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Lakewood Building and Trade Permit Guide

Britain Jacobson

Britain Jacobson

Last updated:

Aug 8, 2025

Published:

August 8, 2025

Reading time:

5

minutes

Construction and trades projects in Lakewood, Colorado move faster when permitting is done right. But amid system requirements, fee structures, and zoning rules that vary by project type, it's easy to miss a step — especially if you're new to the area or juggling multiple jobs.

This guide lays out exactly what you need to know to pull a Lakewood building permit with confidence. You'll find key permit requirements, fee breakdowns, application steps, and how to use the city's eTRAKiT portal without getting stuck in red tape.

Simplify permitting in Lakewood with PermitFlow. Learn how.

What requires a building permit in Lakewood?

Lakewood mandates permits for nearly all new construction, alterations, and system installations, including:

  • All new construction, expansions, alterations, repairs, demolition, occupancy changes, or movement of buildings or structures
  • Electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing installations or modifications – any system work requires a permit
  • Fences over 6 feet tall, or fences in locations obstructing vision, typically require a permit or zoning review
  • Decks, patios, sidewalks, driveways, unless explicitly exempted – often require a permit (check site-specific exclusions)
  • Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (unless a code exemption applies)

What doesn’t require a permit?

The following are exempt as per Lakewood's Building Code § 105.2 and the exemptions PDF:

  • One-story detached accessory buildings up to 120 sq ft, up to 10 ft tall, and placed in the rear half of the lot with 3 ft setbacks from property lines
  • Interior movable cases, counters, and partitions less than 5’ 9″ high
  • Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinetry, countertops, and similar finish work
  • Swings and playground equipment accessory to detached single-family homes
  • Residential window awnings (depending on size and location; contact Permit Counter to confirm)
  • Prefabricated residential swimming pools (portable; small size), subject to location and utility connection rules
  • Retaining walls and rockeries no more than 4 ft tall; still verify zoning setbacks and site conditions

To find more information about your specific case, refer to the building and construction permits and list of exemptions from permits pages.

Who oversees permits in Lakewood?

All permits are issued by the Public Works Building & Construction Permits division at 480 S. Allison Parkway. Use the eTRAKiT portal to apply, track, and pay fees online. For in-person assistance or special inquiries, contact the Permit Counter at 303-987-7500 or email permitcounter@lakewood.org.

Lakewood building permit fees

Lakewood uses a dual fee structure:

Valuation-based building permits that are determined by project valuation using the Building Valuation Data Table (per-square-foot rates by occupancy).

Total valuation Permit fee
$1.00 – $500.00 $26.00
$501 – $2,000 $26.00 + $3.45 per $100 over $500
$2,001 – $25,000 $77.75 + $13.80 per $1,000 over $2,000
$25,001 – $50,000 $395.15 + $9.20 per $1,000 over $25,000
$50,001 – $100,000 $625.15 + $6.90 per $1,000 over $50,000
$100,001 – $500,000 $970.15 + $5.75 per $1,000 over $100,000
$500,001 – $1,000,000 $3,270.15 + $4.60 per $1,000 over $500,000
Over $1,000,000 $5,570.15 + $3.45 per $1,000 over $1,000,000

Flat-fee permits & inspections:

Permit type Flat fee
Fence $80.00
Water heater, furnace, A/C, cooler (per unit) $80.00 each
Furnace + A/C installed together $110.00
Siding (single-family/duplex) $80.00
Interior demolition/asbestos abatement $80.00
SF/duplex demo & accessory buildings $140.00

Additional fees

Plan Review Type Fee
All permits (except flat fee permits) 65% of permit fee
Masterplan (1st use) 65% of permit fee
Masterplan (2nd+ use) $325.00 per use
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy $1,000 ($500 refunded)

For a detailed breakdown of Lakewood building permit fees, view the fee schedule or contact 303-987-7500.

Lakewood trade permits

Plumbing permits

Required for water service lines, fixture installations, gas piping, drain/waste/vent work, and water heater replacements. Contractors must be registered in eTRAKiT.

Plumbing permit fees

  • Water Heater or Boiler: $80

Roofing permits

Full roof replacements and structural decking repairs require permits; minor shingle overlays under 25% of roof area may be exempt.

Roofing permit fees

  • Roof (Single-Family, Duplex, Townhome): $110

HVAC permits

Covers furnace, boiler, AC installations, ductwork, and ventilation systems.

