Colorado municipalities handle 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 legal in unincorporated Weld County could require a full building permit in Denver.
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.
Some jurisdictions allow temporary placement without a permit, and permanent placement may require one. This guide covers the major cities and regions so you know who to call.
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 may allow temporary storage containers on residential properties for limited periods tied to active construction or renovation. Confirm the allowed duration with Denver Community Planning and Development before ordering.
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 have different rules from residential zones. 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.
Container One delivers throughout Denver and the Denver metro area wherever the truck has the access and clearance it needs.
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.
El Paso County (unincorporated): Properties outside Colorado Springs city limits but within El Paso County fall under county rules. Confirm with the county before placing a container.
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 may be allowed with conditions, such as a maximum duration. Containers may need to be on a hard surface rather than on the grass in the front yard.
Commercial and industrial zones: Aurora's commercial and industrial zoning districts have separate rules for on-site storage during 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 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.
Unincorporated Jefferson County: Mountain properties in unincorporated JeffCo fall under county rules. 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 regulates shipping containers through its zoning code.
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 left in a residential yard as long-term storage may draw a code enforcement notice.
Larimer County (unincorporated): Properties outside Fort Collins in unincorporated Larimer County, including larger agricultural and rural residential parcels, fall under county rules. Verify with the county before placing a container.
Who to contact: City of Fort Collins Community Development and Neighborhood Services, 970-416-2740. Larimer County Planning Department, 970-498-7683.
Pueblo's zoning code has its own rules for larger lots and for areas zoned for light industrial or mixed use.
Residential zones: Pueblo may require a permit for permanent container placement in residential areas. Check before placing a container, because rules can change and a neighbor complaint can trigger enforcement.
Pueblo County (unincorporated): Rural properties in unincorporated Pueblo County fall under county rules. Confirm with the county before placing a container on a ranching, farming, or rural residential parcel.
Who to contact: City of Pueblo Planning and Community Development, 719-553-2656. Pueblo County Planning and Development, 719-583-6125.
Container One delivers to Pueblo and Pueblo County wherever the truck has the access and clearance it needs.
Boulder regulates shipping containers through its land use and zoning rules.
Residential zones: The City of Boulder restricts shipping containers in residential areas. Permanent placement as an accessory structure is generally not allowed in residential zones. If you're doing a renovation or moving, you may be able to get a temporary permit, with conditions on duration, placement location, and screening.
Boulder County (unincorporated): Properties outside Boulder city limits and outside the county's incorporated towns fall under county regulations. Mountain towns such as Nederland and Jamestown are incorporated, so ask the town. For an agricultural property or a large rural residential lot in the unincorporated area, check with the county before placing a container.
Who to contact: City of Boulder Planning and Development Services, 303-441-1880. Boulder County Land Use Department, 303-441-3930.
Counties on the Eastern Plains, the San Luis Valley, the Western Slope, and mountain areas outside incorporated towns set their own rules for storage containers on private property. Check with the county planning office for your parcel.
On large agricultural parcels and ranches, a call to the county planning office confirms what applies to the parcel.
Your HOA can restrict containers even when your city or county allows them. Neighborhoods in Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Parker, Castle Rock, Broomfield, Erie, Thornton, and other Denver metro suburbs can be governed by homeowners associations with their own CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions).
HOA restrictions can include:
Violating HOA rules can result in fines and forced removal. Check your CC&Rs before ordering. If you're not sure, call your HOA management company and ask directly.
Colorado jurisdictions draw a line between temporary and permanent container placement.
Temporary placement means the container is on-site for a limited period tied to a specific activity. Examples: storing belongings during a home renovation, holding equipment during a construction project, or staging items during a move. The allowed period differs by jurisdiction, and some require an active building permit for the associated project.
Permanent placement means the container stays on the property indefinitely as a storage structure. This may require a permit in an incorporated city, along with 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, the temporary rules apply. 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:
Container-based ADUs may be possible in Denver, but they go through the full permitting process. Check with the county before planning a container home in the mountains.
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:
If you're unsure where to start, give us a call at (330) 510-5817. Check with your local building or planning department.
Container One supplies 20ft, 40ft, high cube, modified, and refrigerated containers, delivered where the truck has the access and clearance it needs. Call or text (330) 510-5817, or fill out the quote form.