Building & Construction
The Town of Nederland Planning and Zoning Department is eager to help the community with your building and permitting needs. In order to ensure that we are assisting everyone to the best of our ability, we want you to be aware of what our turnaround time-frames are based on your project and permitting needed:
| Permit Type | Timeframe for Turnaround |
| One Stop Permitting | 3 Business Days |
| Sign Permits | 5 Business Days |
| Addressing Permits | 5 Business Days |
| Land Use Permits | 10 Business Days |
Permits will be stamped with the date and time received and processed in the order in which they are received.
For additional questions, please contact Cynthia Bakke, Deputy Zoning Administrator, at cynthiab@nederlandco.org or 303-258-3266 ext. 1040. Depending on your need, you may be required to schedule an appointment with Cynthia as she is handling numerous requests for information each day.
Wherever possible handy How-To Guides are being developed and/or updated to assist applicants through Building and Land Use processes.
How-To Applicant Guide – Find Zoning, Yard and Bulk Requirements, and allowable Uses (updated 9/2019)
Nederland Zoning Map 2020
New Construction Applicant Guide 2020
How-To Applicant Guide – Right-of-Way/Excavation/Blasting
How-To Applicant Guide – Determining Passive Solar Site Orientation + Colorado low-energy home example
How-To Applicant Guide – Starting a New Business in Nederland
FireWise / Protecting property from wildfire
Nederland is in Wildfire Zone 1. Residents should commit to ongoing property mitigation to reduce risks from wildfire and/or structure fires by reducing “fuel” around the property. Improper ash disposal is a common source of ignition, along with chimney and woodstove pipe fires. Please see Applicant Guides below to guide property owners on how to reduce risks as well as the array of other resources provided below.
How-To Applicant Guide – Ash Disposal Safety
How-To Applicant Guide – Chimney/Woodstove Pipe Safety
FireWise Fact Sheet – Immediate Noncombustible
Protecting Your Home from Wildfire
Forest Home Fire Safety
FireWise Construction
Fire Resistant Landscaping
FireWise Plant Materials
For assistance mitigating your property against the threat of wildfires, please contact Wildfire Partners: https://www.wildfirepartners.org/ Those accepted into the program will receive a comprehensive report of recommended actions to take, which can be utilized as proof of mitigation for homeowner insurance purposes.
All building and construction projects, including those done by homeowners, must be permitted by the Town of Nederland. Property owners bear the responsibility of ensuring that hired contractors pull appropriate permits for work to be done. The Nederland Municipal Code provides general guidance for project managers and contractors. Chapter 18 concerns building regulations, and Chapter 16 concerns zoning. Please be aware that all permit fees can be doubled for work that is done without a required permit.
The Town of Nederland processes all building permit applications at Town Hall. The Town contracts with SAFEbuilt for plan review and the inspections. Dan Wester is the Chief Building Official who can be reached via email: dwester@safebuilt.com Streamlined review for standard residential or small commercial rooftop flush-mounted PV systems is available, and the Town accepts NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification.
One-Stop Building Permitting Applications for common improvements such as: Electrical Service Changes, Furnace Replacements, Replacement Doors/Windows, Reroofs, Siding, or Water Heaters can generally be processed the same day. Miscellaneous projects such as demolitions, Solar PV, Retaining Walls over 4 feet, and/or Temporary/Accessory Structures must be accompanied by required documents to be reviewed by Plan Review and thus will not be issued same day. Please fill out the attached application for One-Stop or Miscellaneous projects.
Nederland Building Permit Application (One-Stops)
2012 IRC Roofing Requirements for the Town of Nederland
Electrical/Plumbing License Contemporaneous Review Guidelines
The Town requires all new residential/commercial projects, projects being built on sensitive land, or any renovations of 20% alteration or more to meet for a Concept Review/Site Plan Review with Town staff prior to applying for a permit. Concept Review/Site Plan Review is a non-refundable $250 fee, with a $1000 engineering/legal escrow deposit required. The remainder of deposit minus engineering/legal review costs will be returned to the applicant when the building process is completed.
Any applicant proposing to excavate for a project, moving more than 50 cubic yards of earth, must pull an excavation permit in addition to their building permit. Any work done in the public rights-of-way, requires a permit, along with submission of security deposit to ensure Town roads are returned to finish-grade. Security deposit = $1000 which will be held to ensure road quality withstands seasonal weather patterns. (6 month hold for dirt roads; 1 year hold for concrete/asphalt roads)
To begin the permitting process, please complete the standard building permit application below. Please note that new builds will require a survey which can be used to create a site plan for either residential or commercial construction, which must be no older than 5 years from survey date. An Improvement Location Certificate (ILC) is acceptable for minimal development, (i.e. renovation), however any change to building footprint will require a survey. Please be aware that if there is any question of property boundary lines or encroachment, a survey will be required. Prior to design of your project, please review NMC Sec. 16-33 Yard and Bulk Requirements to determine required setbacks, allowable maximum lot coverage, and building heights by zoning district. (Yard and Bulk Requirements pdf is available at the very bottom of this page as via link above.)
The Town staff request that within the building process, a project representative (owner, builder, designer) be designated as the point-of-contact regarding the project to streamline communication. This representative will be contacted when the permit is ready to issue, or more information is needed. If you have not heard response within 7 days, please contact Cynthia Bakke, the Deputy Zoning Administrator to inquire about your application. If you have many questions regarding the building process, location, zoning, fee structure etc, please contact Cynthia Bakke @ 303-258-3266 ext. 1040 to set an appointment to discuss your project.
Nederland Building Permit Application (Residential or Commercial New Construction)
Nederland BLDG Permit and BLDG Dept Services Fee Schedule
Right-of-Way & Excavation & Blasting Permit Application 2020
Nederland C&D Recycling Requirements
Below are the Residential and Commercial Checklists. Please submit a completed checklist along with your building permit for any new residential or commercial development or significant renovation projects to expedite your building permit submission. To expedite the review process, please submit two (2) copies of paper plan along with .pdf files of these plans.
New Residential Application Checklist
Nederland Commercial Plans Checklist (12-2015)
Creating Defensible Space for Wildfire Prevention
Colorado State Forest Service – Creating Wildfire Defensible Zones Guide
Construction Best Management Practices – Noxious Weeds Control from Nederland Noxious Weed Plan 2015
Construction Best Management Practices – Controlling the Spread of Noxious Weeds
For building permit questions, please contact Cynthia Bakke, Planning and Building Technician, (303) 258-3266 ext. 22, or stop by the Town Hall.
To schedule a building inspection with SAFEbuilt on an approved permit, please call (303) 450-8748.
Inspection Request Information Flier
Project-Specific Information
SAFEbuilt Homeowner Guide to Uncovered Decks and Porches
Garage and Pole Barn Inspection List
SAFEbuilt Homeowner Guide – Patio Covers – Carports
Residential Addition Permit Packet
Residential New Construction Inspection List
Residential Remodel Inspection List
Solar/Photovoltaic Permit Requirements
Solar Thermal Permit Requirements
Accessory Dwelling Unit Application and Policies/Procedures
Accessory Dwelling Unit Application and Policies/Procedures
Other Helpful Information
Request for Address Assignment
Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements
Nederland Design Criteria 2020
Work Exempt from Permit (from I.R.C)
Yard & Bulk Requirements (setbacks, lot coverage, etc. – by zoning category)