About Inspections

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY / TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY

Buildings or structures which are new or have undergone major additions and alterations or changes in occupancy classification shall not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy have been issued.

The CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (CO) will be issued when final inspections for building and building service equipment have been approved and other local government departments (i.e., Planning, Engineering, Health, etc.) have granted their approvals. With the exception of one and two family dwellings, COs shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises. COs are not required for minor additions, alterations or remodels to existing structures when no change of occupancy classification occurs.

The Building Official may issue a TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (TCO) for use of a portion or portions of a building or structure prior to completion of the entire building, provided no substantial hazard will result from occupancy of the portion or portions before the entire building is complete. As a rule, TCOs will not be issued for single family dwelling units.

Questions?? Please call: Will Birchfield, Chief Building Official, 577-3728.

WORK READY FOR INSPECTION

It is the responsibility of individuals scheduling inspections to make sure the work is ready to be inspected and that the job is accessible and exposed for inspection purposes.

A RE-INSPECTION FEE will be assessed for work that is not ready and the inspection has not been cancelled.

APPROVED PLANS AT JOB SITE: The copy of the Approved Plans and specifications shall be readily available, at the construction site, for inspectors at the time of inspection. The owner's or construction site copy shall be maintained in legible condition. INSPECTIONS WILL NOT BE DONE IF APPROVED PLANS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

SCHEDULING INSPECTIONS

It is the responsibility of the permit-holder, or person doing the work authorized by the permit, to properly notify the Building Department of all work that is ready for inspection. Such notification shall be given a minimum of 24 hours before work is to be inspected. Inspection requests may be filed by calling the inspection line at 577-3731.

Inspection requests must be received no later than 4:00 PM the day prior to inspection.

INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR AN INSPECTION

The following information must be provided by individuals scheduling inspections, or the inspections will not be scheduled:

Job address (including building/unit number if applicable)

Permit number

Contractor name

Contractor Town License number

Contact phone number

Type of Inspection requested, including date and am/pm inspection

The Inspector will do his/her best to accommodate schedules, however, it is often impossible to provide all inspections requested for that day and also meet each permit-holder's desired schedule.

REQUIRED INSPECTIONS

All construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to all inspections required by the adopted model codes and standards.

To minimize delay of inspection approvals, please check to see that the work is in reasonable compliance with the approved plans and specifications prior to requesting inspections.

Work shall not be done on any part of the building systems, building or structure beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the Building Department.

No part of any building or structure shall be covered or concealed without first obtaining the required inspections and approvals by the Building Department.

The Building Department shall not be liable for any expense incurred in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow proper inspection.

TYPES OF INSPECTIONS

Foundation Inspections are required as follows:

Footing Inspection: To be made after excavations for footings are complete and reinforcing steel is in place (prior to placing concrete). Footings poured monolithically with slabs shall be inspected. All deck and porch pads and piers shall be inspected. Excavations will be checked to verify that footings are placed at the proper depth on the soils as indicated. When fills are used to support footings an engineers report of satisfactory placement of fill shall be available to the inspector at the time of inspection.

Wall and Pier Inspection: To be made after concrete wall and pier forms and required reinforcing steel is in place (prior to placing concrete). Masonry walls shall be inspected after masonry units are laid and required reinforcing steel is in place (prior to placing grout). Wood Foundation (AWWF) systems shall be inspected after the wood walls have been erected and all fasteners are in place.
Concrete Slab Inspection: Concrete slabs on grade may be poured after all in-slab or under-slab conduit, duct work, plumbing and any other equipment has been inspected and approved. Footings poured monolithically with slabs shall be inspected.

Rough Inspections of the building and all building service equipment are required as follows:

Rough Frame Inspection: Structural and non-structural framework shall be inspected after the roof, framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems are installed and ready for inspection. Truss certificates of design shall be available for the inspection of all wood truss systems. It is important that you review the certificates of design to make sure that all required truss bracing is in place at the time of the frame inspection.
Rough Electrical Inspection: Rough electrical inspections must be arranged with the State of Colorado 223-9838 or 223-9839 between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, Monday through Friday.
Rough Plumbing Inspection: Water piping, drain, waste and vent piping, and fuel gas piping shall be inspected and approved before being concealed. Piping shall be installed, properly supported and pressure tested as required. Water meters shall be installed. Pressure tests shall be conducted in the presence of the inspector. The permit-holder shall be responsible for providing the equipment, material and labor necessary for the required pressure tests. Required nail protection plates shall be installed.

