In addition to the building permit and its associated technical (electrical, plumbing, & mechanical) permits, there are other types of permits that may be required for any given project.

In addition there are permits that are specific to a project other than a building permit. Some of these permits are applied for in the building department, but some are applied for with other agencies. It is the responsibility of the builder to obtain each of these permits when required.

OTHER BUILDING DEPARTMENT PERMITS:
Hot Tub Permit
Mobile Home Permit
Wood Stove or Gas Fireplace Permit

OTHER AGENCY PERMITS:
Elevator Permit
Septic Permit
Right of Way Permit
Well Permit
Grading & Excavating Permit

Back to top

SUMMIT COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT
REQUIREMENTS FOR HOT-TUB / SPA INSTALLATIONS
The hot-tub installer is responsible for assuring that all of the code requirements below are met. The installation requires that both a building permit and an electrical permit be pulled. The hot tub building permit must be issued before the electrical permit may be issued. The building permit fee is $50.00 and the electrical permit fee is $115.00. Both the final building and final electrical inspections must be called in for the same day and after all of the work is complete.

THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE TO REMAIN ON THE JOB SITE AND SERVE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE APPROVED PLANS FOR THIS INSTALLATION

1. BARRIERS FOR POOLS, SPAS, & HOT TUBS. (2006 International Residential Code Appendix G)

Any exterior installation that is accessible from grade by means of a stairway or where the deck surface is less than 48 inches above grade at any point must have a barrier which complies with Appendix G AG 105.2 or provide a LISTED SAFETY COVER: A self-contained spa or hot-tub equipped with a listed safety cover meeting the requirements of ASTM standard F-1346 is exempt from the above barrier requirements. This standard must be permanently affixed to the cover for inspector approval.

2. GUARDRAIL EXTENSIONS:

In addition to the guardrail requirements of Section 1, if the edge of the hot tub is within 18” horizontally of the edge of the deck that is more than 30 inches from grade at any point, the guardrail must be extended to 18” above the top of the hot tub cover.

3. SAFETY GLAZING IN PROXIMITY TO HOT-TUBS/SPAS: (2006 IRC R308.4 (9))

Existing or new glazing in walls and fences within 5 feet horizontally of the water’s edge and less than 5 feet above the floor or deck surface on the poolside of the glazing must be tempered glass, laminated glass, or wired glass.

4. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS: (ARTICLE 680, 2008 NEC)

5. IF PROPERTY IS ON A WELL:
The owner may need to augment well water to have outdoor hot tub. Contact 970-453-3403 for augmentation information. Contact 970-945-5665 for information regarding well permit allowances.

Back to top

SUMMIT COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT
REQUIREMENTS FOR MOBILE HOME INSTALLATIONS
The Mobile Home installer is responsible for assuring that all of the code requirements below are met.

There are [2] two permits required prior to delivery and installation of a Mobile Home to an approved location.

There are [3] three inspections required after the installation and prior to the issuance of a CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. ALL THREE INSPECTIONS MUST BE REQUESTED FOR THE SAME TIME.

ACCESS INTO THE MOBILE HOME IS REQUIRED FOR FINAL ELECTRICAL ON DAY OF INSPECTION

REQUIREMENTS FOR STAIRS & LANDINGS FOR MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION:

1. Guardrails must be provided at any area which is more than 30” above adjacent grade or floor below and must extend to at least 36” above the finished floor level. Open guardrails must have intermediate rails or balusters spaced so that a 4” diameter sphere may not pass through the openings. Cable guardrails are not allowed. R316.1, R316.2.

2. There shall be a floor or landing not more than 1" lower than the threshold at each door except as follows: A door may open at the top step of an interior flight of stairs, provided the door does not swing over the top step; A door may open at a landing that is not more than 8 inches lower than the floor level, provided the door does not swing over the landing; Screen doors and storm doors may swing over stairs, steps or landings. Landings shall be at least 36" in the direction of travel. R312.1.2

3. Stairways must provide not less than 36" of clear width. They must be constructed with a 9 3/4" maximum rise and a 10" minimum run as measured from nose to nose. The maximum variance between any riser in a group of risers or any run in a group of runs cannot exceed 3/8". A minimum 6'-8" headroom clearance is required measured vertically from a plane parallel and tangent to the stairway tread nosings. R314.1, R314.2.

4. Stairways with 2 or more risers must have handrails on any open side and at least on one side. The top of handrails must be placed not less than 34 inches or more than 38 inches above the nosing of treads. Open stair railings must have intermediate rails or an ornamental pattern such that a 4" sphere cannot pass through the openings. R315.1..

5. The handgrip portion of handrails should not be less than 1 1/4 inches or more than 2 5/8” in cross-sectional dimension or the shape should provide an equivalent gripping surface. The handgrip portion should have a smooth surface with no sharp corners. Handrails projecting from a wall should have a space of not less than 1½ inches between the wall and the handrail. R315.2.

DETAILED CODE REQUIREMENTS

6. Provide approved numbers or addresses using characters with a minimum height of 5" and of a contrasting color in such a position as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or road. Section R325.1 as amended.

7. When wood joists are located closer than 18" or wood girders are located closer than 12" to exposed ground, the floor assembly, including posts, girders, joists and subfloor, shall be approved wood of natural resistance to decay or pressure treated wood. IRC R323.1.

8. Individual concrete or masonry piers shall project at least 1" above exposed ground unless with an approved impervious moisture barrier between the post and pier the columns or posts which they support are of approved wood of natural resistance to decay or treated wood is used. R323.1.4.

