PE stamp in Colorado: home-rule cities, snow loads, and the AES seal

When a Colorado PE stamp is required

The State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors licenses Professional Engineers under C.R.S. Title 12, Article 120. Colorado does not use one statewide building department for private construction. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Boulder, Fort Collins, and the counties each adopt and amend codes. The project address controls the license. An out-of-state PE cannot seal a Colorado permit set.

Typical triggers include commercial structure, tenant work that changes a load path, non-prescriptive residential framing and foundations, retaining walls, and MEP the city will not accept unsigned. AllInStamp matches a Colorado-licensed PE and verifies the license before sealing.

Denver, home-rule cities, and snow load

Home-rule cities publish their own amendments and e-plan rules. Denver Community Planning and Development enforces the Denver building and fire codes. On the current Denver cycle, engineered design takes ground snow load from the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool rather than one number for the whole city. A snow calculation that still uses an importance factor is a sign the set is on an older ASCE 7 edition. Show ground snow, risk category, and the code edition on the structural cover.

Mountain jurisdictions add high snow, drifting, and wildland-urban interface requirements. Front Range sites often add expansive soils and post-tensioned or structurally designed slabs. Name the city or county. A Denver submittal is not the checklist for unincorporated Summit or Jefferson County.

Seal, signature, and limited responsibility

C.R.S. 12-120-216 allows a crimp seal, a rubber stamp, or an electronic seal of the Board’s design. The seal contains the licensee’s name, license number, and the designation “Colorado licensed professional engineer.” Board rules set the outer circle at nominally 1-5/8 inches and the inner circle at nominally 15/16 inches, with the license number centered. The word “NUMBER” does not appear on the seal.

The seal goes on each sheet of final drawings, and on the cover or title page of bound specifications and calculation reports. The licensee’s signature and the date appear through the seal. Documents that are not final are marked preliminary, with a further note such as “for review” when that is the status. A licensee who is responsible for only one discipline adds a written note next to the seal that states that limit. Sealing means the work was prepared under the licensee’s responsible charge.

How to get a Colorado set sealed

Upload the PDF plan set, calculations, and the geotechnical criteria the design used. Note the jurisdiction and whether the city has already issued redlines. Out-of-state drawings can be reviewed. The seal is applied only by a Colorado licensee who takes responsible charge of the work.

Start a new quote with Colorado prefilled. Intake typically responds within 24–48 hours. Stamp turnaround then follows page count and whether rush service is selected. The live quote shows pricing and an estimated schedule before you submit.

FAQ

Does Colorado have one statewide building code for permits?

Private permits are reviewed by the city or county that has jurisdiction. Home-rule cities such as Denver adopt and amend their own codes. Put the receiving department in the quote so the set cites the edition that office enforces.

Can a PE licensed in another state stamp Colorado drawings?

No. Colorado permit work needs an active Colorado PE license. AllInStamp assigns a Colorado-licensed engineer and verifies the license before sealing.

Where does the signature go on a Colorado seal?

The signature and date go through the seal. Each final drawing sheet is sealed. If the PE is responsible for only part of the set, a note next to the seal states the discipline.