Administrative overview · FIPS 08067
La Plata County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
La Plata County Community Development Department, Building Division
For a project in or near La Plata County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
La Plata County Building/Planning: (970) 382-6250; Engineering Department: (970) 382-6261; Community Development inspectors listed in county materials include (970) 382-6279 and (970) 382-6256.
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
La Plata County Community Development Department, 211 Rock Point Drive, Durango, CO 81301.
Operating hours
Building Division: Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM-5:30 PM; the County's current administrative-hours posting should be confirmed before an in-person visit.
Review expectation
N/A; the current Code requires the building official to review applications within a reasonable time and issue a compliant permit as soon as practicable. An application with no permit issued is generally abandoned after 180 days unless pursued in good faith and extended in writing; an issued permit lapses if work does not commence within 12 months.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for La Plata County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
La Plata County Community Development Department, Building Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact La Plata County Building/Planning: (970) 382-6250; Engineering Department: (970) 382-6261; Community Development inspectors listed in county materials include (970) 382-6279 and (970) 382-6256..
How long might review take?
N/A; the current Code requires the building official to review applications within a reasonable time and issue a compliant permit as soon as practicable. An application with no permit issued is generally abandoned after 180 days unless pursued in good faith and extended in writing; an issued permit lapses if work does not commence within 12 months.
How are inspections scheduled?
Permit work must remain accessible and exposed until approved. The owner, contractor, or subcontractor must notify the Building Department when work is ready; inspection requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance and are first-come, first-served, without a guaranteed requested date or time. A final inspection and required inspections are prerequisites to a Certificate of Occupancy. Contact Building/Planning at (970) 382-6250 through the County portal or Department.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Effective June 30, 2026, La Plata County adopted the 2024 International Building Code, 2024 International Residential Code, 2024 International Mechanical Code, 2024 International Plumbing Code as adopted by the Colorado Plumbing Board, 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, and 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, all with County amendments, additions, and deletions. The County also applies the International Fire Code as adopted and amended in Chapter 34 and retains its special electrical-service disconnect requirement; Colorado State electrical-code enforcement remains applicable. The current County Code exempts one-story detached tool/storage sheds, well houses, and similar nonhabitable accessory buildings up to 200 square feet, no more than 12 feet high, with eave overhangs no greater than 16 inches, limited to four per parcel and simple lighting only; fences up to 8 feet; retaining walls under 4 feet unless integral to a structure; open platforms, walks, and decks no more than 30 inches above grade without a roof; painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work; certain residential pools, playground equipment, small wall-supported awnings, qualifying agricultural structures, open-sided animal loafing sheds up to 200 square feet, qualifying shipping containers, qualifying window replacements, minor gas/mechanical parts, ordinary plumbing stoppage/leak repairs, and specified repairs. Exemptions do not waive zoning, setbacks, floodplain, land-use, utility, or other applicable requirements; agricultural exempt structures require an affidavit/permit record.