REQUIREMENTS FOR HUD CERTIFIED HOME:

Manufactured after June 15, 1976

Wind zone must be zone I or II

Outdoor design temperature must be zone 2 or 3

Roof load zone must be designated “middle” or “north”

OTHER:
Outside of mobile home parks, a mobile home is allowed on a lot specifically zoned to allow such a use. The home would then need to meet all requirements of the building code for a new house, including a permanent foundation and structurally built to support the area’s snow load. To find out whether a mobile home is allowed on a specific lot, call the Planning office at 668-4200.

Back to top

WOOD STOVE OR GAS FIREPLACE PERMITS
Only one solid fuel burning appliance is allowed in a new house, and it must be EPA Phase II certified. Wood burning appliances are not allowed in commercial buildings and are not allowed in dwelling units or guestrooms of multi-family buildings. In an existing building having one or more wood burning appliances, an additional one may not be installed. An existing non-EPA certified fireplace or stove may only be replaced by a Phase II certified or gas one. Gas fireplaces are not restricted.

A permit is required to install a wood stove or gas fireplace, and it must be pulled by the person doing the installation. A homeowner may pull a permit to install a wood stove or gas fireplace in his or her own house after taking the gas pipe exam in our office. The permit fee is based on the valuation (cost of the appliance plus installation costs), typically a $50 fee.

Back to top

ELEVATOR PERMITS & INSPECTIONS
New elevator installations require permits and inspections by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments elevator inspection department. Also, elevators are routinely inspected and certified by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments. For more information, call (970) 468-0295, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Back to top

SEPTIC PERMITS

Onsite Wastewater Permits (Septic Permits)

 An Onsite Wastewater Permit, issued by the Summit County Environmental Health Department, is required to install an onsite wastewater system in Summit County.  To obtain a permit you will need to provide a site plan showing the locations of the proposed house, septic tank, leach field, surface waters, wetlands, the slope at the proposed leach filed area and the location of all wells and onsite wastewater systems on adjacent lots (records available at the Environmental Health Dept.)  Before the permit can be issued, an Environmental Health Inspector must conduct a site inspection and a profile hole inspection.  The fee for the site inspection is $95.00.  You can, ideally, have the profile hole inspected at the same time for a total inspection fee of $120.00.  Otherwise, the profile hole inspection costs an additional $95.00.  A percolation test, conducted by the designer of the system, will also be required.   

Whether you can design your own onsite wastewater system or will need to hire a professional engineer to design the system depends on a number of factors such as percolation rate, groundwater level, soil conditions and slope.  In order to install your own onsite wastewater system you must first take and pass a test.  The cost of the test is $77.00; (a copy of the OWS Regulations can be downloaded and printed from the Environmental Health website or you can purchase a copy for $18.50.). Otherwise, an onsite wastewater system installer licensed by the Environmental Health Department must install the onsite wastewater system.     

Once the final site plan, system design, and initial inspections have been approved and fees are paid, the onsite wastewater permit may be issued.  The permit fee is $800.00, which entitles you to four inspections during the construction process. 

Onsite Wastewater Use Permits

 If a major remodel, defined as addition of bedroom or living space, is being pursued on a building that is serviced by an existing onsite wastewater system an onsite wastewater use permit must be obtained from the Environmental Health Department prior to issuance of a building permit.  In order to obtain a use permit a certified use permit inspector must complete an inspection in conjunction with pumping the septic tank.  The results of this inspection and a questionnaire completed by the homeowner are submitted to the Environmental Health Department with a fee of $75.00 for review and consideration for issuance of a use permit.

The Environmental Health Department maintains a list of certified use permit inspectors.  The Environmental Heath Department is located in the same office as the Building Department, with the same hours, except they are closed from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  They can be reached at (970) 668-4070

Back to top

RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS
A right-of-way permit is required to install utilities, culverts, or anything else in a county road right-of-way. This permit is required to assure proper installation, drainage and adequate re-vegetation, as well as adequate reconstruction and/or repair of any damage caused to the road. The right-of-way permit is normally issued to the locally licensed excavator. Proof of insurance and a bond must be provided if an owner-builder or out-of-area excavator wishes to pull the permit. Right-of-way permits are issued by the Summit County Road and Bridge Department, 970-668-4199.

Back to top

WELL PERMITS
For properties not served by public water supply a copy of the State well permit will need to be provided before a building permit will be issued. Information regarding these state well permits can be obtained at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources at 303 866-3587. Any other type of non-public water supply is subject to review and approval by the Environmental Health Department, and plans for such non-public water supplies must accompany the submittal of plans to the Building Department.

Back to top

GRADING, EXCAVATION, AND ACCESS PERMITS
A grading, excavation, and access permit, if applicable, must be obtained before you can pull a building or septic permit. The permit may be obtained from the Summit County Engineering Department, which is in the same building as the Building Department. The permit provides a means of controlling site disturbance, soil erosion, and re-vegetation, and minimizes sediment and phosphorus loading into county waterways. The access portion regulates driveway construction and connection with the county road. These permits only apply to projects in unincorporated areas of the county.

The Engineering Dept. will review your grading /excavating and access permit application concurrently with the Building Dept. review of your building plans. Upon reviewing your plans and application, you will be told whether a site visit, to determine if erosion and water quality control measures will be needed, is required before you can pull the permit.

For more information about permits with the Engineering Department go to www.co.summit.co.us/engineering/permits.html.

Back to top