Where to search Boulder permits
| Tool | Search by | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| EnerGov CSS | Address, case number | Permits, project numbers, contractor names, inspection dates and results |
| eMapLink (City map) | Address, then the parcel's Property Report | A list of permits on the property with a brief description |
| Construction Permits (open data) | Any field | Building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, solar and other permit types |
| Our Boulder firm list | Contractor name | Each firm's permits, share finished and days to finish |
How to look up permits on a Boulder address
- Open EnerGov CSS and use the public search with your address or a case number.
- Open each case: read the permit type, the contractor named on it and the inspection dates.
- Check the inspection results. The City says "Inspections in the city of Boulder are pass/fail. There is no additional documentation associated with an inspection."
- For a quick list of every permit on the lot, use eMapLink: enter the address, click the parcel, then Property Report.
- Check the contractor's City license: the steps are in the Boulder contractor license lookup.
What the statuses mean
Our pages count a permit as finished at Letter of Completion, Closed or Certificate of Occupancy. A permit that expires without its inspection counts as not finished. Days run from issue to the completed date in the City's file (Boulder about page; methodology).
| Trade | Permits | Firms | Finished (a year or more old) | Usual days to finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 4,460 | 324 | 70.2% | 76 |
| Water heater | 1,267 | 125 | 50.9% | 137 |
| Roofing | 2,516 | 426 | 86.3% | 41 |
| Solar | 1,489 | 112 | 93.8% | 72 |
| Remodel | 1,178 | 414 | 80.6% | 141 |
| Addition | 369 | 186 | 78.0% | 415 |
Half of year-old water-heater permits never finish here. If yours is one, ask the plumber to book the final inspection before the permit expires.
When the record is not online
P&DS says Colorado Open Records Act requests "are limited to providing records only", that it does "not generate new records", and that "We do not keep permit documentation unless it is for new construction or major modifications." For what it does keep, email p&dsrecordrequest@bouldercolorado.gov. The CSS page adds that permits submitted or issued before 9 April 2018 and still active may need staff help to connect to an account; the CSS help desk and Inquire Boulder handle that (EnerGov CSS page, read 23 October 2026).
What our Boulder data adds
CSS is organised by case. Ours groups the same permits by firm: the Boulder permit statistics, and the compare lists for HVAC, roofers, solar and remodelers. Which jobs need a permit: Do I need a permit?
See every Boulder HVAC contractor by share finished →
How we know this
Portal and records wording is quoted from the City of Boulder's P&DS Records Request Resources and EnerGov Customer Self-Service pages, read 23 October 2026. Our counts are City of Boulder construction permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026.
Numbers come from City of Boulder construction permits, data through October 16, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- How do I find out if a permit was pulled on my house in Boulder?
Search the address in the City's EnerGov Customer Self-Service portal (bouldercolorado.gov/energovcss). The City says it has an address and case number search for general viewers, with contractor names and inspection dates.
- Are Boulder building permits public record?
Yes. Construction permits are searchable in EnerGov CSS, listed by property in eMapLink, and downloadable from Boulder Open Data. Other records are requested from Planning & Development Services under the Colorado Open Records Act.
- Can I get the plans for an old Boulder permit?
Often not. Planning & Development Services says it does not keep permit documentation unless it is for new construction or major modifications. For those, email p&dsrecordrequest@bouldercolorado.gov with a CORA request.
- Can I search Boulder permits by contractor?
EnerGov CSS shows the contractor on each case, and the open data file can be filtered by it. Our Boulder pages list 12,984 permits from October 2023 to September 2026 under 2,141 firms.
- What does an expired Boulder permit mean?
The permit lapsed without its final inspection. In our file 50.9% of water-heater permits and 70.2% of HVAC permits a year or more old were finished, so ask the contractor to book the final inspection before you pay in full.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Elk Grove building permit search: the City's permit lookup map and records
- Sacramento County building permit search: Accela Citizen Access and records requests
- Boulder contractor license lookup: City license classes, state trade licenses and the permits
- Home improvement costs in Boulder, CO (2026): what 9 kinds of jobs were filed at
- Chattanooga building permit search: the LDO web portal, ChattaData and records
- College Station building permit search: open data, eTRAKiT and records
For one city
- Boulder's demolition review for houses over 50 years old: what counts as demolition, the fees, and the 180-day stay
- Do I need an HVAC permit in Boulder? The City mechanical license rule, the 2026 fee table and finals
- Do I need a remodel permit in Boulder? Not for finishes; yes for walls, wiring and windows. The fee math, use tax and timelines