Jefferson County, Colorado is one of the Denver metro's primary suburban counties. The county's Building Inspection Division handles permits for unincorporated areas. Cities like Lakewood, Arvada, Golden, Westminster, and Wheat Ridge have their own permitting offices — verify your jurisdiction before applying.
The shed threshold in unincorporated Jefferson County is 200 sq ft. Sheds 200 sq ft and under are permit-exempt but must meet setback requirements and must not exceed 14 feet in height. All decks attached to the house require a building permit. Fences generally do not require a permit in unincorporated Jefferson County, though setback and height rules apply.
Jefferson County Building Inspection is at 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden, CO 80419. Phone: (303) 271-8260. Online portal: jeffco.us/1315/Building-Inspection. Permit fees: shed permits $75–$175, deck permits $125–$275. Review takes 5–10 business days.
What Requires a Permit
Frequently Asked Questions
- No. A 12×16 shed is 192 square feet, which is under Jefferson County's 200 sq ft threshold. No building permit is required in unincorporated Jefferson County. However, you must still meet setback requirements — typically 5 feet from side and rear property lines — and the shed cannot exceed 14 feet in height. If you're inside an incorporated city like Lakewood, Arvada, or Golden, that city's rules apply.
- The frost line depth in Jefferson County is 36 inches. All footings for permitted structures — decks, additions, pergolas, detached garages — must be placed at least 36 inches below finished grade. This is significantly deeper than in warmer states like Georgia or Tennessee. The inspector will verify footing depth during the foundation inspection.