Shed Permit in Jefferson County, Colorado
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before placing any shed, mini-structure, or shipping container in unincorporated Jefferson County
Issued byJefferson County Planning & Zoning Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Every shed in unincorporated Jefferson County needs a permit of some kind. Sheds, mini-structures, and shipping containers of 120 square feet or less that sit at least 10 feet from an occupied structure and are no taller than 14 feet only need a Miscellaneous Permit from Planning and Zoning. Sheds larger than 120 square feet, taller than 14 feet, or within 10 feet of an occupied structure need a full Building Permit instead. There is no size at which a shed needs no permit at all.
Typical threshold: Sheds, mini-structures, and shipping containers 120 sq ft or less that sit at least 10 feet from any occupied structure and are no more than 14 feet tall need only a Miscellaneous Permit; anything larger, taller, or closer than 10 feet to an occupied structure needs a full Building Permit instead. Some permit is required at every size.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before placing any shed, mini-structure, or shipping container in unincorporated Jefferson County
What a shed permit costs in Jefferson County
How Jefferson County compares in Colorado
Across the Colorado jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 120 to 200, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | It depends | shed floor area at which a building permit is required |
| Denver | It depends | sheds up to 200 sq ft with 8 ft top plate and 14 ft max height do not require a building permit but may require a zoning permit in some zone districts |
| Jefferson Countythis page | Permit required | Sheds, mini-structures, and shipping containers 120 sq ft or less that sit at least 10 feet from any occupied structure and are no more than 14 feet tall need only a Miscellaneous Permit; anything larger, taller, or closer than 10 feet to an occupied structure needs a full Building Permit instead. Some permit is required at every size. |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside Colorado
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Jefferson County's 120 sq ft.
- Alameda County, California, Floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed accessory to a house, at which the building permit exemption stops
- Baltimore County, Maryland, accessory structure floor area
- Boston, Massachusetts, one-story detached accessory sheds used for tools or storage are exempt if floor area does not exceed 120 sq ft
- Chandler, Arizona, One-story detached accessory structures (storage sheds, open-air ramadas) with floor area of 120 sq ft or less and height of 7 ft or less (up to 9 ft with 2 additional feet of setback per additional foot of height) are exempt if not connected to any electrical, gas, or water utility; exceeding either limit or connecting a utility requires a building permit.
How to apply in Jefferson County
In Jefferson County, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- For Jefferson County, a written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- For Jefferson County, a scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Division sets the exact checklist for Jefferson County.
Where to apply in Jefferson County:
Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Division
- 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 3550, Golden, CO 80419
- Phone: 303-271-8700
Shed Permit in Jefferson County compared with nearby Colorado localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Colorado schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Permit required | Sheds, mini-structures, and shipping containers 120 sq ft or less that sit at least 10 feet from any occupied structure and are no more than 14 feet tall need only a Miscellaneous Permit; anything larger, taller, or closer than 10 feet to an occupied structure needs a full Building Permit instead. Some permit is required at every size. | Sheds 120 sq ft or less and at least 10 feet from an occupied structure need only a $90... | |
| Aurora | It depends | shed floor area at which a building permit is required | There is no storage-shed line item on the 2026 flat-rate schedule (Form #A175, footer... | |
| Denver | It depends | sheds up to 200 sq ft with 8 ft top plate and 14 ft max height do not require a building permit but may require a zoning permit in some zone districts | No building permit for one-story detached sheds up to 200 sq ft, 8 ft top plate and 14... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Jefferson County, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection in Jefferson County: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection in Jefferson County: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection in Jefferson County: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- In Jefferson County: for a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Jefferson County permit portal or by phone at 303-271-8700.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Jefferson County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Typical threshold: Sheds, mini-structures, and shipping containers 120 sq ft or less that sit at least 10 feet from any occupied structure and are no more than 14 feet tall need only a Miscellaneous Permit; anything larger, taller, or closer than 10 feet to an occupied structure needs a full Building Permit instead. Some permit is required at every size. Usually needed: Before placing any shed, mini-structure, or shipping container in unincorporated Jefferson County.
