Commerce City, CO Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Commerce City, CO, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Side/rear setback
- 5 feet on side and rear lot lines
- Size cap
- 200 sq ft (120 sq ft for townhouses)
- Height cap
- 15 feet (higher in industrial districts)
- Prohibited
- Front yard, street-side yard, shipping/POD containers
- Accessory structure cap
- 3 structures max on most residential lots
Summary
Storage sheds are allowed by right in every zone district in Commerce City, but the Land Development Code caps them at 200 square feet total, 120 square feet for townhouses, 15 feet tall, and keeps them out of the front yard and any side yard that faces a street.
Storage Sheds 5-foot side setback. 5-foot rear setback. Prohibited in a front yard and side on street yard. Townhouses without legally subdivided outdoor space must meet the above requirements and also be set back at least 2 feet from the side and rear boundaries of their allocated outdoor space. 200 square feet, total of all storage, in residential districts (except townhouses). Townhouses: maximum shed size shall be 120 square feet. 200 square feet, total of all storage, in commercial districts. 15-foot maximum height, except in an industrial district where height cannot exceed that of the existing principal structure. All sheds shall be constructed of finished materials suitable for exterior use. Metal containers and portable-on-demand storage containers are prohibited on property zoned or used for residential or commercial purposes.
Full Breakdown
Table V-4 of the Land Development Code sets Commerce City's storage-shed standards. A shed needs a 5-foot side setback and a 5-foot rear setback, and it cannot sit in a front yard or a side yard that faces a street. Total shed square footage is capped at 200 square feet in residential districts, dropping to 120 square feet for a townhouse unit, and the same 200-square-foot cap applies in commercial districts. Height tops out at 15 feet, except in an industrial district where a shed can rise as high as the existing principal structure.
Every shed must be built of finished materials suitable for exterior use, and metal shipping containers or portable-on-demand storage containers are barred outright from residential or commercial property. A shed placed in a commercial district must also fold the property's enclosed trash-dumpster area into its footprint, and its color, style and materials have to match the principal commercial building. Townhouse owners without a legally subdivided outdoor space get an added rule: the shed must sit at least 2 feet back from the side and rear boundary of their assigned outdoor area.
Sheds also count against the citywide cap on accessory structures in Sec. 21-5440: a single-family detached or attached lot tops out at three accessory structures total, though trash enclosures, flagpoles, satellite dishes, clotheslines and driveways are excluded from that count.
Violations & Fines
A shed that exceeds the 200-square-foot cap, 120 square feet for townhouses, tops 15 feet, sits in a front or street-side yard, or uses a prohibited shipping or POD container is a zoning violation Commerce City Community Development can cite through code enforcement, requiring the structure be resized, relocated or removed before a certificate of compliance issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my backyard shed be in Commerce City?
Can I put a shed in my front yard?
Are metal shipping containers allowed as sheds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Commerce City
How Commerce City compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Commerce City to another location·View the Colorado accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Adams County handle shed & carport rules.