Planning to add a shed to your property in El Paso County? Before ordering or installing your shed, it's important to understand when a shed permit is required, what foundation requirements may apply, and whether your property has additional requirements based on its location or the size and design of your shed.
This shed permit guide combines current information from El Paso County's official permitting resources, including Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), with practical notes The Shed Yard obtained directly from the county. Official requirements, our county notes, and approximate costs are labeled separately.
Short answer: PPRBD publishes that a one-story detached accessory structure, which includes a shed, of 200 square feet or less, supported directly on grade, is exempt from a building permit. If your shed is over 200 square feet, plan on a permit. PPRBD also says a plot plan review is required for all accessory structures (including permit-exempt sheds), and floodplain permits may still apply (PPRBD Detached Accessory Structures).
El Paso County Shed Permit Requirements
Building permits for unincorporated El Paso County are issued by Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, not a separate county building office. PPRBD also serves the cities of Colorado Springs, Fountain and Manitou Springs and the towns of Green Mountain Falls, Monument and Palmer Lake. It does not serve Ramah or Calhan (PPRBD Homeowner Permits).
Zoning is a separate question. Unincorporated parcels, including most of Falcon and Peyton, follow El Paso County Planning and Community Development. Parcels inside Colorado Springs or Monument follow that city or town's zoning rules. A mailing address does not prove jurisdiction, and some nearby properties fall in other counties entirely, so confirm who governs your parcel first.
Near Elbert? The town of Elbert is in Elbert County, and PPRBD does not list Elbert County in its service area. If your property is near the county line, confirm whether El Paso County or Elbert County has jurisdiction before relying on anything in this guide.
When Does a Shed Require a Permit?
| Example | Floor area | Building-permit starting point |
|---|---|---|
| 10x12 storage shed | 120 sq. ft. | Exempt if one story and supported directly on grade |
| 10x20 shed | 200 sq. ft. | At the exemption limit; confirm on-grade support and plot plan |
| 12x24 Studio Shed | 288 sq. ft. | Building permit required; may sit on grade if enclosed and non-habitable |
| 12x40 storage shed | 480 sq. ft. | Permit and foundation required |
| 14x56 storage shed | 784 sq. ft. | Permit and engineered foundation with soils report |
PPRBD's online Start a Project tool walks through whether a project needs a permit or plan review. Adding power to a shed requires an electrical permit regardless of the shed's size (PPRBD Homeowner Permits).
Shed Foundation Requirements in El Paso County
PPRBD's detached accessory structure checklist sets out the published foundation paths for accessory structures. For a shed, they work out like this:
- 400 sq. ft. or less: one-story, enclosed, non-habitable structures may be supported directly on grade.
- Engineered design: an engineered foundation design that includes a soils report.
- Monolithic foundation: accepted only when it meets every listed condition (below).
Compare practical options in our shed foundation guide and our site preparation services.
Monolithic Foundation Requirements for Sheds
Published by PPRBD
- Not more than 750 square feet
- Single story without a loft
- Foundation does not retain soil
- Monolithic slab of a single pour with turned-down edges
- Uniformly loaded wood framing
Additional conditions county staff shared with us
- Structure is enclosed
- Wall height is less than 10 feet
- Foundation is poured concrete, with no cold joints
- No columns or pads
Discrepancy to note: county staff described the monolithic option as for structures "less than 750 square feet." PPRBD's published checklist says "not more than 750 square feet." We follow the published wording; confirm with PPRBD if your building is right at 750 square feet.
Get the Most Up-to-Date Pricing
Prices shown are current as of Sep 2026 and can change at any time. Options, site prep, permits, and delivery conditions all affect the final cost.
Shed Wall-Height Requirements
PPRBD's published checklist does not state a wall-height limit for monolithic slabs. County staff told The Shed Yard that 10 feet is the maximum wall height on a monolithic slab. If your shed's walls exceed 10 feet, we were told a stem-wall foundation is required and the walls must be upgraded to 2x6 framing. Confirm this before choosing a tall-wall shed.