- Budget the fee. Sheds 120 sq ft or less and at least 10 feet from an occupied structure need only a $90 Miscellaneous Permit; sheds over 120 sq ft, over 14 feet tall, or within 10 feet of an occupied structure need a building permit on the valuation table with a $55 minimum. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Jefferson County, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Jefferson County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Division. Phone: 303-271-8700. Address: 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 3550, Golden, CO 80419.
- Plan for inspections. In Jefferson County, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Jefferson County?
- Every shed in unincorporated Jefferson County needs a permit of some kind. Sheds, mini-structures, and shipping containers of 120 square feet or less that sit at least 10 feet from an occupied structure and are no taller than 14 feet only need a Miscellaneous Permit from Planning and Zoning. Sheds larger than 120 square feet, taller than 14 feet, or within 10 feet of an occupied structure need a full Building Permit instead. There is no size at which a shed needs no permit at all. Always confirm with the Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Division before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Jefferson County?
- Sheds 120 sq ft or less and at least 10 feet from an occupied structure need only a $90 Miscellaneous Permit; sheds over 120 sq ft, over 14 feet tall, or within 10 feet of an occupied structure need a building permit on the valuation table with a $55 minimum. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Jefferson County?
- You can apply through the Jefferson County permit portal or contact the Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Jefferson County?
- Under Colorado law (C.R.S. 12-115-116(2); C.R.S. 12-115-120(11)(c); C.R.S. 12-155-118(2); C.R.S. 12-155-120(11)(c)): Colorado's state electrical law has a homeowner exception: under C.R.S. 12-115-116(2), you do not need an electrician's license to do electrical work on your own property or residence, as long as all the work, other than maintenance or repair of existing systems, is inspected under the state law. The exception does not apply if the property is intended for sale or resale by someone in the construction or remodeling business, is rental property, or is generally open to the public. A homeowner performing work on the homeowner's home is a qualified applicant who may pull the state electrical permit under C.R.S. 12-115-120(11)(c), and plumbing mirrors this: C.R.S. 12-155-118(2) allows unlicensed plumbing work on your own property or residence with the same carve-outs, and C.R.S. 12-155-120(11)(c) lets a homeowner pull the state plumbing permit. The State Electrical and Plumbing Boards at DORA require that the homeowner personally perform the work, that it be inspected before cover and again at completion, and that it meet the National Electrical Code or the adopted plumbing codes. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license: Title 12 licenses electricians and plumbers at the state level, and general building contractors are licensed, if at all, by the individual city or county. Confirm how Jefferson County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Jefferson County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | No exemption by height or size: a Building Permit is required for new decks, deck expansions, replacement decks, and deck repairs. Only a ground-level concrete pad, rather than an elevated deck, avoids the permit. | Billed as a building permit on the county valuation fee table starting at a $55 minimum... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Electrical permits not tied to an active building permit bill on the countywide... |
| Fence Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | No permit for fences in unincorporated Jefferson County |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical permits not tied to an active building permit bill on the countywide... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Ground-level concrete or paver patios are treated like the exempt concrete pads on the Decks page and do not need a Building Permit; patio covers, roofed patio structures, and patio enclosures (anything that adds a roof or walls) need a Building Permit. | Not published |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing permits not tied to an active building permit bill on the countywide valuation... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | A Miscellaneous Permit is required for swimming pools of any size, in-ground or above-ground, and related structures such as diving boards and ladders; hot tubs and swim spas do not need this permit. Any electrical work for the pool needs a separate Building Safety electrical permit. | Pools of any size need a Miscellaneous Permit priced at $90 on the 2026 zoning fee table... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | A Building Permit is required for full roof replacement. Only minor roof repairs affecting less than 25% of the total roof area and no more than 2 squares are exempt; anything larger needs a permit plus a mid-roof and a final inspection. | Full roof replacement bills as a building permit on the countywide valuation fee table... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Roof-mounted solar panels flush against the roof need no Planning and Zoning permit but always need an Electrical Permit. Panels raised up to 5 feet above the roof need a Miscellaneous Permit from Planning and Zoning in addition to the Electrical Permit. Ground-mount and commercial grid-sale systems have additional requirements. | Solar permit fees are capped at $500 for residential systems, per the county Building... |
Shed Permit in other Colorado localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Jefferson County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
- IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC
- IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC
How this shed permit page for Jefferson County was verified. 2 official sources: jeffco.us, jeffco.us; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
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