Colorado Demolition Checklist (a.k.a. How Not to Get Fined, Sued, or Arrested While Taking Down Your Building)

Today, I got a call from a guy in Brush, Colorado who wanted to schedule a demolition verification walkthrough so we could sign off on his permit. Easy enough, right? Except when I asked him if the asbestos flooring had been removed and whether he had a final clearance, he had no idea what I was talking about..

In his case, it turned out the flooring was non-friable (translation: tough to crush into dangerous dust), so no final clearance was required. But here’s the thing — he didn’t know that. And if you don’t know the rules in Colorado, you could find yourself in a permit pickle, a fine frenzy, or worse… standing in front of your building with a sledgehammer and no legal way to swing it.

The Overdue Colorado Demolition Checklist

That’s why we put together this handy, slightly sarcastic, step-by-step demolition checklist. Because demo isn’t just about smashing walls — it’s about making sure all your paperwork is done so you can smash walls legally. This is longer article than normal, but boy...does it have the information you need!

Step 1: Asbestos Testing Before Demolition (Yes, Always)

In Colorado, asbestos testing isn’t optional. Before you even think about pulling a permit or renting that excavator, a certified asbestos inspector has to test the building first.

If asbestos is present, you’ll need abatement before moving forward. If it’s not present, you still need proof it’s not.

A certified asbestos inspector also has to figure out what is considered friable and non-friable. So what is the difference?

• Friable vs. Non-Friable:

  • Friable asbestos = crumbly stuff like pipe insulation that can go airborne easily. This requires removal (abatement) and final clearance.

  • Non-friable asbestos = tougher stuff like certain floor tiles. Doesn’t always need clearance, but it does need documentation that it has been removed.

For more on what happens when asbestos gets disturbed, check out our article on Minor vs. Major Asbestos Spills in the Denver Metro Area: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters.

Curious about how many samples might be required during this step? We break it down in our article on Essential Asbestos Testing: How Many Number of Samples Are Required in Colorado?

Step 2: What Happens If Asbestos Is Present?

Welcome to the abatement club! It sucks, but totally workable: With the right team that is.

• You’ll need a certified asbestos abatement contractor (also called a General Asbestos Contractor or GAC)

• The abatement project gets its own separate permit/notification with CDPHE.

• Once abatement is complete, friable asbestos requires a final clearance. (Think of it like a “clean bill of health” for your air quality.)

• Waiting Period: Abatement projects also come with a 10-day waiting period after the permit is submitted. Plan this into your project timeline so you’re not stuck paying for an idle crew or equipment.

No final clearance? No demo! Period!

Step 3: If Asbestos Is Not Present

Congrats! You dodged the abatement bullet. But don’t celebrate too hard — you still need that proof of testing. Only after that’s in hand, can you move forward.

Step 4: Preparing for Demo Day in Colorado

Before you start swinging, make sure that these things happen first:

• Shut off utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer).

• Double-check your permits are signed, stamped, and paid.

• Walk the property with your contractor and environmental consultant.

• Make sure your neighbors aren’t parked right next to your fence with their shiny new RV. (Trust me, they won’t think demo dust is as “character building” as you do.)

Pro Tip: At Elevation Environmental Services, we also provide a demo verification walkthrough. It’s not required under CDPHE Regulation 8, but it’s smart. We walk through the property at the end of abatement to make sure nothing was missed, and it’s included in our upfront pricing (no surprise trip fees). If something new pops up, there may be fees for additional samples — but at least you won’t find out mid-swing.

Step 5: Check Your City or County Permit Rules

Here’s where it gets messy. Some cities (looking at you, Denver!) want you to go through them first before the state. Others don’t.

• Translation: The order of operations depends on your jurisdiction.

• Your Job: Call your local building department or check their website. Ask them directly: “Do I need to submit my demolition paperwork with you before I submit to the State?”

Skipping this step could mean redoing paperwork, losing weeks, and explaining to a very grumpy inspector why you thought the rules didn’t apply to you.

