For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Alex Sanchez
Community Development Analyst, Pitkin County Community Development
970-920-5526
Alex.Sanchez@pitkincounty.com
Pitkin County Advances Climate Goals New Energy Code Updates
Revised Code Aligns Development with Environmental Responsibility
Pitkin County, CO (ADD DATE) — Starting Sunday, April 27, 2025, newly updated amendments to the Pitkin County Building Code will go into effect, establishing more rigorous energy efficiency requirements for residential construction. The new standards will apply to all building permit applications submitted on or after that date.
This update represents a major step forward in meeting Pitkin County’s Climate Action Goals of reducing annual emissions by 90% from 2019 levels by 2050, and ensuring all new residential development is net-zero by 2030.
"These updates help pave the way toward the county’s climate action goals by reducing overall site energy use through improvements to building thermal envelopes," said Jeff Erickson, chief building official for Pitkin County Community Development.
The ordinance introduces a new three-tiered system for residential projects based on square footage.
Tier 1: 0–3,250 square feet
Tier 2: 3,251–5,750 square feet
Tier 3: 5,751 square feet and above
Larger homes will face more stringent efficiency requirements under the new system. To encourage smaller, energy-conscious development, the ordinance includes a variety of incentives. Projects that are fully electric and avoid high-energy exterior features—such as snowmelt systems and heated pools—may qualify for reduced permit fees, expedited application review, and exemptions from certain renewable energy and battery storage requirements.
The ordinance also addresses existing development. Homes undergoing significant renovations or additions exceeding 500 square feet will now be subject to updated energy efficiency requirements, ensuring the county’s sustainability goals extend beyond new construction.
These changes align with recommendations from the Community Growth Advisory Committee (CGAC), which identified building code revisions as “one of the most powerful and preferred tools for achieving the County’s climate and quality of life goals.” The CGAC is a community advisory group made up of builders, residents, and industry professionals who collaborated over several months to draft recommendations for future updates to the county code. The building code was adopted by BOCC on March 12, 2025 (recording linked here).This will be the second set of amendments to Title 11, Section 11.32 of the County Code, which adopts the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The first set of amendments was adopted on April 28th, 2024, with the exterior energy budget ordinance, following the initial adoption of the IECC on January 30, 2023.
To read the full ordinance, visit: /DocumentCenter/View/34357/Building-Code-Final