SmartRegs Inspections in the City of Boulder, Colorado
What are SmartRegs?
SmartRegs is an energy efficiency and water conservation requirement for rental properties in the city of Boulder, Colorado. SmartRegs were adopted by the city council in 2010 and all rental units needed to be compliant by the end of 2018.
How do I know if my unit is SmartRegs compliant?
If an existing housing unit (condo, townhome, house) has a current rental license, the unit should be SmartRegs compliant. Otherwise it wouldn’t have a rental license. All rental licenses for homes that were not SmartRegs compliant at the end of 2018 expired on December 31, 2018.
If the home was built before 2001 and has never been a rental unit, or it’s been a real long time since it’s been rented, then it likely isn’t SmartRegs compliant. The cutoff is if the permit to build the unit was granted after July 1, 2001. A home permitted after that date is automatically SmartRegs compliant.
The only sure-fire way to know if a home is SmartRegs compliant though is to email rentalhousinglicensing@bouldercolorado.gov or call 303-441-3152. Give them the address and unit number (if applicable) and they can look the unit up for you. As of this writing there is no publicly accessible website to look this up yourself.
How do I get my property to be SmartRegs compliant?
The first step is to have a SmartRegs inspection done. Abacus Inspection Service can do this inspection for you. We are fully licensed by the city of Boulder for SmartRegs inspections.
What does a SmartRegs inspection look at?
The inspection assesses the energy efficiency of insulation levels, appliances, HVAC systems, windows, whether a unit has shared walls, ceilings or floor, lighting, etc.
How often do I need a SmartRegs inspection?
Once your rental unit is SmartRegs compliant you’re done. It never needs another SmartRegs inspection. It will need a regular rental license inspection every 4 years, but SmartRegs and the licensing inspection are different requirements.
Is it hard to pass SmartRegs?
How hard it is to pass the SmartRegs inspection depends on a lot of factors. Some condos pass with no upgrades. Single family homes built in the 1960’s that have poor insulation, old furnaces, and original windows may have to spend up to $10,000 or more to meet SmartRegs requirements.
What are SmartRegs requirements based on?
SmartRegs requirements are based on being 20% less efficient than the 2004 International Energy Code.
Is SmartRegs only about energy efficiency?
No. There is a water conservation component to SmartRegs as well. The water conservation component is based on the water use of toilets, bathroom sinks, shower heads, dishwashers and clothes washers.
How can I schedule a SmartRegs inspection?
To schedule a SmartRegs inspection, please call 303-554-5840. Our office staff can help you at that number.