Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in Unincorporated Arapahoe County?
It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in Unincorporated Arapahoe County comes down to the details of your project.
In Arapahoe County, permits outside the cities are handled by the Arapahoe County Public Works and Development, Building Division, reachable on 720-874-6600 at https://www.arapahoeco.gov/your_county/county_departments/public_works_and_development/divisions/building/index.php. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/ARAPAHOE/Default.aspx. This office covers unincorporated Arapahoe County, and in parts of Colorado one regional building department serves a county and several of its cities at once, so confirm which office covers your address. Patios are often exempt while driveway and right-of-way work is not, so confirm which side of that line your project falls on. Colorado has no statewide building code, so whether on-grade pavers, patios or walkways need a permit, and the height at which a retaining wall does, are both set by your city or county. Most Colorado jurisdictions start from the model residential code figure of 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or any height where the wall supports a surcharge, but that is a local adoption rather than a Colorado rule. Confirm the trigger locally. Grading that changes drainage can require its own review, and a permit exemption does not waive zoning, setback or HOA rules. Grading that redirects stormwater onto a neighbour's property may require separate approval.
Documents you may need
- Permit application (when required, e.g. for walls or drainage impact)Sometimes required
- Site plan showing the hardscape area, grading, and drainageLikely required
- Structural detail for any retaining or seat wallsSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Footing inspection for attached walls or structures
- Final inspection where a permit is issued
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in Unincorporated Arapahoe County?
- It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in Unincorporated Arapahoe County comes down to the details of your project. In Arapahoe County, permits outside the cities are handled by the Arapahoe County Public Works and Development, Building Division, reachable on 720-874-6600 at https://www.arapahoeco.gov/your_county/county_departments/public_works_and_development/divisions/building/index.php. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/ARAPAHOE/Default.aspx. This office covers unincorporated Arapahoe County, and in parts of Colorado one regional building department serves a county and several of its cities at once, so confirm which office covers your address. Patios are often exempt while driveway and right-of-way work is not, so confirm which side of that line your project falls on. Colorado has no statewide building code, so whether on-grade pavers, patios or walkways need a permit, and the height at which a retaining wall does, are both set by your city or county. Most Colorado jurisdictions start from the model residential code figure of 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or any height where the wall supports a surcharge, but that is a local adoption rather than a Colorado rule. Confirm the trigger locally. Grading that changes drainage can require its own review, and a permit exemption does not waive zoning, setback or HOA rules. Grading that redirects stormwater onto a neighbour's property may require separate approval.
- Who issues the permit in Unincorporated Arapahoe County?
- The local building department for Unincorporated Arapahoe County handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.