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Colorado Springs, CO Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing code
Pikes Peak Regional Building Code, 2023 Edition
Adopted by
City Code § 7.4.1404, by reference
Permit trigger
RBC105.1, enforced via § 7.5.503.B.1
Misdemeanor penalty
Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail (RBC101.8)
Admin fine option
Up to $1,000 (RBC103.12)
Installer license
Master Plumber, Title 12 Art. 58 C.R.S. + RBC205.1

Summary

Plumbing installation, alteration, or repair in Colorado Springs falls under the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code, adopted by reference at City Code § 7.4.1404. Under § 7.5.503, it is unlawful to perform any work, plumbing included, for which a permit is required under RBC105.1 without first obtaining a building permit from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department before work begins.

7.4.1404: CODE ADOPTED BY REFERENCE: A. There is hereby adopted by reference the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code, 2023 Edition, together with Appendix A and Appendix B, as published by Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, 2880 International Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80910, as amended, including all referenced and adopted codes listed in that document... 7.5.503: BUILDING PERMITS AND CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY: B. Applicability: 1. It shall be unlawful to perform any work for which a building permit is required under Section RBC105.1 of the Regional Building Code without first obtaining a building permit.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 26-23, passed June 9, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Colorado Springs does not run its own plumbing inspection division. as if set out at length,' together with Appendix A and Appendix B and 'all referenced and adopted codes listed in that document': the mechanism by which the City incorporates plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permitting into its own code. Three copies of the 2023 PPRBC are on file with the City Clerk for public inspection. 2, adopting Appendix B of the PPRBC as the City's Building Permit Fee Schedule, so plumbing permit fees follow the regional schedule rather than a separate city tariff.

4 separately bars occupying a structure until a Certificate of Occupancy issues under RBC110. Applications go to the Building Official, who may approve a permit 'only upon determining that the application complies with all applicable requirements,' and no permit issues until applicable utility and subdivision fees are paid. 1 before pulling permits. 4 if it was issued in error, on incorrect information, or in violation of any Code provision.

Violations & Fines

Working without the required permit is a misdemeanor under RBC101.8 as adopted at § 7.5.1401: conviction carries a fine up to $500, up to 90 days in City or County jail, or both, with each day of uncorrected illegal work after the City's notice of violation counted as a separate offense. The Building Official can also levy an administrative fine up to $1,000 under RBC103.12, and may suspend or revoke a wrongly issued permit under RBC105.10.4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater or repipe a bathroom in Colorado Springs?
Yes. City Code § 7.5.503.B.1 makes it unlawful to perform any work for which a permit is required under RBC105.1 of the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code without first obtaining a building permit, and that requirement covers plumbing work such as water heater replacement and repiping, not just structural construction.
Who issues plumbing permits for Colorado Springs: the City or the County?
Neither directly. City Code § 7.4.1404 adopts the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code by reference, and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, a joint city-county agency at 2880 International Circle, reviews applications, collects fees, and issues the permit on the City's behalf.
What happens if I do plumbing work without a permit?
Under RBC101.8 as adopted at § 7.5.1401, unpermitted work is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day the violation continues after notice counted separately; the Building Official can also impose a $1,000 administrative fine under RBC103.12.
Can any plumber pull the permit, or does the installer need a license?
The installer must be a Colorado Master Plumber licensed under Title 12, Article 58, C.R.S., and registered with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department under RBC205.1 of the Building Code before the permit application is accepted.

Sources & Official References

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