City permit guide · CO

EV charger permits in Denver, CO

Denver made the home charger the cheapest permit on this site: it's on the quick-permit list at a flat $35, with no plan-review surcharge, often approved the same day through CPD's e-permits system. Denver's Energy Code has also required EV-ready wiring in new homes for years — so newer builds may already have the conduit or spare capacity your electrician needs.

Quick answer for Denver, CO

A new Level 2 home EV charger circuit generally requires an electrical permit in Denver, CO.
Permit path: Electrical quick permit (flat-fee, no plan review) through Denver's e-permits system.
Typical fee guidance: $35 flat for the EV charger quick permit under Denver's current fee tables (no plan-review fee on quick permits; verify the current schedule at application).
Timeline: Quick permit: same-day approval is common. Inspection: 1–10 business days after request. Whole cycle for a simple install: about a week — the Xcel rebate paperwork afterward takes longer than the city does.

Official source: Denver Community Planning & Development

Permit required Yes — new 240V circuit

Permit type Electrical quick permit (flat-fee, no plan review) through Denver's e-permits system

Typical fee $35 flat for the EV charger quick permit under Denver's current fee tables (no plan-review fee on quick permits; verify the current schedule at application)

Apply online Yes · Portal

The process

How it works in Denver, CO

Permit office: Community Planning & Development (CPD) — City and County of Denver.

Who can pull the permit: Licensed electrical contractors (Colorado state license + Denver registration); Denver also lets owner-occupants pull permits for their own single-family home if they're on the deed, do the work themselves, show ID, and pass a discipline-specific exam.

Plan review: None for the quick permit — that's the point of the category. A panel upgrade or service change is a separate, valuation-based permit with more process and Xcel coordination.

Typical timeline: Quick permit: same-day approval is common. Inspection: 1–10 business days after request. Whole cycle for a simple install: about a week — the Xcel rebate paperwork afterward takes longer than the city does.

Bring these

Documents you'll need

Contractor's Colorado license and Denver registration (or homeowner-permit qualifications: deed, photo ID, exam)
Charger details: listing, amperage, hardwired vs receptacle
Load calculation for tight panels — Denver's older bungalow stock often carries 100A service
For Xcel's wiring rebate afterward: enroll in Optimize Your Charge first and keep itemized invoices

Final step

Inspection notes

At least one inspection closes the permit; concealed wiring gets a rough-in check before walls close plus a final. Metro scheduling typically runs 1–10 business days after the work is ready, and clean charger circuits usually pass first visit. Permits expire after a year without an inspection.

Fee verified against Denver's published fee tables (quick-permit list) on July 4, 2026; requirements per the 2022 Denver Building Code and CPD pages. Fees change with schedule updates — confirm at application.

Electrical work can be dangerous and is regulated by code. This page is educational, not electrical or engineering advice. Hire a licensed electrician and follow your local permitting process.

Find licensed electricians in Denver, CO

Ask each bidder to include the permit and inspection in the quoted price — then compare like for like.

Finding an installer yourself: ask for the contractor's state license number, proof of insurance, and at least two recent Level 2 installs. Get the permit number in writing.

Use the free permit checklist

FAQ

Denver, CO permit FAQ

How much is Denver's EV charger permit?

A flat $35 under the current quick-permit fee tables — the least expensive permit we track — with no plan-review fee added. A panel upgrade is a separate valuation-based permit that costs more and involves Xcel scheduling.

Can I pull the permit myself in Denver?

Owner-occupants of a single-family home can: you must be on the deed, do the work yourself (unpaid helpers only), show photo ID, and pass the discipline exam. Duplexes, condos, and ADUs don't qualify, and a contractor asking you to pull the permit for their work is a classic warning sign.

Does the permit matter for the Xcel rebate?

Yes — Xcel's Charger & Wiring Rebate expects licensed, code-compliant work with itemized invoices, and unpermitted installations put both the rebate and insurance claims at risk. Enroll in Optimize Your Charge before the install; it's the gateway requirement people miss.