The city has been working to streamline the city's permit application and development review processes to help make the submittal experience more seamless. As we continue to improve and expand online application processes, here are a few tips to help ensure your application is submitted and reviewed as quickly and smoothly as possible:

  1. Prepare a site plan. When you're first applying, make sure to provide a site plan. Depending on the level of the permit, it doesn't need to be professionally drawn, but it does need to be to scale. A common mistake is either submitting without a site plan or submitting with a site plan that is not to scale. Your application will be unable to move forward if you submit it without a site plan.
  2. Have a plan for who your contractor will be. You can start the review process without identifying your contractor, but once the review process is finished you will be required to add the contractor. You will need to do this before you pay for and receive your permit to move to the construction stage of your project.
  3. Review useful information. Be sure to view our website for the most commonly asked questions, instructions and requirements before you submit your application. This will help you avoid delays and potential resubmittals.
    Building Permit Application Guides and Forms
  4. Watch your email. Once you submit your application, watch your email for communications from city staff. Make sure you check your spam folder for an email from NoReply-EnerGovSystem@bouldercolorado.gov, and mark that address as a safe sender. All emails for permits and plan cases will come from this sender, however, do not reply to this email address, as it is not monitored.
    In the initial email, you will receive instructions for how to login to the Customer Self-Service portal, next steps, how to upload materials, what to do if materials are missing and how to connect with your staff reviewer through Inquire Boulder. 
  5. Remember your Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal login information. Inspections and payments are all handled through the CSS portal, so it is important to remember your login information. Once the application review is complete, all next steps, including fee payments and requests for inspections, will go through CSS.
    The email address you initially used to apply for a permit is the one you should use to login to the portal. 
    If you need to change who has access to your permit, do not create a new account on CSS. Contact staff through Inquire Boulder and they will add a new contact to your account. 

We hope these tips help ensure a smooth application process. Looking to connect with P&DS staff? Check out our How to Connect with Staff guide to find the best way to get your questions answered. Thank you for working with the City of Boulder.

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