CO 80202
- Phone: 720-865-2720
- Email: planreview@denvergov.org
HVAC Permit in Denver compared with nearby Colorado localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Colorado schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | Permit required | Not specified | Valuation-based fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum | |
| Aurora | It depends | Not specified | On the 2026 flat-rate schedule (Form #A175, footer "Flat-Rate Fee (Revised 08/2026)")... | |
| Jefferson County | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical permits not tied to an active building permit bill on the countywide... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Denver, mechanical work gets a rough in inspection after the ductwork, refrigerant lines, and gas piping are in but before they are covered or concealed, followed by a final inspection that confirms the equipment operates correctly and its clearances, combustion air, and condensate disposal are in place. A straight equipment changeout with no new ductwork commonly gets a single final inspection instead of a separate rough in trip.
- In Denver: rough inspection of the mechanical and gas systems must be made before the work is covered or concealed, before fixtures or appliances are set or installed, and before the framing inspection (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Denver: where a cooling coil is added to an existing warm air furnace, the rough in confirms the coil is not installed upstream of the heat exchanger unless the furnace is listed for it, and that the blower can handle the added static pressure (IRC M1411.2).
- In Denver: the rough in and final both confirm the appliance access opening and working space are large enough to service the unit (IRC M1305.1).
- In Denver: at final inspection, the inspector verifies the equipment has adequate combustion air, with openings kept clear for the distance the code requires (IRC M1402.3).
- In Denver: final inspection also checks that the condensate line drains to an approved point of disposal with the required slope and does not create a nuisance (IRC M1411.3).
- In Denver: for a straight equipment changeout with no new ductwork, many permit offices require only a single final inspection, while a new installation still gets a rough in inspection before the final (common local inspection practice).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Denver permit portal or by phone at 720-865-2720.
Inspection sequence from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R109 (Required Inspections) and Chapter 14 (Heating and Cooling Equipment and Appliances). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your HVAC Permit checklist for Denver
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: For all HVAC and mechanical equipment installation or replacement.
- Budget the fee. Valuation-based fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum; like-for-like furnace, AC and boiler swaps issue as no-plan-review quick permits, per the Development Fees schedule and Quick Permits page. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Denver, a residential HVAC (mechanical) permit application must identify the covered equipment and scope of work, since installing, altering, or replacing a heating or cooling system is regulated work that cannot start until the application is submitted and the permit issued. The equipment itself must be picked by a real sizing calculation rather than a rule of thumb. Start at the Denver permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development. Phone: 720-865-2720. Address: 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 205, Denver, CO 80202.
- Plan for inspections. In Denver, mechanical work gets a rough in inspection after the ductwork, refrigerant lines, and gas piping are in but before they are covered or concealed, followed by a final inspection that confirms the equipment operates correctly and its clearances, combustion air, and condensate disposal are in place. A straight equipment changeout with no new ductwork commonly gets a single final inspection instead of a separate rough in trip.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Permitting activity in Denver
In 2024, Denver authorized permits for 3,994 new residential housing units (872 single-family, 3,122 in multi-family buildings), valued at $788M, down from 5,725 the year before. That works out to about 5.4 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual data · population 735,538.
About Denver
Denver has about 352,593 housing units. The median home is valued at $586,700, against a median household income of $91,681. About 49% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1974.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need an HVAC permit in Denver?
- A mechanical permit is required in Denver for all residential HVAC work including installation, replacement, and ductwork modifications. HVAC work qualifies for a quick permit without plan review in most cases. Quick permits cover boilers, heat exchangers, radiant heating, air conditioning units, ductwork, and exhaust systems. Always confirm with the City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development before starting.
- How much does an HVAC permit cost in Denver?
- Valuation-based fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum; like-for-like furnace, AC and boiler swaps issue as no-plan-review quick permits, per the Development Fees schedule and Quick Permits page. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for an HVAC permit in Denver?
- You can apply through the Denver permit portal or contact the City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull an HVAC permit themselves in Denver?
- Under Colorado law (C.R.S. 12-115-116(2); C.R.S. 12-115-120(11)(c); C.R.S. 12-155-118(2); C.R.S. 12-155-120(11)(c)): Colorado's state electrical law has a homeowner exception: under C.R.S. 12-115-116(2), you do not need an electrician's license to do electrical work on your own property or residence, as long as all the work, other than maintenance or repair of existing systems, is inspected under the state law. The exception does not apply if the property is intended for sale or resale by someone in the construction or remodeling business, is rental property, or is generally open to the public. A homeowner performing work on the homeowner's home is a qualified applicant who may pull the state electrical permit under C.R.S. 12-115-120(11)(c), and plumbing mirrors this: C.R.S. 12-155-118(2) allows unlicensed plumbing work on your own property or residence with the same carve-outs, and C.R.S. 12-155-120(11)(c) lets a homeowner pull the state plumbing permit. The State Electrical and Plumbing Boards at DORA require that the homeowner personally perform the work, that it be inspected before cover and again at completion, and that it meet the National Electrical Code or the adopted plumbing codes. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license: Title 12 licenses electricians and plumbers at the state level, and general building contractors are licensed, if at all, by the individual city or county. Confirm how Denver applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Denver
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | uncovered decks under 12 in off the ground require no permit; 12 in or more requires a zoning permit; 30 in or more also requires a building permit | Valuation-based building permit fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum for work valued... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Valuation-based fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum for work valued at $500 or less |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fences shorter than 4 ft require no permit; fences 4 ft or taller require at minimum a zoning permit; most fence types over 4 ft also require a building permit | Zoning construction permit fee with a $10 minimum for fences valued at $500 or less |
| Patio Permit | It depends | covered patios always require a zoning and building permit; uncovered ground-level patios may not require a permit | Valuation-based building permit fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Valuation-based fee per CPD Table 1 with a $20 minimum |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No pool-specific fee line |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Issued as a no-plan-review quick permit |
| Shed Permit | It depends | sheds up to 200 sq ft with 8 ft top plate and 14 ft max height do not require a building permit but may require a zoning permit in some zone districts | No building permit for one-story detached sheds up to 200 sq ft, 8 ft top plate and 14... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | $50 flat permit fee for the solar photovoltaic portion of a project with no plan review... |
HVAC Permit in other Colorado localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Denver documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this HVAC permit page for Denver was verified. 2 official sources: denvergov.org, denvergov.org; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page