Boulder County’s Building Publication B70 outlines the required documents and plan components for commercial building permit applications in unincorporated Boulder County. The printable checklist helps property owners, contractors, and design professionals prepare complete submittals for review. Additional building publications are available on the Building Applications and Forms homepage, and broader program information can be found on the Building Safety and Inspection division homepage or the Community Planning & Permitting department webpages.
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Boulder County Building Publications
Commercial Plan Submittal Checklist - B70A
All construction drawings must be submitted in PDF format at the time of your online building permit application.
Visit the website Boulder County Permit Records and Online Application Submittals for the online application.
This document serves as a general reference and does not represent a complete set of requirements.
Commercial permit applications are applicable to buildings and structures that are other than one- and two-family dwellings and their accessory structures.
Boulder County issues a permit that includes all trades under one permit. Projects with multiple buildings require a complete submittal package for each building. Complete plans are required from each discipline. Deferred submittals are not allowed (except for fire protection systems) without prior approval of the Building Department. Refer to Boulder County Building Code Amendments for all currently adopted code editions and county amendments.
Please understand, quoting the code section(s) does not demonstrate compliance to the code on the plan set. Please show, or otherwise illustrate, how compliance is achieved with the proposed installation or proposed construction in detail.
Submittal Requirements
Applications and supporting documentation without the following information may not be accepted for review.
General Requirements
All digital documents must have all security removed. PDFs must allow electronic markups and comments.
Submit appropriately dimensioned plans that illustrate the proposed construction. Generally, a minimum scale of ¼ inch per foot for plans is preferred.
Provide a Sheet Index on the title sheet or cover sheet listing all sheets included with the Construction Document plan set.
Specify the project’s street address, including suite number, on each sheet of the plans. The building, structure, or suite shall be identified using the approved assigned address and suite number.
Submitted plans, construction specifications, calculations, soils report, etc. must be sealed, dated and signed by a Colorado licensed design professional (Registered Architect or Engineer) in accordance with Colorado regulations.
For existing building or structure remodels, renovations, or a change of use or occupancy, provide a written project narrative description of the complete scope of work included. Refer to the Boulder County Commercial-Existing Building Submittal Checklist.
Provide a fully dimensioned plot plan or site plan drawn to scale. Show lot size, roads, streets, easements, setbacks and property lines. Indicate location, size and use of all buildings, structures, and lot improvements. In multi-tenant buildings, identify adjacent occupancies, uses, and tenants.
Show location, size, and type of all utilities on site. Indicate location of fire hydrants and Fire Department Connection.
Provide a building code analysis including but not limited to the following:
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- Referenced Codes and Reference Standards, see the current Boulder County Building Code Amendments.
- Construction type
- Building Area (allowed and proposed)
- Building Height (allowed and proposed)
- Occupancy Group Classification
- Occupant Load(s)
- Fire Sprinkler system (partial or throughout or none)
- Fire Alarm system (partial or throughout or none)
Clearly illustrate fire-resistant-rated assemblies on plans, including but not limited to occupancy separations and accessory use areas. Provide complete assembly details on the construction documents.
List required occupancy separations or fire resistive construction elements included for each area. List total square footage for each building and space separately. Commercial plans without this data will not be accepted for review.
Means of Egress compliance shall be illustrated on the plans based on occupancy classification and occupant load calculations. The plans shall demonstrate the method used to determine Means of Egress compliance including exit signs and emergency lighting.
Provide Life Safety Plan including travel distance(s) from individual areas to point(s) of means of egress in accordance with IBC chapter 10, the International Fire Code, and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code).
Provide details that show overall building height dimensions on both exterior elevations and at building sections may be required depending on the scope of work.
A Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement may be required prior to plan review. See IBC section 414, including but not limited to IBC section 414.1.3.
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- Note the type of materials, quantities or amount(s), use (open or closed system) and resulting occupancy classification.
- Indicate use, storage, and control areas with fire barrier ratings on plan.
Show accessible parking and exterior accessible route to building entrances. Accessibility to and through building/facility’s spaces, including but not limited to common areas. Accessible entrance details shall be provided. Construction documents shall demonstrate compliance with IBC chapter 11. See the Community Planning and Permitting Department web page Planning FAQ for additional information.
Fire Protection District project review and approval is required prior to building permit issuance, though it is not required at the time of application. Please correspond with the appropriate Fire Protection District regarding how to submit plans to their agent for review. Email the Fire Protection District approval to ezbp@bouldercounty.org.
For Retail Food Establishments, Boulder County Public Health (BCPH)-Food Safety Program review and acceptance is required prior to permit issuance. Provide documentation from BCPH of receipt and acceptance of all construction documents for the project for review. Review may be conducted simultaneously with building plan review.
Provide completed Jobsite Construction Recycling Checklist and Recycling Plan with permit applications, see BCBC amendment to IECC section C392 and R392 as applicable.
Structural Requirements
List the current code edition through which the structure is designed. See the current Boulder County Building Code Amendments.
Construction documents shall reference the structural compliance for the intended use and location of the structure, including but not limited to those listed in IBC section 1603.
List the Risk Category (IBC section 1604.5) for the structure.
Provide a Statement of Special Inspections as per IBC chapter 17. Outline what special inspections are to be conducted and the frequency (continuous or periodic).
Electrical Requirements
List the current National Electric Code edition by which the structure is designed.
Provide complete panel schedules with load calculations. For remodels show existing and new loads. Provide a one-line diagram with complete load calculations and fault current calculations. Show Service entrance section for new construction.
Include means of egress illumination and exit signage throughout building and exit discharge.
Provide photometric study and exterior light fixture cut sheets to comply with outdoor lighting control guidelines.