HVAC permit fees

System installed Fee
Furnace $80.00
Air Conditioner (A/C) $80.00
Furnace & A/C (Combo) $110.00
Evaporative Cooler $80.00

Fence permits

Required for fences over six feet tall (four feet in front yards) or those near sidewalks/corner lots.

Fence permit fees

Flat $80 fee; zoning variance requests incur additional charges.

Want to pull building permits faster?
PermitFlow keeps everything organized in one simple platform, built for busy contractors like you.

How to get a Lakewood building permit

Step 1: Prepare your documents

Lakewood building permit requirements include the following documents:

  • Stamped construction plans
  • Site drawings
  • Detailed scope of work
  • Project valuation estimate
  • Contractor registration/license (must be registered with Lakewood)

Step 2: Complete the application form

Download and fill out the Lakewood building permit application from the Lakewood Public Works page.

Step 3: Submit via eTRAKiT

Go to eTRAKiT Portal:

  • Create or log into your account
  • Select “Apply for New Project”
  • Upload completed Lakewood building permit form, plans, and pay any required plan review fees

Step 4: Plan review

Plans are reviewed by Building, Zoning, Fire, and Engineering Departments.

  • Standard review: 5-10 business days
  • Large commercial projects may take longer

Step 5: Pay fees & receive permit

Once approved, an invoice is issued. Pay online or at the Permit Counter to receive your digital permit.

Step 6: Schedule inspections

Don't forget to schedule the inspections (foundation, rough-ins, final) via:

Lakewood permitting resources

Streamline Lakewood permitting with PermitFlow

Lakewood permits shouldn’t derail your timelines — or your team’s momentum. Between system quirks, back-and-forth approvals, and portal confusion, it’s easy to lose valuable time on paperwork instead of progress.

PermitFlow takes the entire permitting burden off your plate. Our platform prepares, submits, and tracks every Lakewood permit — plus permits in any other jurisdiction where you work — so your projects stay on track.

Why builders choose PermitFlow:

  • Local expertise: We know Lakewood’s permitting rules inside and out
  • Full visibility: Track every permit, inspection, and fee from a single dashboard
  • Fewer delays: We catch issues before submission to speed up approvals
Don’t let Lakewood permitting slow you down. Talk to our team to see how PermitFlow can help you move faster, stay compliant, and deliver projects on time.

Construction and trades projects in Lakewood, Colorado move faster when permitting is done right. But amid system requirements, fee structures, and zoning rules that vary by project type, it's easy to miss a step — especially if you're new to the area or juggling multiple jobs.

This guide lays out exactly what you need to know to pull a Lakewood building permit with confidence. You'll find key permit requirements, fee breakdowns, application steps, and how to use the city's eTRAKiT portal without getting stuck in red tape.

Simplify permitting in Lakewood with PermitFlow. Learn how.

What requires a building permit in Lakewood?

Lakewood mandates permits for nearly all new construction, alterations, and system installations, including:

  • All new construction, expansions, alterations, repairs, demolition, occupancy changes, or movement of buildings or structures
  • Electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing installations or modifications – any system work requires a permit
  • Fences over 6 feet tall, or fences in locations obstructing vision, typically require a permit or zoning review
  • Decks, patios, sidewalks, driveways, unless explicitly exempted – often require a permit (check site-specific exclusions)
  • Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (unless a code exemption applies)

What doesn’t require a permit?

The following are exempt as per Lakewood's Building Code § 105.2 and the exemptions PDF:

  • One-story detached accessory buildings up to 120 sq ft, up to 10 ft tall, and placed in the rear half of the lot with 3 ft setbacks from property lines
  • Interior movable cases, counters, and partitions less than 5’ 9″ high
  • Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinetry, countertops, and similar finish work
  • Swings and playground equipment accessory to detached single-family homes
  • Residential window awnings (depending on size and location; contact Permit Counter to confirm)
  • Prefabricated residential swimming pools (portable; small size), subject to location and utility connection rules
  • Retaining walls and rockeries no more than 4 ft tall; still verify zoning setbacks and site conditions

To find more information about your specific case, refer to the building and construction permits and list of exemptions from permits pages.

Who oversees permits in Lakewood?

All permits are issued by the Public Works Building & Construction Permits division at 480 S. Allison Parkway. Use the eTRAKiT portal to apply, track, and pay fees online. For in-person assistance or special inquiries, contact the Permit Counter at 303-987-7500 or email permitcounter@lakewood.org.

