Submittal Requirements For Detached Barns, Garages, or Storage Structures
The following is required when submitting for a detached barn, garage or shed (greater than 120 square feet)
- Douglas County Building Permit Application. If contractors are being used they must be listed on your application at the time of submittal.
- One set of scaled (¼” = 1’) construction drawings. All plans must be submitted on white paper in blue or black ink. This is to include floor, framing and elevation drawings.
- One site plan showing dimensions to property lines.
- DESC Permit - Submit completed DESC Permit form along with a Site Plan indicating all drainage, erosion and sediment control information as required.
- Letter from Architectural Control Committee. If you do not have this letter, please be advised that your permit will be placed on "hold" for approximately 10 working days so that we may inform them in writing, unless you obtain the approval letter prior to the release of the permit.
Zoning Regulations will need to be met, regardless of the structure size. Contact a Site Development Administrator at the Douglas County Building Division 303.660.7497 prior to the start of construction to verify the Zoning requirements.
You can use our accepted foundation designs on a one-story wood frame detached structure ONLY. Any structure more than one story, including storage areas or larger than described under the Building Guide (see below) in square footage requires a stamped Engineered foundation. Pre-fabricated steel buildings require a stamped-engineered foundation and building design.
Floor load for the second floor storage area is 125 pounds per square foot. Roof loads are figured at 30-pound snow load at 5,999 feet. For each 500 feet change in elevation the snow load increases 5 pounds. Wind load is figured at 85 miles per hour using exposure "C", 105 mph, 3 second gust. Frost depth is 36" below finished grade.
Building Guide
The Building Guide was developed by the Colorado Chapter of the International Code Council as a basic plan submittal under the 2003 International Residential Code. It is not intended to cover all circumstances.
The following items are specific to Douglas County Building Division requirements:
•One set of floor plans is required
•One set of plot plans is required
•Douglas County has very specific criteria for foundations (detached or attached), dependant upon the square footage, number of stories and wood frame verses steel frame. A determination will be made by the Douglas County Building Division staff if the Building Division's pre-engineered specifications can be used OR and Engineered stamped foundation is required.
Monolithic Slab - 1,000 SQ Ft. [20KB]
Pole Barn - 3,000 SQ. Ft. [22KB]
Additional Resources
Barns, Garages and Storage Structure FAQs [link to Building Division FAQs]
Building Fee Schedule [5KB]
Building Permit Application [17KB]