Include complete lighting plans with fixture schedule.
A COMcheck Electrical Compliance Certificate may be required depending on the scope of work. See Energy Conservation Code requirements.
Mechanical Requirements
Provide complete mechanical plans and equipment schedules.
A COMcheck Mechanical Compliance Certificate may be required for all systems and components including Service Water Heating. See Energy Conservation Code requirements in this document.
Show all ductwork, registers, and equipment locations, list equipment fuel loads in btu/amps, total cfm capacity, and operating weight.
Fire dampers/proper protection for rated assembly penetrations clearly delineated.
Provide structural details for roof mount or suspended, means of support, show location and means of access.
Provide fuel gas piping schematics with total developed length of system and IFGC method of sizing referenced.
Provide complete mechanical ventilation calculations/data to comply with both IMC section 403 and IECC section C403 for equipment sizing. For residential projects that are not one- and two-family dwellings, demonstrate compliance with IMC section 403 and IECC section R403, as applicable.
For commercial cooking/food preparation areas, provide a complete kitchen equipment schedule and cut sheets coordinated to kitchen floor plans.
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- List and specify each type of cooking appliance as defined by IMC section 202 and IMC chapter 5. Provide complete kitchen hood plans and show ventilation calculations, including make up air, for Type I or Type II kitchen hoods.
- All plans should coordinate with plan submittals made to the Boulder County Public Health Department-Food Safety Program.
Plumbing Requirements
Provide complete plumbing plans with all fixtures, drain, waste and vent piping, traps, interceptors, stormwater drainage systems included. Include sizing calculations for roof drains based on the 100-year hourly rainfall rate of 2.4 inches per hour.
Provide a plumbing fixture count analysis based on occupancy and use, see IBC section 2902 and IPC section 403.
Provide isometric piping plan for water supply, sewer/waste lines and vents, and gas lines.
For cooking and/or food preparation areas, provide a complete kitchen equipment schedule, including proposed sinks, floor drains, interceptors, and back-flow prevention.
All commercial kitchen plans should coordinate with plan submittals made to the Boulder County Public Health Department-Food Safety Program.
A COMcheck Mechanical Compliance Certificate may be required depending on the scope of work and/or compliance pathway. See Energy Conservation Code requirements, including but not limited to service water heating requirements.
Fuel Gas Requirements
Fuel gas, and liquid propane, installations shall comply with the Boulder County Building Code Amendments, IBC, International Fire Code (IFC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and referenced standards.
For new propane tank installations see Propane Tank Installation and Location Webpage (B23).
Provide complete fuel gas installation plans, including gas piping plan, gas load and gas piping calculations and reference method used for calculation.
Reference the service pressure and meter location.
Reference gas piping materials proposed for use.
Show all appliance or fixture locations and connections. Provide specifications and listings as required. Show compliance with the method of condensate disposal.
Show combustion air, chimney or vent system compliance.
Energy Conservation Compliance Requirements
Show compliance to all required elements to incorporate energy sustainability requirements of the Boulder County Building Code Amendments, the IBC, the amended International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and the amended International Green Construction Code (IgCC).
The provisions of the International Green Construction Code shall apply to the design, construction, addition, alteration, change of occupancy, relocation, replacement, repair, equipment, building site, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures and to the site on which the building is located for new buildings or complexes of buildings on the same property 25,000 square feet in total building floor area or greater and additions and alterations to existing buildings that were constructed under the International Green Construction Code.
Where new buildings are required to comply with the IgCC, it is recommended that you schedule a meeting with a Boulder County plans examiner to discuss the proposed pathway to compliance.
Energy conservation compliance details shall include, but are not limited to, the requirements noted in Boulder County Building Code Amendments section 107.2.5, as applicable.
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- Commercial Buildings-Prescriptive Compliance or Total Building Performance (IECC section C401.2 and subsections)
- Residential Buildings (Residential buildings that are not one- and two-family dwellings reviewed under the IRC) – Pathways include Prescriptive Compliance, Total Building Performance, or Energy Rating Index, etc. (IECC section R401)
A COMcheck Mechanical Compliance Certificate may be required depending on the scope of work and/or compliance pathway. The documentation may include but is not limited to building envelope, mechanical equipment, service water heating, and electrical lighting requirements.
Provide photometric study and exterior light fixture cut sheets to comply with outdoor lighting control guidelines. Coordinate with zoning requirements.
Provide project commissioning documentation as required.
Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code Compliance
Show compliance with the commercial provision requirements, including but not limited to the following.
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- FUTURE ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT. Equipment or appliances necessary to support future all-electric space and water heating, cooking, or clothes drying.
- SOLAR-READY ZONE. A section or sections of the roof or building overhang designated and reserved for future installation of a solar photovoltaic system or solar thermal system. 40 percent of the roof area, 5 feet minimum width, oriented between 110 degrees and 270 degrees of true north.
- Solar-ready zone
- Structural design for roof loads, add 5 pounds per square foot
- Amperage capacity for each EV-ready space at main service panel
- Amperage capacity for each future electrical equipment at main service panel
Fire Code Requirements
Fire safety and fire protection systems, including fire department access, shall be maintained and comply with the IBC and the fire protection district’s requirements. Show on the submitted plan set the locations of proposed construction parking, staging, and material storage for construction so as to demonstrate fire department access is maintained.
Show location of fire sprinkler riser and standpipe locations. Reference the where the fire department connection is proposed to be located.
A Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement may be required prior to plan review. See IBC section 414 and the General Requirements in this document regarding Hazardous Materials.
Show locations and rating of portable fire extinguishers on floor plans. See IBC section 906.
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