As a part of Development Services, the Building Safety Department is responsible for reviewing plans prior to issuing permits and verifying inspections for compliance with the codes adopted by our community to provide safety in the built environment.
If you are interested in being notified by e-mail about residential or commercial code topics of interest or any happenings within the Building Safety Department, please make sure we have your current e-mail contact information. Contact information may be sent to bdepartment@chaffeecounty.org.
The Chaffee County Board of Review will hold a Public
Hearing at 4:00PM on Wednesday October 18th, 2023, in the Board of
Commissioners meeting room, 104 Crestone Ave, Salida. The purpose of this
meeting will be to consider certain amendments to the Chaffee County Building
Codes. In Particular, the Board will be considering adoption of the 2021 series
of ‘I’ codes, including the 2021 Wildland -Urban Interface Code (IWUIC), as
identified in the Chaffee County land Use Code. We will also be discussing the
adoption of the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code. This code
was adopted by the state legislature and will have enforcement slated for
01/01/2024. Public comment will be allowed at this meeting, with comment time
being limited.
Additional information, copies of the model codes are
available at the Chaffee County Development Services Office, Room 125 at the
Chaffee County Offices at 104 Crestone Ave, Salida. Copies of the proposed
changed to the model codes are also available on the Chaffee County website at https://www.chaffeecounty.org/Building-Dept-Adopted-Codes-and-Design-Criteria
.
Amendments to the 2021 I codes
Connect to the Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/4328290633.
For information and guidance on the County's forthcoming adoption of the 2021 IECC, please see additional resources on the Codes & Design Criteria page.
As of August 1st, 2021 we will be adopting the
2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the Colorado State Electrical
Board.
The current building codes and energy codes adopted by
Chaffee County and the Municipalities within Chaffee County will remain in
effect.
All permit applications submitted on or after August
1st, 2021 will be processed under the 2020 NEC. Any electrical or
building plans submitted for review will need to reflect the 2020 NEC, and
inspection performed on theses permits will follow the 2020 NEC.
If we can answer any further questions, please contact our
office at 719-539-2124.
Attention:
As of
June 7, 2019, Planning and Zoning fees, OWTS fees and re-inspection fees have
been increased and new fees have been added. Please see Resolution 2019-34 for full fee schedule.
Effective July 1, 2022, the Building Safety Department shifted to a 4 day work week. The cut off time for inspection requests is 4:00 p.m. the business day prior to requested inspection date. Please note inspection requests received after 4:00 pm on Fridays will be on Tuesday's schedule. NO INSPECTIONS WILL BE PERFORMED ON FRIDAYS. We are changing our procedure to maximize our scheduling efficiency to continue providing consistent inspection coverage to all areas of the county. This change will allow us to better plan our inspection schedules as our inspectors live in various portions of the County. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Contemporaneous Review of Electrical Licenses
An inspector shall, based on
that inspector's familiarity with the installer, require each individual doing electrical
work as defined by 12-23-101 definitions C.R.S. to produce documentation
showing they are a currently licensed Colorado state electrician or registered
apprentice. Proof of license is required before electrical permits are
issued unless an exemption to license applies.
On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (Septic System) Updates
Please refer all septic permitting questions to the Building Safety Department. OWTS inspections must be called into the inspection request line (719-539-2124 Option #1) by 3:30 pm the day prior to the inspection request. Please note all inspections received after 3:30 PM on Friday, will be on Tuesday's schedule.
We do not allow anyone to install, repair or maintain septic systems without a license. Septic Permits are only issued to Chaffee County Licensed Contractors with a current license. If you receive a permit by email or mail for a project for which you are not the contractor, please inform this office as soon as possible.
To help insure that the septic system is installed per the approved design, we will be requiring that the permit and approved plans are available onsite during the inspection. All sand tickets and as-builts must be onsite and complete or the inspection will not be performed. The as-built will need to be on the approved sheet provided by Chaffee County, and all information must be completed (including licensed installers signature). Please be sure that you have all of the required information onsite at the time of your inspection.
Attached please find a revised OWTS permit application, including new as-built form. We will require the use of this provided as built form. Please discard all previous forms and use this current form, revision dated 04/05/2018.
System pumpers are required to have a valid license to do work within Chaffee County. If the system pumper is going to submit letters regarding system inspections, status, or reports they must also be certified by CPOW or NAWT to do so.
As of October 1, 2018, Chaffee County has adopted the 2017 Reg. 43 for OWTS. All licensed installers are required to take the new State of Colorado exam that covers the above regulations. The Exam is available at the Chaffee County Building Safety Department Salida Office. This exam requires 72 total responses of which 54 correct answers are required to pass the exam with a minimum score of 75%. After passing, the individual installer will be listed on the CPOW webpage (www.cpow.net).
It is requested that you call for a test day and time prior to coming in. As always the exam is open book and will cover many aspects of the Onsite Wastewater Systems Regulations, so please be prepared. The new regulations can be found in the Adopted Codes & Design Criteria link.
OWTS Permits will not be issued to Contractors who have not taken and passed the new exam.
The State of Colorado has a mandatory One-Call law and if you are responsible for excavation or maintenance you must call 811 before digging. According to information provided by Atmos Energy damages by third-party excavators outrank all other risks causing pipeline accidents
If you suspect a gas leak, immediately evacuate the area and from a safe distance call Atmos Energy at 1-866-322-8667 or dial 911.
For more facts about pipeline safety public awareness please click here.