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Inspections & Certificate of Occupancy

Upon issuance of required permits, construction may begin. At specified stages during the building process, the project is required to be inspected to ensure that it is being constructed according to the adopted building code, ordinances and approved plans. Please note that the inspection permit card and approved plans must be available on the job site during construction. Approved plans are the plans that have been reviewed and stamped by an Aurora Plans Examiner.  As the permit holder, you are responsible for the maintenance of these construction documents. 

Access to the area to be inspected must be provided before it is covered, and approved copies of plans and plan documents, permits, and inspection record sheets (permit cards) are required to be on site at the time of inspection.

    Inspection Scheduling: Prior to calling for an inspection, please have your building permit number, address (and unit number), type of inspection required and phone number ready. You can select from any one of the following inspection requests types by:

    • Utilizing the Online Inspection Request/Results web page at any time, 24 hours a day using our for next day inspections. Contractors who are registered and licensed with the city of Aurora can request inspections, cancel inspections, and view inspection results. All others may only view inspection results. Online inspection request are taken up to 5:45 a.m. the day of the inspection. Please call 303.739.7420 for questions about this service or problems logging in.

    • Inspection requests can be taken by calling the Permit Center at 303.739.7420 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for next-day inspections. Inspections requests made after 4:30 pm. will not be added to the next day inspection schedule.

    • Emailing inspection requests to inspections@auroragov.org and include the permit number, address and unit number if applicable, the type of inspection you require, and a phone number. The cut off for emailing inspections is 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

    Alphabetical List of Possible Building & Fire/Life Safety Inspections: If you do not see what you are looking for, please call 303.739.7420.

    • Above-Ground Fuel Storage Tanks

    • Electrical Rough

    • Electrical Rough Alarm

    • Electrical Rough & Service

    • Electrical Final

    • Exit Sign/Emergency Lighting

    • Fire Alarm

    • Fire Extinguisher

    • Fire Sprinkler

    • Fire Lanes

    • Footings/Caissons/Foundation

    • Foundation Waterproofing

    • Frame Rough

    • Frame Final

    • Fuel Tank Installation - Above or Below Ground

    • Fuel Tank Lines

    • Gating Systems

    • Gypsum Board

    • Hazardous Materials

    • Heat Rough

    • Heat Rough and Gas Pipe

    • Heat Final

    • High-Piled Combustible Storage/Racking Systems

    • Insulation

    • Hood System

    • Knox Box

    • Lawn & Irrigation

    • Medical Gas & Vacuum Systems

    • Mid roof (New Home Construction)

    • Plumbing Rough

    • Plumbing Rough and Ground Iron

    • Plumbing Final

    • Roofing and Re-roof Final

      (see ladder policy)

    Overtime or Same Day Inspection Requests:

    • Same day inspections may be requested through field inspector supervisory staff and are granted based on justification and staff availability.

    • Weekend and overtime inspections are granted based on justification and staff availability and are assessed hourly inspection rates.

    • Immediate inspection for HVAC and plumbing contractors - The City of Aurora has taken a proactive approach with the inspection process for replacement water heaters and furnaces. A licensed HVAC or plumbing contractor can contact the Building Division and request the same-day inspection when it involves the coordination of both the contractor and homeowner to be present. We will do whatever we can to provide this service; however, we reserve the right to inspect on another day depending on the volume of inspections and available staff.

    • Emergency repair of structural damage due to fire, water, wind, vehicular impact, or other causes may precede the opportunity for a contractor to obtain a permit, we will still perform the same-day inspection. Call 303.739.7420 to request the inspection. We will locate an inspector in your area and dispatch them to perform the inspection. To be compliant with the 2015 International Residential Code, the contractor must obtain a permit within the next working business day.  

    Preconstruction Meetings and Onsite Inspector Consultations: Upon request the Field Inspection Group provides construction services in the form of:

    • Preconstruction consultations and meetings with general contractors, architects, engineers and sub-contractors.

    • Onsite consultations with a field inspector. 

     

    Code Interpretations or Opinions: Should your code interpretation differ from the interpretation rendered in the field by our inspection staff you can ask a Building Inspector Supervisor for a second opinion. Building regulations and construction plans are becoming more complex; therefore: 

    • We guarantee a second opinion upon request.

    • We are committed to open communication to ensure the highest quality plans examination, inspection and code interpretation.

    Special Inspections and Third Party Inspections: 

    The Aurora Building Division allows the use of Special Inspectors and Third Party Inspections. In accordance to Section 1704 of the 2015 International Building Code (IBC), the owner, or the registered design professional in responsible charge acting as the owner's agent, is required to hire an independent testing/inspection agency to perform required special inspections.

    The design professional shall complete the attached forms and submit them to the Building Division at the time construction plans are submitted for plan review. The special inspectors assigned to any project within the Jurisdiction shall be identified by the design professional, and certified for the disciplines assigned.

    Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy the general contractor must obtain the following inspections:

    • All applicable building inspections (to include structural, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, life safety).

    • Engineering and grade inspections: Call Public Improvements at 303.739.7420 to request an inspection.

    • All public improvements must be completed before a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. Public improvements include, but are not limited to the following: streets, service or frontage roads, fire lanes, bike paths, alleys, culverts, bridges, overpasses and underpasses, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, monuments and range boxes, sanitary sewer mains, including laterals to each lot line, storm drainage, retention and detention and water quality facilities, including channel facilities, street lighting, median construction, water mains, hydrants and valves, permanent water quality improvements, elevations and landscaping.

    • An onsite preconstruction walk-through inspection by Public Improvements is beneficial  to the builder in many ways.  Our inspector will record any existing conditions or problems such as cracked sidewalks, broken curbs, etc., to ensure the builder is not held responsible for pre-existing conditions prior to the start of any new work. The builder is responsible for any new damage caused during the construction process and will be responsible for the repairs of such damage.  Call 303.739.7420 to arrange a preconstruction walk through with Public Improvements. 

    Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) Inspections

    Construction Start: Before construction can begin on a site, a Storm Water Quality Discharge Permit must be issued based on an approved Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP).

    Inspections:

    • Prior to grading, installed erosion and sediment control features must be inspected.

    • Ongoing erosion/sedimentation control field inspection will be performed by Environmental Inspectors.

    • To verify permit compliance, inspections will be conducted at random and unannounced.

    • Routine inspections will continue from over lot grading until the establishment of permanent erosion control improvements and plantings.

    Corrections:

    • The owner/site developer shall be responsible for correction of any Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are inadequately installed, missing, and/or require maintenance or replacement. Written notification in the form of a Notice of Violation (NOV) will be forwarded to the permittee in the event of gross violation of the standards. Violations may result in a stop-work order and must be resolved prior to setting a water meter or issuing the Certificate of Occupancy.

    • In addition to the random inspection conducted by environmental staff, weekly inspections shall be performed by an authorized agent of the owner/developer and documented in the SWMP.

    Lawn and Irrigation Inspection:

    • Inspection of the soil amendments and irrigation system must be conducted before installation of sod or seed.