Step 6: Submit Your State Demolition Notification

Whether or not asbestos is found, you must notify the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) before demolishing a building.

• Cost: $50 base fee + $5 per 1,000 square feet of the structure.

• Who Signs: All parties — property owner, contractor, asbestos inspector/consultant, and abatement company (if applicable).

• Where to Send It: Email the signed permit to asbestos@state.co.us.

• Waiting Period: Once submitted, there’s a mandatory 10-day waiting period before demolition can begin. No sneaky early starts — CDPHE does not play around with this.

Just to make things easier for you, HERE is the CDPHE website for the Demolition Notification Application Form. Just scroll until you see "Demolition" and click on the Demolition Notification Application Form link.

Pro tip: Filling this out wrong or leaving blanks will bounce your permit back and add delays to that 10-day wait. Double-check every section before sending it in.

What Goes on the State Demolition Notification Application Form?

The demolition notification isn’t just a signature sheet — it’s a detailed form that covers the who, what, and how of your project. Let's break it down by section shall we?

• Demolition Site: This is everything about the property being demo'd. You also have to mark how you are demoing it (as one our owner says "just burn it to the ground!")

• Building Owner: This box is simple. Name, address, phone, and email of the property owner, that's it! There's a separate box for the property owner signature at the bottom of the permit, so make sure to sign there!

• Demolition Contractor: This is the person demoing the property, including the name of their company and their information. This is also where you have to add in where you're taking the material to. If the material has asbestos, it MUST go to a landfill that takes asbestos waste. The CDPHE website has a list of locations HERE.

• Abatement Removal Contractor (if applicable): This is the General Abatement Contractor (GAC) performing abatement, dates, and what material they are taking out. If you want some amazing recommendations for abatement teams, give us a call! We know the best in the biz.

• Asbestos Inspector/Consultant Information: Who performed the asbestos inspection and their certification details. (Hopefully it's us filling this part out!)

  • Asbestos Findings: Some material can be "demo'd in place", meaning that if there is material that has asbestos and is non-friable, you don't have to remove it. But...only a Certified Building Inspector can select those material and only certain materials are allowed to be demo'd in place. Leave this space to the pros to fill out.

And Lastly:

• Certification Signatures: Everyone involved (owner, demo contractor, certified asbestos inspector) has to sign.

Fun Fact: Since COVID, CDPHE will accept DocuSign'ed permits (as long as you include the certificate of completion). That’s right — no more chasing down people with a blue pen!

Step 7: Demo Day (a.k.a. The Fun Part)

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. The excavator rolls in, the walls come down, and your stress level finally drops. Just remember:

• If you skipped any of the steps above, this part could land you in hot water.

• Fines for skipping asbestos testing or demo permits can be thousands of dollars — and no one wants that on top of their dumpster rental fee.

What Happens If You Skip It

Think you can just “demo now, paperwork later”? Not so fast.

If you take down a building in Colorado without the required asbestos testing, permits, and 10-day waiting period, CDPHE will still work with you — but not without making you jump through hoops first before you can move forward. They can do what is called a "Retro-Active Demolition Approval". If you are in this boat, we strongly recommend reaching out to the CDPHE team so they can walk you through the process. I promise, they are really nice folks, but be ready to answer some standard questions and make sure to play nice.

But here’s the kicker:

• If it’s your first offense, CDPHE may let you correct it without immediate fines.

• If it’s not your first offense? Yes, fines can absolutely be on the table — and they’re not cheap.

So, moral of the story: don’t try to outsmart the system. It’s way easier (and cheaper) to follow the checklist than to play catch-up with regulators.

Final Thoughts

Demo in Colorado isn’t just about tearing down walls — it’s about tearing down walls legally. From asbestos testing, to city vs. state permit gymnastics, the checklist above is your roadmap to doing it right the first time.

At Elevation Environmental Services, we make sure you don’t miss a step. We’ll handle the asbestos testing, walk you through the permitting maze, and give you that all-important demo verification walkthrough before you swing the first hammer.

Ready to start your project? Call us today, and let’s smash responsibly.

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