Custom Homes
Before You Build
Below are some key items to consider before you design and build your custom home in Erie!
- Please review the current building codes and building division design criteria page.
- Some properties consist of multiple legal lots (Old Town area) and are required to be consolidated into one legal lot before application can be made for a building permit. Please contact the Planning Division for information on this process.
- Driveway access and garage access shall come from the alley. When there is no alley present, street access is permitted. Existing street access shall be terminated when there is an alley present.
- New builds are subject to single-family detached architectural provisions found in the Development Design Standards booklet.
- Building setbacks (principal and accessory) can be found in Chapter 4 of the Unified Development Code. See the Planning Division for specific PUD and PD setback provisions.
- Architectural Review for compliance with Planning Division requirements will be completed as part of the building permit application review process.
Please reach out to the Planning Division and set up a phone call or virtual meeting to discuss your custom home plans before you design.
For CUSTOM HOMES, please apply for new permits using the “apply” function on the Customer Self-Service Portal.
Please contact the Planning Division prior to designing your home to ensure you are familiar with the access, orientation, and architectural standards that apply to your location. Review the Development Design Standards booklet and the Unified Development Code.
For your Application
You will need to indicate applicant, general contractor, subcontractor, and parcel owner on your application. When one person/company fits more than one role, you need to enter them multiple times and assign to each role.
Please upload the following documents on the self-Service portal using the naming system: Site address document name (Examples: 1452 Jones St permit application or 1234 Erie Ave plot plan)
- Building permit application – signed by General Contractor with licensed sub-contractors listed
- Receipt for payment - Fair Contribution for Public School from the designated school district
- Stamped soils test - report by a Colorado Engineering Firm
- Site specific grading plan - in conformance with the overall development final grading plan which must include:
- Contours
- Sufficient elevation points
- Drainage plan
- Lot grading plan for new construction
- Plot Plan / Site Plan - which must include:
- Setbacks
- Easements
- Rights-of-way
- Architectural Plan
- Engineer Stamped Foundation Plan - based on soils report
- Engineer stamped framing plans
- HVAC Manuals J, D, and S
- Energy Code Compliance Document (such as REScheck)
- Stormwater permit and Erosion Control Plan (if applicable)
- Floodplain Development Permit (if applicable)
- On-site Wastewater System (septic system) permit - from county health department if property is not served by Town sewer
- Homeowner Association (HOA) approval (if applicable)
Submittal must be complete in order to be added to the queue for review. Plans shall be designed to currently adopted codes and current design criteria.
A Foundation Location Certificate (FLC) is required to be submitted and accepted prior to scheduling rough inspections.
Underfloor protection is required and appropriate documentation for type of protection utilized must be submitted. Example - application of an intumescent product requires submittal of installation certification from licensed applicator.
Stamped Engineer Observation Letters shall be submitted as individual pdf documents in one email submission and must be reviewed and accepted prior to scheduling final inspections.
The following foundation observations are required:
- Open hole/excavation
- Piers/caissons
- Footings
- Void
- Foundation wall steel
- Concrete encased electrode (Ufer)
- Damp proofing or water proofing
- Perimeter drain
- Any other observations required on the accepted plans
Third party inspection reports are required for:
- Insulation installation
- Underground radon installation
- Energy code compliance
A grading certificate stamped by the engineer and stating that grading conforms to original approved grading plans and an Improvement Location Certificate (ILC) must be submitted and approved prior to Certificate of Occupancy issuance.
Any items requiring inspection by the Fire Department will also require documentation to be submitted.
Town of Erie inspectors perform a multitude of required inspections for residential projects. In some instances, the requirements may vary from the information presented here.
Typical single family dwelling inspections completed by Town Building Division staff:
- Temporary power
- Sewer line
- Water line
- Underground plumbing
- Exterior & Interior Shear
- Rough electrical, gas, plumbing, mechanical and framing (including porch posts)
- Electrical service
- Final electrical, plumbing, mechanical and building
Town Public Works staff completes a final inspection as well.
Requirements to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy for a finished home or a Certificate of Completion for a model home:
Submittal (via email with each document as a separate pdf attachment) and acceptance of:
- Completed inspection card (both sides)
- Third-party energy compliance report
- Improvement Location Certificate
- Grading Certificate
In addition to the above submittal all of the following must be completed:
- All required construction inspections must be passed and resulted
- All required third-party documents and engineer observation must be reviewed and accepted (prior to final inspections)
- Final Public Works inspection must be passed and resulted
- All fees and penalties must be paid
- All contractors listed on the project must still have licenses in good standing