Do I need a permit for a detached garage in Colorado?
The short answer
Yes. A detached garage is over every accessory-building exemption in Colorado, so it needs a building permit, a site plan, an engineered foundation or slab detail, and inspections. Plan on two to eight weeks for review depending on the county. The permit steps and real costs are broken down in our detached garage cost guide.
A detached garage is always a permitted structure in Colorado. Even the smallest single-car garage clears the 120 and 200 square-foot accessory exemptions, and because it houses vehicles and often power, jurisdictions review it as a real building rather than a storage box.
What the county reviews
- Site plan showing setbacks, easements, driveway access, and distance to the house.
- Foundation or slab detail — a monolithic slab with footings sized for local frost depth is the common approach.
- Structural framing against the local ground snow load and wind speed, which vary sharply between Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and mountain communities.
- Electrical work, which is typically a separate permit and its own inspection.
- Impervious coverage limits on smaller in-town lots.
Slab first, then the building
Our garages are built to sit on a level concrete slab. The slab is poured and inspected before your build date, and its dimensions have to match the ordered footprint — a slab that is an inch out of square or two inches out of level creates real problems at install. If you do not have a concrete contractor, our site preparation services team can handle the pad.
Realistic timeline
- Week 1 — confirm zoning, setbacks, and HOA approval; finalize the model and size.
- Weeks 1-3 — permit submittal with our drawings; some counties turn around faster.
- Weeks 2-5 — slab prep, pour, and cure (concrete wants time and moderate temperatures).
- Build day — the garage goes up on the finished slab and is anchored per the approved detail.
One thing buyers forget
Confirm the truck route before you pour. A garage package needs real access — width, overhead clearance, and turning room. Blocked access is the most common delivery-day surprise.
How The Shed Yard helps
We supply the drawings your reviewer wants, coordinate the pad, and build on site. See 1 car and 2 car garages, or price yours in the 3D customizer.