Colorado

Colorado Permit Guide for Metal Carports, Garages and Barns

Most places in Colorado need a building permit before you put up a metal carport or garage, but there is no single state rule, so your county or town makes the call. Colorado has no statewide building code. Each county and city adopts its own code, and a few rural counties do not run a building department at all. The answer to the Colorado carport permit question really comes down to your address: inside town limits you call the town, and outside town limits you call the county building or land use office. Size, enclosed walls, snow load and setbacks are what usually come up first.

Building code in effect

Colorado has no statewide building code. The State Architect's office says codes are adopted and enforced mainly at the local level. Counties get that power from C.R.S. 30-28-201, which lets a board of county commissioners adopt a building code for unincorporated areas, and cities and towns adopt their own. That means the code edition changes from place to place. For example, Larimer County's structural design sheet references the 2024 International Building Code and 2024 International Residential Code, while Pueblo County's code adopts the 2021 International Building Code. The state itself only sets building codes for a few things, like public schools, health facilities, manufactured and factory-built buildings, and hotels, motels and multifamily buildings in places with no local code.

Who issues permits

Permits come from the local government where the land sits. In a city or town, that is the town's building department. In unincorporated areas, it is the county building department, or in some areas a regional office (in El Paso County, building permits go through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department). Zoning is often a separate step. El Paso County, for example, requires site plan approval for a carport on top of any building permit. Where a county or town has no electrical or plumbing inspection program, the state Division of Professions and Occupations issues those permits.

County permit guides

County guides are coming soon.

Don't see your county? Call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you find the right office.

When you need a permit

Most counties and towns: Where a building code is adopted, a carport, garage or barn usually needs a building permit. Ask what size or height triggers it where you live, since each place sets its own exemptions.
Small sheds and the 200 sq ft rule: The model International Residential Code exempts one-story detached accessory buildings up to 200 square feet, but every Colorado county and town can amend that, so confirm the local number.
Carport size and walls: Zoning can limit carports even when a permit is simple. In El Paso County a residential carport is capped at 500 square feet and 12 feet tall, and only the side against the house may be enclosed.
Counties with no building department: The state Division of Housing lists 16 counties it knows of without a building department, including Baca, Cheyenne, Montezuma, Phillips and Yuma. Montezuma County does not enforce residential building codes but still requires permits before you build, so always call first.
Electrical work: Wiring a garage or barn needs its own electrical permit, from the local inspection program or from the state where no local program exists. The state requires a separate permit for each detached structure.

Farm buildings

Colorado lets counties exempt farm buildings, but it does not force them to. C.R.S. 30-28-201(1) says buildings used for the sole purpose of sheltering agricultural implements, farm products, livestock or poultry may be excepted from a county building code. Counties write their own conditions. Pueblo County exempts these buildings but keeps electrical and plumbing rules in force. Rio Grande County still requires an Ag Building Zoning Permit, bans human habitation, public use and storage of personal or recreational vehicles in the building, and requires a setback inspection. El Paso County ties its Agricultural Structure Exemption to parcels of at least 35 acres and says carports do not qualify. If the building will hold your truck, camper or shop, plan on a regular building permit.

Wind and snow

Snow load is the big one in Colorado, and it climbs fast with elevation. Larimer County, for example, sets ground snow load by elevation, from 55 psf at 5,000 feet to 160 psf at 9,000 feet, and uses a site map above 10,000 feet. Wind matters too, especially along the Front Range, where Larimer County's basic wind speeds run from 115 to 225 mph depending on location. Mountain counties like Jackson County publish their own snow load lists by town. Before you order, ask your local building office what ground snow load and wind speed your building must be engineered for at your exact site. Our partnered manufacturers offer certified buildings rated for 140 MPH wind and 35 PSF snow load, and higher ratings can be quoted where required.

Before you order

Find out first whether your land is inside town limits or in unincorporated county, since that decides which office you call.
Ask the building office for its design criteria sheet (ground snow load, wind speed, frost depth) and get engineered drawings that meet those numbers for your elevation.
If you plan to claim a farm exemption, ask your county exactly what qualifies. Parking vehicles or running a shop in the building usually knocks it out.
Check HOA covenants, setbacks and any flood plain mapping before you level the pad, and line up a separate electrical permit if you will run power.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Colorado?
Usually yes, but it depends on your county or town because Colorado has no statewide building code. Call your local building department, and ask about zoning too. Some counties, like El Paso, also require site plan approval and limit carport size.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage in Colorado?
In most places with an adopted building code, yes. A Colorado metal garage permit usually calls for plans engineered for your local snow load and wind speed, and a separate electrical permit if you add power.

Are farm buildings exempt in Colorado?
Counties may exempt buildings used only to shelter farm equipment, crops, livestock or poultry under C.R.S. 30-28-201(1). Each county sets its own conditions, and many still require a zoning permit plus electrical and plumbing permits.

What if my county has no building department?
Some rural counties do not enforce a building code, but they may still require a land use or zoning permit before you build. Electrical and plumbing permits then come from the state Division of Professions and Occupations.

Sources

Permit rules change. Always confirm with your local permit office before you build.

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