PRESSURE TESTING REQUIREMENTS

DWV Piping: The drainage, waste and vent system may be tested with air or water. Water tests may be applied to the entire system or in sections; No system or section shall be tested with less than a 10 foot head of water. Air tests shall be made by forcing air into the system until there is a uniform gage pressure of 5 psi. In either method of test, the piping shall withstand the test, without leaking, for not less than 15 minutes.

Water Piping: The hot and cold water supply system shall be tested and proved tight under a water pressure not less than the working pressure under which it is to be used. Water used for tests shall be obtained from a potable source. A 50 psi air pressure test may be substituted for the water test. In either method of test, the piping shall withstand the test, without leaking, for not less than 15 minutes.

Fuel Gas Piping: Gas piping shall be tested and proved tight under an air pressure of not less than 10 psi for not less than 15 minutes. For welded piping and piping carrying gas at pressures in excess of 14 inches of water column, the test pressure shall be 60 psi for not less than 30 minutes.

Rough Mechanical Inspections: Mechanical systems shall be inspected and approved before being concealed. Duct work, appliance vents, chimneys, hydronic piping systems, process piping systems, and fuel gas piping shall be installed, properly supported and pressure tested as required. Pressure tests shall be conducted in the presence of the inspector. The permit-holder shall be responsible for providing the equipment, material and labor necessary for the required pressure tests. Required nail protection plates shall be installed.

Hydronic Piping: Steam and water piping which are part of heating or cooling systems shall be tested and proved tight with a hydrostatic pressure of not less than 100 psig, but at least 50 psig greater than operating pressure.

Pool, spa and hot tub circulation piping shall be tested and proved tight under a static water or air pressure test of 35 psi for not less than 15 minutes.

Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical installations related to pool, spa and hot tub installation shall be subject to the requirements for rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections.

Gypsum Wallboard and Sheathing Inspections: Gypsum wallboard (drywall) and sheathing shall be inspected and approved before joints and fasteners are taped, finished or concealed. All rough inspections shall be approved before installing gypsum wallboard.

Note: It is the responsibility of the architect or engineer in charge of the structural design work to include special inspection requirements in the construction documents.

CONNECTION TO UTILITIES

No person shall make connections from a source of energy, fuel or power to building service equipment, which is regulated by the technical codes for new buildings or structures, until approved by
the Building Department.

Gas Utility Service: Gas utility service and LPG fuel connections will be approved, provided 1) all rough mechanical inspections are approved, 2) at least 1 permanent building heating appliance is installed, inspected and approved for operation, and 3) combustion air provisions have been complied with.

Utility Service: The temporary connection of electrical building service equipment to the electrical utility will be approved only for the purpose of testing building service equipment, temporary heat, provided 1) the property owner shall sign a “Temporary Electric Service Agreement” form, 2) all required rough inspections shall be approved, 3) access driveways and required right-of-way improvements shall be completed, inspected and approved, and 4) water meters in the Town of Estes Park shall be installed, inspected and approved.

The final approval for permanent connection of the electrical utility service will be given when all required final building and building service equipment inspections have been completed and approved and the building is approved for occupancy.

FINAL INSPECTIONS

Final inspections and approvals of buildings and building service equipment, for which permits have been issued, shall be made after finish grading and the building is completed and ready for occupancy. Final inspections are required as follows:

Final Building Inspections: All permanent roofing, siding and veneers for protection of weather-exposed surfaces shall be installed. Exterior doors and windows shall be installed. Exterior decks and guardrails shall be completed. Required interior finishes shall be completed. Required fire-resistive assemblies shall be completed and required fire doors and windows shall be installed. Exterior and interior stairs shall be completed including required guardrails and handrails. Required smoke detectors shall be installed. Finish grade and exterior drainage shall be completed.
Final Electrical Inspections: All electrical fixtures and equipment shall be installed and in operating condition.
Final Plumbing Inspections: All plumbing fixtures, traps and equipment shall be installed and in operating condition.
Final Mechanical Inspections: All mechanical appliances and equipment shall be installed and in operating condition and tested and approved as may be required by the Mechanical Code.
Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs: All pool, spa and hot tub appliances and equipment shall be installed and in operating condition.

FINAL INSPECTIONS AND APPROVALS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL WORK
FOR WHICH PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

For detailed and complete requirements, please refer to the Adopted Edition of the 2003 International Residential/Business Codes and the Town of Estes Park's Zoning Ordinance.