Loveland, CO Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2021 International Plumbing Code
- Water supply pipe depth
- At least 54 inches below grade
- Building sewer depth
- At least 24 inches below grade
- Water test standard
- Working pressure or 50 psi air, 15 minutes
- Code on file
- City Clerk's office, business hours
Summary
Loveland regulates all plumbing work under the 2021 International Plumbing Code, adopted by reference, and amends key sections to require deeper pipe burial for Colorado's frost line: water supply piping at least 54 inches deep and building sewers at least 24 inches deep. A certified copy is on file at the City Clerk's office and violations are misdemeanors.
I.Section 305.4 - Freezing - is amended to read as follows: Water, soil and waste pipes shall not be installed outside of a building, in attics or crawl spaces, concealed in outside walls, or in any other place subjected to freezing temperatures unless adequate provision is made to protect such pipes from freezing by insulation or heat or both. Exterior water supply system piping shall be installed not less than fifty-four (54") below grade.
J.Section 305.4.1 - Sewer depth - is amended to read as follows: Building sewers that connect to private sewage disposal systems shall be installed not less than twenty-four inches (24") below finished grade at the point of septic tank connection. Building sewers shall be installed not less than twenty-four inches (24") below grade.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
010 adopts the International Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition ("2021 IPC") by reference as Loveland's plumbing code, covering design, construction, material quality, installation, alteration, repair and maintenance of plumbing systems, and providing for permits and fees. 1 (Sewer depth) requires building sewers to sit at least 24 inches below finished grade, and at least 24 inches at the septic tank connection point where applicable. 5 requires the completed water supply system to hold a test pressure not less than the system's working pressure, or an air test of at least 50 psi, for not less than 15 minutes, using potable water. 1 gets a new footnote requiring a water bottle dispenser for business and mercantile occupancies with 15 to 100 occupants. 1.
Violations & Fines
Under § 15.20.030, it is unlawful to install, alter, repair or maintain plumbing contrary to the adopted 2021 IPC as modified by the City; a violation is a misdemeanor subject to the general penalty in § 1.12.010, a fine up to the statutory maximum under C.R.S. § 13-10-113, up to 364 days in jail, or both, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing code does Loveland use for permits?
How deep must water and sewer pipes be buried in Loveland?
What pressure test must a new water supply system pass?
What is the penalty for unpermitted plumbing work in Loveland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loveland
Compare Loveland to another location·View the Colorado building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Plumbing Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Larimer County handle plumbing permits.