Most new wiring, panel, service, EV-charger and circuit work in Fort Collins needs a City of Fort Collins electrical permit and inspection. Inside city limits the permit comes from the City's Building Services department, not the State of Colorado. A licensed master electrician working for a registered contractor normally pulls it. Homeowners can permit work on their own single-family home in some cases, and rules apply. Whoever you hire, ask them to confirm the permit is pulled before work starts. This is general information, not legal advice.
Below is how the system works for Fort Collins homeowners, what the inspections are, when you can pull your own permit, and how the rules differ in Loveland, Windsor, Wellington, Timnath and unincorporated Larimer County.
Who issues electrical permits in Fort Collins?
Colorado lets a city or county with its own electrical code and inspection program run inspections instead of the state, and permits then go to that local building department (C.R.S. 12-115-120). Fort Collins is one of those cities. City of Fort Collins Building Services issues permits, reviews plans, inspects work, and registers local contractors. You can reach Building Services at 970-416-2740.
State law also limits who may apply. "Only a qualified applicant may apply for a permit," which means a master electrician who is a registered contractor (or works for one), or a homeowner for work on their own home (C.R.S. 12-115-120). In Fort Collins, master electricians "Must be listed on permits for their trade" and must register with the City to work there, on top of their Colorado license (City contractor licensing page).
Which jobs usually need a permit?
The jobs homeowners ask about most often fall in the permit category: a panel upgrade or replacement, a service upgrade, a new circuit for an appliance or hot tub, a Level 2 EV charger, a basement finish, or rewiring an older home. For a Level 2 charger where the panel is too small, the City says plainly that "A permit and City Building Department inspection are required before work begins" (Fort Collins Utilities EV page).
If you are not sure whether a smaller job counts, ask Building Services or the contractor quoting it before work begins. A contractor who suggests skipping a permit on work that needs one is a reason to keep shopping.
The four electrical inspections
Fort Collins lists these electrical inspection types (City inspections page):
- Underground Electric: buried conduit or cable before the trench is backfilled.
- Rough Electric: wiring, boxes and connections before walls or ceilings are covered.
- Energize Electric: lets the utility energize the service at the meter set.
- Final Electric: the finished installation, with devices and covers in place.
A simple job may not need every stage; a new service or a basement finish may need most of them. Inspections are scheduled in the City's Accela Citizen Access portal. The City says requests made before 11 p.m. are generally scheduled for the next business day, and homeowners get an 8 a.m.–noon or noon–4 p.m. window. Questions can go to [email protected].
Can a homeowner pull their own electrical permit?
Sometimes. Colorado's homeowner exemption says nothing in the electrician licensing law requires "any individual to hold a license before doing electrical work on his or her own property or residence" (C.R.S. 12-115-116(2)). The exemption has limits:
- It does not apply if the property is intended for sale or resale.
- It does not apply to rental property occupied, or to be occupied, by tenants.
- The work still needs a permit and inspection.
Fort Collins narrows this further. The City's licensing exemption covers "Owners working on their own single-family residence (with conditions)" (City contractor licensing page), and owner-builders sign a notarized homeowner affidavit before the permit is issued. The affidavit says electrical work you contract out must be done by licensed contractors. The City's materials indicate attached homes such as townhouses, condos and duplexes have narrower allowances, so confirm with Building Services before you start. This is general information, not legal advice.
Hiring someone? If you pay a contractor, the contractor's master electrician should be the one on the permit. In Colorado, electrical work for hire is done by licensed electricians working for a registered electrical contractor (C.R.S. 12-115-110). A homeowner permit is not meant to cover a contractor's work.
Which electrical code applies?
Colorado adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code effective August 1, 2023 (Larimer County notice). Fort Collins moved from the 2020 to the 2023 NEC by ordinance in 2025, with local amendments. Check with Building Services for the edition in effect when your permit is issued, because the edition affects details such as where AFCI and GFCI protection is required.
One related rule catches people off guard. Under Colorado law, a permitted remodel can trigger a requirement for carbon monoxide alarms within 15 feet of sleeping rooms in homes with fuel-fired appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage (C.R.S. 38-45-102). Ask your contractor whether your project is one of them.
Outside Fort Collins city limits
Your permit office depends on your address, not your mailing city:
- Loveland: the City of Loveland Building Division issues electrical permits. Check with the city for current requirements.
- Wellington: town permits with SAFEbuilt handling plan review and inspections (970-674-1036). Electrical-only permits must list the electrician and state license number (Town of Wellington).
- Timnath: town permits with SAFEbuilt inspections (970-674-1036); the Town began full enforcement of the 2023 NEC on January 1, 2024 (Town of Timnath).
- Windsor: check with the Town of Windsor; SAFEbuilt has historically handled inspections.
- Unincorporated Larimer County: since July 1, 2020, the Larimer County Building Division handles electrical permits instead of the state.
See our service areas for town-by-town notes.
Why the permit matters to you
A permit means a City inspector looks at the work before it is covered up and before the utility energizes a new service. It also leaves a record, which can come up when you sell. Unpermitted work can mean opening walls later so it can be inspected. Permit fees are a small part of most jobs; for an EV charger, published cost guides put the permit at about $100–$200. Our Fort Collins electrician cost guide lists typical national ranges for common jobs.
Before you hire
- Confirm the contractor's Colorado electrical contractor registration and its master electrician's license with the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) license lookup. Our guide to checking a Colorado electrician's license walks through it.
- Inside Fort Collins, confirm the contractor is registered with the City.
- Ask who pulls the permit, and make sure it is pulled before work starts.
- Ask for proof of insurance.
- Get a written quote that says whether the utility's service-upgrade costs are included.
Get quotes that include the permit
We connect Fort Collins-area homeowners with independent local electrical contractors for free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor you choose quotes, permits, contracts and does the work directly with you. When you request a free quote, mention the job and your address so contractors can confirm which permit office applies and include the permit in their written quote.