Every Colorado municipality handles shipping container permits differently. This guide breaks down what you need to know before placing a container on your property, city by city.
Colorado has no statewide permit requirement for shipping containers. That means every city, county, and municipality sets its own rules. What flies in Pueblo might get you a code violation notice in Boulder. What's perfectly legal in unincorporated Weld County could require a full building permit in Denver.
The consequences of skipping the permit step are real. Code enforcement officers can require you to remove the container at your expense. You could face daily fines. And if you're converting a container into a livable structure without proper permits, you're looking at much bigger problems down the road when you try to sell or insure the property.
The good news: most Colorado jurisdictions are reasonable about storage containers. Many allow temporary placement without a permit. Permanent placement usually requires one, but the process is straightforward if you know who to call. This guide covers the major cities and regions so you can get it right the first time.
For general container questions, see our Colorado container FAQ.
Denver is a combined city and county, so there's one set of rules for the entire jurisdiction. The City and County of Denver regulates shipping containers through its zoning code and building permit process.
Temporary placement: Denver generally allows temporary storage containers on residential properties for limited periods, typically tied to active construction or renovation. If you're doing a home remodel and need a container on your driveway for 30 to 60 days, you're usually fine without a permit. The key word is "temporary." The container should be tied to a specific, time-limited activity.
Permanent placement: If you want to keep a container on your property as a permanent accessory structure, Denver requires a zoning permit. The container must meet setback requirements, lot coverage limits, and zoning district rules. In residential zones, containers used as permanent storage typically need to be placed behind the front building line and may need screening from neighboring properties.
Commercial properties: Commercial and industrial zones in Denver are more container-friendly. Containers used for on-site storage in commercial districts are common, but you still need to confirm compliance with your specific zoning district.
Who to contact: Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD). Phone: 720-865-2705. Website: denvergov.org/cpd. They can tell you exactly what your zoning district allows and what permits you need.
We deliver containers throughout Denver and the Denver metro area and can advise on what questions to ask before you order.
Colorado Springs has its own zoning and building codes that apply within city limits. El Paso County has separate rules for unincorporated areas outside the city.
Within city limits: Colorado Springs generally requires a permit for shipping containers used as permanent storage on residential property. Temporary containers for construction or moving purposes may be allowed for a limited window without a permit, but it depends on your zoning district. The city has been increasingly attentive to container placement in residential neighborhoods.
El Paso County (unincorporated): Properties outside Colorado Springs city limits but within El Paso County tend to have more relaxed container rules. Many rural and semi-rural parcels in the county allow containers without a permit, especially on larger lots zoned for agricultural or rural residential use. Always confirm with the county before assuming.
Who to contact: Colorado Springs Planning and Community Development, 719-385-5905. For unincorporated El Paso County, contact El Paso County Planning and Community Development, 719-520-6300.
See our Colorado Springs container delivery page for more details on getting a container delivered to the Springs area.
Aurora spans three counties (Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas), which can make things confusing. The City of Aurora has its own zoning regulations that apply regardless of which county your address falls in, as long as you're within Aurora city limits.
Residential zones: Aurora generally does not permit shipping containers as permanent accessory structures in residential zones. Temporary placement for construction or moving is typically allowed with conditions, often a maximum of 30 days. Containers need to be on a hard surface, not on the grass in the front yard.
Commercial and industrial zones: Containers are more readily permitted in Aurora's commercial and industrial zoning districts, especially for on-site storage during active business operations.
Who to contact: City of Aurora Planning Department, 303-739-7250. Their staff can check your specific address and tell you what's allowed.
Jefferson County is one of the most searched areas for container permit information in Colorado, and for good reason. The county covers a wide range of property types, from suburban Lakewood and Wheat Ridge to mountain communities near Evergreen and Conifer.
City of Lakewood: Lakewood regulates containers through its zoning code. Permanent containers on residential lots generally require a permit and must meet accessory structure standards, including setbacks and height limits. Temporary containers during construction may be allowed for a defined period. Lakewood code enforcement is active, particularly in established neighborhoods.
Unincorporated Jefferson County: Mountain properties in unincorporated JeffCo often have more flexibility. Larger lots zoned for mountain residential use may allow containers with minimal permitting. However, properties in planned developments or areas with covenants may still face restrictions. The county planning department can look up your specific parcel and tell you what applies.
Who to contact: City of Lakewood Planning Department, 303-987-7505. Jefferson County Planning and Zoning, 303-271-8700.
Fort Collins has some of the more detailed container regulations among Colorado cities. The city takes zoning compliance seriously, especially in residential areas close to CSU and Old Town.
Within Fort Collins city limits: Shipping containers are generally not permitted as permanent structures in residential neighborhoods. The city classifies them as temporary storage and limits placement to periods associated with construction, moving, or similar activities. A container sitting in your yard as long-term storage will likely draw a code enforcement notice in most Fort Collins residential zones.
Larimer County (unincorporated): Properties outside Fort Collins in unincorporated Larimer County, particularly larger agricultural and rural residential parcels, are generally more flexible. Containers used for agricultural storage on working land are common and typically allowed. Always verify with the county, but the permitting bar is lower on rural acreage.