Lakewood building permit fees

Lakewood uses a dual fee structure:

Valuation-based building permits that are determined by project valuation using the Building Valuation Data Table (per-square-foot rates by occupancy).

Total valuation Permit fee
$1.00 – $500.00 $26.00
$501 – $2,000 $26.00 + $3.45 per $100 over $500
$2,001 – $25,000 $77.75 + $13.80 per $1,000 over $2,000
$25,001 – $50,000 $395.15 + $9.20 per $1,000 over $25,000
$50,001 – $100,000 $625.15 + $6.90 per $1,000 over $50,000
$100,001 – $500,000 $970.15 + $5.75 per $1,000 over $100,000
$500,001 – $1,000,000 $3,270.15 + $4.60 per $1,000 over $500,000
Over $1,000,000 $5,570.15 + $3.45 per $1,000 over $1,000,000

Flat-fee permits & inspections:

Permit type Flat fee
Fence $80.00
Water heater, furnace, A/C, cooler (per unit) $80.00 each
Furnace + A/C installed together $110.00
Siding (single-family/duplex) $80.00
Interior demolition/asbestos abatement $80.00
SF/duplex demo & accessory buildings $140.00

Additional fees

Plan Review Type Fee
All permits (except flat fee permits) 65% of permit fee
Masterplan (1st use) 65% of permit fee
Masterplan (2nd+ use) $325.00 per use
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy $1,000 ($500 refunded)

For a detailed breakdown of Lakewood building permit fees, view the fee schedule or contact 303-987-7500.

Lakewood trade permits

Plumbing permits

Required for water service lines, fixture installations, gas piping, drain/waste/vent work, and water heater replacements. Contractors must be registered in eTRAKiT.

Plumbing permit fees

  • Water Heater or Boiler: $80

Roofing permits

Full roof replacements and structural decking repairs require permits; minor shingle overlays under 25% of roof area may be exempt.

Roofing permit fees

  • Roof (Single-Family, Duplex, Townhome): $110

HVAC permits

Covers furnace, boiler, AC installations, ductwork, and ventilation systems.

HVAC permit fees

System installed Fee
Furnace $80.00
Air Conditioner (A/C) $80.00
Furnace & A/C (Combo) $110.00
Evaporative Cooler $80.00

Fence permits

Required for fences over six feet tall (four feet in front yards) or those near sidewalks/corner lots.

Fence permit fees

Flat $80 fee; zoning variance requests incur additional charges.

Want to pull building permits faster?
PermitFlow keeps everything organized in one simple platform, built for busy contractors like you.

How to get a Lakewood building permit

Step 1: Prepare your documents

Lakewood building permit requirements include the following documents:

  • Stamped construction plans
  • Site drawings
  • Detailed scope of work
  • Project valuation estimate
  • Contractor registration/license (must be registered with Lakewood)

Step 2: Complete the application form

Download and fill out the Lakewood building permit application from the Lakewood Public Works page.

Step 3: Submit via eTRAKiT

Go to eTRAKiT Portal:

  • Create or log into your account
  • Select “Apply for New Project”
  • Upload completed Lakewood building permit form, plans, and pay any required plan review fees

Step 4: Plan review

Plans are reviewed by Building, Zoning, Fire, and Engineering Departments.

  • Standard review: 5-10 business days
  • Large commercial projects may take longer

Step 5: Pay fees & receive permit

Once approved, an invoice is issued. Pay online or at the Permit Counter to receive your digital permit.

Step 6: Schedule inspections

Don't forget to schedule the inspections (foundation, rough-ins, final) via:

Lakewood permitting resources

Streamline Lakewood permitting with PermitFlow

Lakewood permits shouldn’t derail your timelines — or your team’s momentum. Between system quirks, back-and-forth approvals, and portal confusion, it’s easy to lose valuable time on paperwork instead of progress.

PermitFlow takes the entire permitting burden off your plate. Our platform prepares, submits, and tracks every Lakewood permit — plus permits in any other jurisdiction where you work — so your projects stay on track.

Why builders choose PermitFlow:

  • Local expertise: We know Lakewood’s permitting rules inside and out
  • Full visibility: Track every permit, inspection, and fee from a single dashboard
  • Fewer delays: We catch issues before submission to speed up approvals
Don’t let Lakewood permitting slow you down. Talk to our team to see how PermitFlow can help you move faster, stay compliant, and deliver projects on time.
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