Permit Required? Sometimes Required
Typical Fee Range $50–$150 Small sheds are exempt; larger ones require building and zoning review.
Fee Method Size-based
Apply Online Apply at Pikes Peak Regional Building Department →

What's Required in Colorado Springs

  • Building permit required for sheds 200 square feet or larger.
  • Must be located in the side or rear yard behind the house.
  • Maximum height usually limited to 15 feet.
  • Sheds over 200 sq ft must be anchored to a permanent foundation.
  • Electrical permits are required separately if wiring is added.
  • Must maintain a minimum setback (usually 5ft) from property lines.

What Size Shed Needs a Permit in Colorado Springs

Whether you need a building permit for a shed in Colorado Springs usually comes down to size. In Colorado Springs, sheds 200 square feet or larger need a building permit, while smaller simple one-story sheds generally don’t. A popular 10x12 shed (120 sq ft) comes in under the limit, so it typically doesn’t need a building permit. Larger sheds, and any shed with electrical, plumbing, or a permanent foundation, almost always need a permit regardless of footprint.

Building a Shed Without a Permit in Colorado Springs

Even when a shed is small enough to skip a building permit in Colorado Springs, “no permit” doesn’t mean “no rules.” A permit-exempt shed generally must stay under the 200-square-foot limit, sit on a non-permanent base (sheds on skids or a gravel pad are treated more leniently than those on a poured foundation), and have no electrical or plumbing run to it. Crucially, zoning setbacks still apply — your shed usually has to sit a minimum distance from property lines and other structures, and that holds even for a permit-free shed. Confirm both the size exemption and the setback distance with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department before you build.

How to Get a Shed Permit in Colorado Springs

1

Step 1: Verify Dimensions

Confirm if your structure is over 200 sq ft.

2

Step 2: Plot Plan

Identify shed location and setbacks on a site map.

3

Step 3: Submit Portal

Apply for an Accessory Structure permit online via PPRBD.

4

Step 4: Pay Fees

Standard residential accessory building fees apply.

5

Step 5: Inspection

Final inspection required for all permitted structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, sheds under 200 sq ft are exempt from building permits in Colorado Springs.
Generally no; accessory structures must be in side or rear yards.
Not for small sheds, but they must still be anchored for wind.
In Colorado Springs, sheds smaller than 200 square feet can generally be built without a building permit; 200 square feet or larger needs one. The exemption usually also requires no permanent foundation and no electrical or plumbing, and zoning setbacks from property lines still apply even without a permit.
Often not, if it’s also within Colorado Springs’s 200 sq ft limit and has no utilities — many jurisdictions treat a shed on skids or a gravel pad as movable rather than a permanent building. A poured foundation or any electrical/plumbing typically triggers a permit. Confirm with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department; zoning setbacks apply either way.