Who to contact: City of Fort Collins Community Development and Neighborhood Services, 970-416-2740. Larimer County Planning Department, 970-498-7683.
Pueblo is one of the more container-friendly cities on the Front Range. The city's zoning code and enforcement approach tend to be more relaxed than Denver or Boulder, particularly on larger lots and in areas zoned for light industrial or mixed use.
Residential zones: Pueblo may require a permit for permanent container placement in residential areas, but enforcement has historically been complaint-driven rather than proactive. That said, you should still check before placing a container. Rules can change, and a neighbor complaint can trigger enforcement regardless of how relaxed the general climate is.
Pueblo County (unincorporated): Rural properties in Pueblo County are very container-friendly. Large parcels used for ranching, farming, or rural residential purposes commonly have containers without any permit issues. This is one of the easiest areas in Colorado for container placement.
Who to contact: City of Pueblo Planning and Community Development, 719-553-2656. Pueblo County Planning and Development, 719-583-6125.
We deliver throughout Pueblo and Pueblo County.
Boulder is one of the strictest cities in Colorado when it comes to land use and zoning. Container permits are no exception.
Residential zones: The City of Boulder heavily restricts shipping containers in residential areas. Permanent placement as an accessory structure is generally not allowed in most residential zones. Even temporary containers face tighter restrictions than in other Front Range cities. If you're doing a renovation or moving, you may be able to get a temporary permit, but expect specific conditions on duration, placement location, and screening.
Boulder County (unincorporated): Properties outside Boulder city limits in unincorporated Boulder County, especially in mountain areas like Nederland, Gold Hill, and Jamestown, have more flexibility. Agricultural properties and large rural residential lots can often accommodate containers. The county still has regulations, but they're more workable than the city's.
Who to contact: City of Boulder Planning and Development Services, 303-441-1880. Boulder County Land Use Department, 303-441-3930.
This is where container placement gets easy. Most of rural Colorado is very accommodating for shipping containers. Counties on the Eastern Plains, the San Luis Valley, the Western Slope, and mountain areas outside incorporated towns generally have minimal or no permit requirements for storage containers on private property.
Counties known for relaxed container rules include:
On large agricultural parcels and ranches, containers are treated essentially the same as any other storage building. Nobody is going to hassle you about a container on 35 acres of ranchland in Baca County. That said, a quick call to your county planning office takes five minutes and eliminates any doubt.
Here's something many people overlook: your HOA can restrict containers even when your city or county allows them. In the Denver metro, HOAs are everywhere. Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Parker, Castle Rock, Broomfield, Erie, Thornton, and many other suburbs have neighborhoods governed by homeowners associations with their own CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions).
Common HOA restrictions include:
Violating HOA rules can result in fines, forced removal, and a lot of headaches with your neighbors. Check your CC&Rs before ordering. If you're not sure, call your HOA management company and ask directly. It takes five minutes and saves you a major hassle.
Almost every Colorado jurisdiction draws a line between temporary and permanent container placement. Understanding this distinction is critical.
Temporary placement usually means the container is on-site for a limited period tied to a specific activity. Common examples: storing belongings during a home renovation, holding equipment during a construction project, or staging items during a move. Most cities allow 30 to 90 days without a permit for temporary use. Some require you to have an active building permit for the associated project.
Permanent placement means the container stays on the property indefinitely as a storage structure. This almost always requires a permit in incorporated cities. You'll typically need to meet setback requirements (distance from property lines), lot coverage limits, and sometimes height or screening requirements. In residential zones, the container may need to be behind the front building line and possibly screened by fencing or landscaping.
The practical difference: if your container is for a short-term project, you're usually fine. If you're planning to keep it long-term, call your local planning department first.
Container homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are a completely different category from storage containers. If you're converting a shipping container into a livable space with plumbing, electrical, and insulation, you're building a structure. That means full building permits, inspections, and compliance with the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted by your jurisdiction.
What you'll need for a container home in Colorado:
Denver passed ADU-friendly legislation in recent years, making it easier to build accessory dwelling units. Container-based ADUs are possible in Denver, but you'll need to go through the full permitting process. Some mountain counties are also warming up to container homes, particularly on larger rural lots where neighbors are less of a concern.
If you're exploring a container home or office conversion, check out our modified containers page for information on containers with doors, windows, insulation, electrical, and HVAC already installed.
Before you order a container, make one phone call. Call your local city or county planning and zoning department. Have your property address ready and ask these questions:
This call takes about ten minutes. It can save you hundreds or thousands in fines and removal costs. Every building department we've dealt with in Colorado has been helpful and straightforward when you call with a clear question.
If you're unsure where to start, give us a call at (330) 510-5817. We've delivered containers all over Colorado and can point you to the right department for your area.
We deliver 20ft, 40ft, high cube, modified, and refrigerated containers across the state. Price always includes delivery. Call or text David directly, or fill out the quote form.