Additional Requirements for Sheds West of I-25
County staff told The Shed Yard that projects west of Interstate 25 need a letter from a geologist. The approximate cost we were given was $700, which is not an official county fee. We have not found this requirement on a published county page, so ask El Paso County Planning and Community Development whether it applies to your parcel and building.
What We Learned Directly from El Paso County
In addition to reviewing El Paso County's published permitting information, our team has personally contacted the county to better understand how these requirements apply to the types of sheds we sell. The notes below reflect information provided directly to The Shed Yard and are intended to help homeowners plan their projects. Requirements and costs can change, so we recommend confirming the details with the county before starting construction.
| What we were told | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Shed permit threshold | Sheds over 200 sq. ft. | Matches PPRBD's published exemption |
| Concrete foundation | Required for sheds over 400 sq. ft.; 18" monolithic foundation | 400 sq. ft. matches PPRBD; 18" depth from county staff |
| Over 750 sq. ft. | Soils report and engineered foundation design | Matches PPRBD's engineered path |
| Engineered monolithic | Accepted for sheds over 750 sq. ft. and two-story structures | From county staff |
| Frost protection over 750 sq. ft. | 36" total depth: 6" above soil, 30" below | From county staff |
| Wall height over 10' | Stem wall and 2x6 walls required | From county staff |
| West of I-25 | Geologist letter required | From county staff |
Approximate costs we were quoted
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Engineering (foundation design) | About $1,500 |
| Soils report | About $3,000 |
| Geologist letter (west of I-25) | About $700 |
| Open-hole inspection | About $350 |
How to Get a Shed Permit in El Paso County
- 1. Confirm jurisdiction. Check whether your parcel is unincorporated El Paso County, a city or town, or another county.
- 2. Check zoning. Ask the zoning department with jurisdiction about setbacks, lot coverage and height.
- 3. Define the shed. Footprint, wall height, loft, use, and planned electrical work.
- 4. Choose the foundation path. On grade, monolithic, or engineered, using PPRBD's checklist.
- 5. Prepare plans. PPRBD's checklist lists a plot plan, foundation plan, and roof framing/floor plan; it notes a truss manufacturer layout is not accepted in place of a roof framing plan.
- 6. Submit through PPRBD. Start with Start a Project, then schedule the inspections your permit requires.
Or skip the headaches and hire us. Our Turn-Key permit services handle the parcel investigation, drawings, concrete foundation and permit filing. We prepare and submit — PPRBD and the county make the approval decisions. Talk to our team about your address.
How The Shed Yard Can Help
Once you understand the permitting requirements, the next step is figuring out which shed works for your property. The Shed Yard offers customizable sheds, including the Studio Shed and Economy Shed, with options to help you plan around your site, size, foundation, and permitting requirements. Monthly payments are available through rent-to-own and traditional financing.
Planning a Shed in El Paso County? Let's Talk.
Tell us your property, size and foundation plans, and we'll help you choose a shed that fits.
El Paso County Shed Permit FAQs
Official Sources
- PPRBD — Detached Accessory Structures checklist
- PPRBD — Work Exempt From Permits
- PPRBD — Start a Project
- PPRBD — Homeowner Permits and service area
- El Paso County Planning and Community Development
- City of Colorado Springs — Residential Accessory Structures
Permit requirements can change. Always confirm current requirements with El Paso County and PPRBD before beginning your project. This guide reflects material reviewed in September 2026 and is general planning information, not a ruling for your property. The Shed Yard is not the permitting authority and cannot guarantee permit approval.
Building elsewhere? See our Colorado shed permit requirements by county, the Colorado Springs shed permit guide, or the Pueblo shed permit guide.
Written by the team at The Shed Yard — family owned, Colorado built. We handle the building, the site prep, and the permits, start to finish.
