Do I need a shed permit in Colorado?

In Colorado it depends on the size of the job. Permits are issued locally, so the answer comes from your Colorado city or county rather than a single statewide rule. Of the 3 Colorado jurisdictions we have verified for shed work, 1 requires a permit outright, 2 depend on the size or scope of the job, and 0 require none.

Is there a shed permit exemption in Colorado?

2 of the 3 Colorado jurisdictions we cover set a threshold rather than a flat rule, so the same job can be exempt in one Colorado county and permitted in the next. The table above lists each Colorado jurisdiction's published threshold in its own words, with the source and the date we verified it.

Colorado

Do you need a shed permit in Colorado?

By Mario Bailey Last checked 16 Aug 2026

Always required: 1; of 3 jurisdictions
Conditional: 2; depends on size or scope
Not required: 0; exempt outright

Shed Permit rules nationwide, beyond Colorado.

A fenced backyard with a lawn and a small storage shed

Requirements and size thresholds for shed permits vary by locality. The table below compares what each Colorado county or city requires. Always confirm with the local office before starting.

Comparing states? See shed permit rules across every locality we cover.

The application steps and inspection sequence for shed permits come from the model code rather than from Colorado law, so they read the same wherever you build. We keep that walkthrough in one place: how a shed permit application and its inspections work, start to finish. What changes between Colorado jurisdictions is below: who requires a permit, what they charge, and which office you file with.

Swipe sideways to see thresholds and confidence.

Locality	Permit required?	Typical threshold	Confidence
Aurora	Conditional	shed floor area at which a building permit is required	Confirmed on official page
Denver	Conditional	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	Confirmed on official page
Jefferson County	Yes	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.	Confirmed on official page
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Common questions about shed permits in Colorado

Do I need a shed permit in Colorado?: In Colorado it depends on the size of the job. Permits are issued locally, so the answer comes from your Colorado city or county rather than a single statewide rule. Of the 3 Colorado jurisdictions we have verified for shed work, 1 requires a permit outright, 2 depend on the size or scope of the job, and 0 require none.
Is there a shed permit exemption in Colorado?: 2 of the 3 Colorado jurisdictions we cover set a threshold rather than a flat rule, so the same job can be exempt in one Colorado county and permitted in the next. The table above lists each Colorado jurisdiction's published threshold in its own words, with the source and the date we verified it.

Do you need a shed permit in Colorado?

Common questions about shed permits in Colorado

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