Colorado Building Permits for Barns & Garages: What You Need to Know by County

Building a garage, pole barn, or livestock shelter in Colorado isn’t just about lumber and steel—it also means navigating permits, county rules, zoning, and inspections. And let’s be honest… most homeowners don’t want to spend hours on the phone with their local building department.

At VWC Construction, we take care of permitting and code compliance so you don’t have to. But we also believe in transparency—so here’s what you should know if you’re planning a post frame building anywhere in our Colorado service area.

📍 Do I Really Need a Permit?

In almost all cases—yes. Whether you’re in Pueblo, Fremont, Las Animas, Huerfano, or Custer County, post frame buildings usually require:

• A building permit

• Site plan approval

• Engineered drawings (especially for wind/snow load compliance)

• Inspections throughout construction

  
  

Some counties even require fire access plans or septic clearance if you’re adding water or electric.

At VWC, we always include drawings, engineering and permitting in our prices.

Breakdown: What Key Colorado Counties Require

Pueblo County

• Requires engineered plans for pole barns and garages

• Wind load requirement: 115–120 mph depending on zone

• Site-built structures must meet zoning setbacks

• Permits typically take 2–4 weeks

  
  

Fremont County (Cañon City, Penrose)

• Post frame buildings over 200 sq ft require a permit

• Concrete slabs may trigger additional code compliance

• VWC handles the entire submittal process for you

  
  

Las Animas County (Trinidad area)

• Rural-friendly but still requires site plans & engineer-stamped drawings

• Electrical or plumbing additions must be submitted separately

• County is slower to process permits—plan ahead

  
  

Huerfano County (Walsenburg, Gardner)

• Livestock shelters may qualify for agricultural exemption, but must still be documented

• Engineered trusses and wind/snow loads required

• Property access may be reviewed by road & bridge dept.

  
  

Custer County (Westcliffe area)

• Enforces strict zoning and setback rules

• Barndominiums or living quarters require detailed plans and septic approval

• Agricultural exemptions can reduce paperwork—but only if pre-approved

  
  

We Make Permitting Easy

Most out-of-town or large-scale builders expect you to deal with the county. At VWC, we do things differently:

✔️ We work directly with your local building department

✔️We supply engineered drawings and structural plans

✔️ We keep your project compliant with local snow, wind, and fire codes

✔️ We stay in touch with you about status and inspection timelines

"You don’t need to play phone tag with the county—we’ve got that part covered."

What Happens If You Skip Permits?

Some homeowners try to avoid permitting to save time or money—but it usually backfires:

• Risk of fines or stop-work orders

• Difficulty selling or refinancing your property later

• Problems with insurance claims

• Unsafe or unpermitted structures won’t last long in Colorado’s weather

  
  

Trust us—doing it right the first time is always cheaper.

Build Smart with a Local Team That Knows the Rules

We’ve helped homeowners from Pueblo West to Aguilar successfully permit hundreds of projects—even on tough terrain or rural properties.

Whether you’re adding a garage, livestock shelter, or starting a barndominium shell, VWC Construction will make sure it’s up to code, approved, and ready to go.

📞 Ready to Get Started?

👉 Click here to get a free custom quote

📸 Or view our most recent permitted projects