Building Safety policies

The documents on this page reflect changes we've made to Building Safety policies since 2017. We routinely review and revise our policies to make sure building work in Louisville is safe and guided by up-to-date codes. If you have any questions about these policy changes, email Building Safety at Building@louisvilleco.gov.

Policy	Policy Detail
Contractor Licensing Policy and Procedure Statement [Revised 05/12/2026]	Establishes requirements for maintaining an active contractor license, including current ICC testing or state licenses, required CSS portal access, and applicable fees. Contractors who do not maintain compliance may have new and existing permits placed on hold until licensing requirements are met
Expired Permit Inspection Fees Policy and Procedure Statement	Establishes how expired or abandoned permits are handled, including that expired permits will not be reactivated. Depending on the remaining inspections or work, a final inspection may be allowed or a new permit may be required under current codes and fees.

Policy	Policy Detail
High Efficient Gas Appliance Replacements and Exhaust Vent Inspections	Requires 90%+ efficient furnaces, water heaters, and boilers for new construction, additions, remodels, and replacements. Exhaust vent piping must also be pressure-tested and inspected to confirm there are no leaks before final connection to the appliance.
Under Structural Basement Floor Plumbing Inspections and Requirements Policy	Allows plumbing beneath a structural floor to be inspected before the floor is installed, provided specific testing, anchoring, slope, and hanger requirements are met. After the floor is installed, the plumbing must also be flooded and video-scoped to verify proper drainage and slope

Policy	Policy Detail
Marshall Fire Destroyed Homes Foundation	Foundations of buildings destroyed by fire are considered structurally compromised unless a Colorado-licensed structural engineer provides a stamped letter verifying that the foundation is structurally sound. The Building Official may also require a third-party engineering review or determine whether a partially burned structure’s foundation was affected by the fire.

Policy	Policy Detail
Asbestos - Demolition	Requires demolition projects to comply with State of Colorado asbestos requirements, including asbestos inspections and CDPHE demolition documentation when applicable. If regulated asbestos is present above established trigger levels, proper abatement must be completed before demolition or renovation work begins.

Policy	Policy Detail
2018 IRC Smoke Detectors	Establishes when smoke detectors must be interconnected during renovations or upgrades. If more than 50% of the home requires new detectors, all detectors must be interconnected; if less than 50% requires replacement, only the new detectors must be interconnected with each other.
Definition of Space	Clarifies how “space” is interpreted under the IECC, generally including areas that directly communicate with one another when determining square footage. Areas separated by self-closing and latching doors may be excluded, with final determination made by the Building Official or designee.
Definition of Usable Space	Defines usable space as an area that is functional, serviceable, practical, or capable of being used. Crawlspaces and attics may be considered usable when they can accommodate servicing equipment or utilities, while spaces too small for those purposes are considered unusable.
Elevator Modifications and Inspections	Requires a City permit and inspection for modifications, upgrades, or major repairs to existing elevators, while routine maintenance and like-for-like replacement parts generally do not require a permit. Uncorrected violations or unpermitted work may result in reinspection fees or a Stop Work Order.
Listed and Labeled Equipment	Requires applicable equipment to be listed and labeled for its intended use by an approved nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL, CSA, or ETL. The Building Official determines whether other testing agencies are acceptable.
Site Excavation Protection	Requires engineered shoring when excavation near a property line exceeds a 45-degree slope plane and could create a risk of soil collapse or damage to an adjacent property. Final determination is made by the Building Official or their designee
Water Supply for Fire Suppression Systems	Requires new commercial buildings to have separate water lines for the fire suppression system and culinary water service. Both lines must be properly installed and inspected, with the fire line remaining unmetered and the culinary water line metered separately.

Policy	Policy Detail
Manual J and D Requirements for Residential	Manual J and D calculations are generally not required for residential additions of 500 square feet or less. The Plans Examiner or Building Official may determine when they are required.
Service Panel Upgrade	When only a residential electrical service panel is being upgraded, existing breakers, wiring, outlets, and branch circuits are not required to be brought fully up to current code. The same general approach applies to commercial projects, although additional circuit upgrades may be required when the inspector identifies life-safety concerns.
Suspension or Abandonments that exceed 180 days	Requires residential projects to pass a complete inspection within each 180-day period to keep the permit active. Partial or failed inspections do not satisfy the requirement, and permits may expire if the required inspection milestones are not completed.

Policy	Policy Detail
Conditional At-Risk Permission Requests	Allows limited site preparation or construction work to begin at the owner’s and contractor’s risk while a submitted building permit is still under review, subject to approval by the Building Official or designee. Approval does not guarantee permit issuance, and any work may need to be corrected or stopped if the permit is denied.
Fire Suppression Systems	Existing residential homes undergoing remodels or additions are not required to upgrade to a residential fire suppression system under this policy. A fire suppression system is required when the existing home is completely removed and a new home is constructed.
Hot Tub Safety, Disconnects, Emergency Shut Offs	Establishes requirements for hot tub emergency shutoffs, electrical disconnect locations, and guardrail protection. Emergency shutoffs are generally required for construction other than one-family dwellings, and disconnects must be properly located within sight of the hot tub while maintaining required clearances
Inspections Outside Normal Business Hours	Establishes when additional fees apply for inspections requested outside normal business hours, including a two-hour minimum charge. These inspections should generally be scheduled at least five days in advance, and late cancellations may still be subject to fees
Job Site Safety Fence Protection	Requires safety fencing around active construction sites to protect the public from open excavations, overhead work, and other hazards. Residential sites generally require at least a 4-foot fence, while commercial sites require at least a 6-foot fence, along with locking gates and required project signage
Roof Top Units	Allows replacement of an existing rooftop unit without a stamped structural engineering report when the new unit is the same size or smaller and weighs the same or less than the existing unit. Contractors must provide documentation showing the specifications of both the existing and replacement units.
Work Commencing Before Permit	Contractors or owners who begin work before a required permit is issued may be subject to increased permit fees, Stop Work Orders, and other penalties. Repeated violations may result in additional fees, contractor license suspension or revocation, and Municipal Court enforcement.

City of Louisville, CO
749 Main St
Louisville, CO 80027