Do you need a permit for a shed in Denver?
It depends on the project. Denver exempts some sheds from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 200 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Denver's rule“You do not need a building permit for one-story, detached, non-conditioned accessory buildings or structures; used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses; no more than 200 square feet of projected roof area, 8-ft top plate height, or 14-ft maximum height to any point.”1
City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development, Permits > Building Permit (Residential Construction)
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Over 200 sq ft roof area, 8 ft top plate or 14 ft height | You do not need a building permit for one-story, detached, non-conditioned accessory buildings or structures; used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses; no more than 200 square feet of projected roof area, 8-ft top plate height, or 14-ft maximum height to any point.1 |
| Zoning permit or review | Shed not meeting minor detached structure form standards; all sheds in Former Chapter 59 districts | Denver Zoning Code Zone Districts: You do not need a zoning permit if your shed meets the requirements of the minor detached structure building form standards. All others require a permit.1 |
| Electrical permit | Any lights/receptacles (max two each for exempt shed) | A maximum of two lights and two receptacles are permitted with a valid electrical permit.1 |
Limits and conditions in Denver's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this area | 200 square feet | …no more than 200 square feet of projected roof area, 8-ft top plate height, or 14-ft maximum height to any point.1 |
| Exempt up to this height | 14 feet | …no more than 200 square feet of projected roof area, 8-ft top plate height, or 14-ft maximum height to any point.1 |
| Exempt up to this wall (top plate) height | 8 feet | …no more than 200 square feet of projected roof area, 8-ft top plate height, or 14-ft maximum height to any point.1 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning approval needed even without a building permit? | Former Chapter 59 districts: always | Former Chapter 59 Zone Districts: All new sheds, relocated sheds, and alterations to existing sheds located in a zone district in Former Chapter 59 require a zoning permit.1 |
What to submit
Who can apply
- Owner-occupier of a single-family home (homeowner permit) or Denver-licensed contractor1
Shed permit fees in Denver
Fee lines as Denver's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee (valuation table) | Based on project valuation | $501.00 to $2,000.00 $35.00 02 |
All of Denver's fee lines are on the Denver permit page.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Landmark/historic district: Certificate of Appropriateness required1
- Floodplain or digging within 2 ft of sewer line: SUDP may be required1
Who to ask
Community Planning and Development (CPD), Building Permitting and Inspections Services Agency7
Building permits
- Website
- denvergov.org3
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com4
- Phone
- (720) 865-27005
- [email protected]5
- Address
- 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 205, Denver, CO 80202 (Webb Municipal Building, 2nd floor)5
- Hours
- Phone line Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.5
- Inspections
- Online via e-permits (aca-prod.accela.com/DENVER); inspections completed within 2 business days6
Shed permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Denver with 18 other cities on the national shed permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Residential Sheds - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Building and Land Development Fees - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Community Planning and Development - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- City and County of Denver | ePermit online (Denver's Permitting and Licensing Center)City and County of DenverChecked November 7, 2026
- Contact us - Community Planning and DevelopmentCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Building Inspections - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- 2025 Denver Building Code (2nd Printing, November 2025)City and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentPublished November 2025Checked November 7, 2026