Building Permits and Regulations for Metal Buildings in Colorado

Are you planning to buy and erect a metal building on your property? Whether it’s a residential barndominium or a business structure, you can count on the material’s durability, longevity, and versatility for your application.

At Armstrong Steel, we make it easier to purchase metal buildings in Colorado, ensuring your project goes smoothly and affordably.

When requesting a quote from us, one of the things we ask is your location because we design metal structures based on local building codes and regulations. In our experience, metal structures have specific design and engineering guidelines we follow, much like any other building. Depending on its nature, location, and purpose, your steel building may need to meet specific load requirements, construction codes, and human occupancy ratings. These standards are set by a local building authority.

At Armstrong Steel, we want to help you avoid unexpected costs, delays, and other surprises while erecting your metal buildings in Colorado. In this blog, we will share the importance of building permits and regulations, including the types that apply for erecting steel structures. We hope this information can help you plan your project more effectively.

Understanding building permits

A building permit is the official approval from a local government building authority to start a remodeling or construction project. Its main purpose is to ensure your project conforms to your state’s or city’s applicable zoning, construction, and land use policies. Additionally, it ensures the safety of workers and the people who will eventually occupy or use the building.

Our prefabricated steel structures are engineered in-house and ready to assemble and erect on your construction site. However, prefabricated metal buildings in Colorado still require permits. But you don’t have to worry about this because our engineering and drafting experts will provide the permit drawings to help you secure the necessary documents.

What are permit drawings?

Once you approve your design, our drafting and engineering team will work on your permit drawings. These are emailed to you with three original sets, signed and sealed by a licensed Armstrong Steel engineer in Colorado. This ensures a smoother permitting process.

Who looks at the building permits?

Someone from your local building authority reviews the permit drawings. Then, they will send an inspector to check the permitted building and construction site. This inspector will visit only when the metal structure is erected, but they can also show up unannounced to oversee the project’s progress.

When do you need a building permit?

While not all building projects need a permit, some definitely do! This includes erecting a metal building or extending an existing one. Meanwhile, a permit won’t be necessary when simply painting, replacing a window, or placing a new roof on metal buildings in Colorado.

Here is a quick overview of projects that typically require a building permit in Colorado:

• Major renovations
• New construction or additions
• Structural changes, such as removing or adding walls, especially load-bearing ones
• Making any plumbing or electrical changes

Some exceptions

At Armstrong Steel, one of the FAQs we get about metal buildings in Colorado is whether they need a permit. If you buy a custom steel structure from us, will you need a special permit to erect it?

The answer: it depends!

Is your metal building for dwelling or residential purposes, like a barndominium? Or is it a commercial property, like a warehouse, storefront, or self-storage facility? Both situations require a permit to erect it. However, if it’s for personal storage, a garage, or a workshop in your backyard, then a permit may not be necessary.

Of course, we recommend checking with the local county or municipality to learn about building codes, standards, and regulations. If you decide to buy a metal building from Armstrong Steel, our building consultants are familiar with Colorado’s building permit requirements. We’ll be happy to help you navigate the process to take the guesswork out of securing permits.

Considerations

In instances where permits are required for metal buildings in Colorado, make sure to get them before the scheduled delivery date. Otherwise, you cannot erect your structure as soon as our prefabricated steel building kit arrives. You will have to reschedule it until you have received the permit from a local building authority.

What about site plans?

Another question we get about erecting a metal building in Colorado is whether it requires site plans. This depends on your county or city’s specific building regulations and codes. In any case, our engineering team will provide the necessary drawings anyway, so you can submit them with your permit application.

Ensuring approval

At Armstrong Steel, we make sure you can secure the permits for metal buildings in Colorado. In addition to providing permit drawings, our engineers meticulously engineer your structure to meet local codes and load-bearing requirements.

Do you have other questions about securing permits and other building regulations in Colorado? Don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-345-4610. You can also request a quote for your custom prefabricated building here.

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