Setback requirements in Denver, CO
Accessory structures in Denver have their own setbacks, usually smaller than the house's. They change by zoning district, so look up your lot to see which table applies.
Rules last checked by a person on October 19, 2026. Guidance only; confirm with Denver before you build.
Find your district
Urban (U-) single unit, two unit and row house
| Shed: Location | At least 10 ft behind 75% of the front facade |
|---|---|
| Shed: Side interior setback | 0 ft if entirely in the rear 35% of the lot, otherwise 5 ft |
| Shed: Rear setback | 5 ft (0 ft where an alley abuts the rear line) |
| Shed: Side street setback | 5 ft |
| Garage: Location | At least 10 ft behind 75% of the front facade |
| Garage: Side interior setback | 0 ft entirely in rear 35% of lot; otherwise 5 ft (3 ft on lots 30 ft wide or less) |
| Garage: Rear setback | 5 ft; on an alley 5 ft if doors face the alley, 0 ft if they don't |
| ADU: Location | Rear 35% of the lot depth |
| ADU: Side setback | 3 ft on lots 40 ft wide or less; 5 ft on wider lots |
| ADU: Rear setback | 5 ft (0 ft on an alley when garage doors don't face it) |
Everything for Urban (U-) single unit, two unit and row house
Urban Edge (E-) single unit, two unit and row house
| Shed: Side interior setback | 0 ft if entirely in the rear 35% of the lot, otherwise 5 ft |
|---|---|
| Shed: Rear setback | 5 ft (0 ft where an alley abuts the rear line and doors don't face it) |
| Garage: Location | At least 10 ft behind 75% of the front facade |
| Garage: Side interior setback | 0 ft entirely in rear 35% of lot; otherwise 5 ft (3 ft on lots 30 ft wide or less) |
| Garage: Rear setback | 5 ft; on an alley 5 ft if doors face the alley, 0 ft if they don't |
| ADU: Location | Rear 35% of the lot depth |
| ADU: Side setback | 3 ft on lots 40 ft wide or less; 5 ft on wider lots |
| ADU: Rear setback | 5 ft with an alley or street behind; otherwise 5 ft (Option A) or 12 ft (Option B) |
Everything for Urban Edge (E-) single unit, two unit and row house
Suburban (S-) single unit
| Shed: Side interior setback (General Detached) | 0 ft if entirely in the rear 35% of the lot, otherwise 5 ft (3 ft on lots 30 ft wide or less) |
|---|---|
| Shed: Rear setback (General Detached) | 5 ft (0 ft on an alley when doors don't face it) |
| Garage: Location | At least 10 ft behind 75% of the front facade |
| Garage: Side interior setback | 0 ft entirely in rear 35% of lot; otherwise 5 ft (3 ft on lots 30 ft wide or less) |
| Garage: Rear setback | 5 ft; on an alley 5 ft if doors face the alley, 0 ft if they don't |
| ADU: Location | Rear 50% of the lot depth |
| ADU: Side setback | 3 ft (lots 25 ft wide or less), 5 ft (under 62 ft), 7.5 ft (62 ft or wider) |
| ADU: Rear setback | 10 ft (Option A) or 20 ft (Option B) |
Suburban (S-) row house
| Garage: Side interior setback | 0 ft entirely in rear 35% of lot; otherwise 5 ft (3 ft on lots 30 ft wide or less) |
|---|---|
| Garage: Rear setback | 5 ft; on an alley 5 ft if doors face the alley, 0 ft if they don't |
| ADU: Location | Rear 50% of the lot depth |
| ADU: Side setback | 3 ft on lots 25 ft wide or less; otherwise 5 ft |
| ADU: Rear setback | 5 ft |
Citywide placement rules
| Fence: Front yard (in front of the house) | 4 ft max |
|---|---|
| Fence: Side and back yard (behind the front facade) | 6 ft max |
| Fence: Sidewalk clearance | At least 6 in back from the public sidewalk |
Sources
- Denver CPD, Residential Sheds. Checked 2026-10-19.
You do not need a building permit for one-story, detached, non-conditioned accessory buildings... no more than 200 square feet of projected roof area, 8-ft top plate height, or 14-ft maximum height to any point.
- Denver Zoning Code Article 5 (Urban context), Div. 5.3 building forms. Checked 2026-10-19.
General Detached Structure: 1 story, 17 ft... Side Interior (min), for structure entirely in rear 35% of zone lot 0'... not entirely in rear 35% 5'... Rear, no alley 5'.
- 44 CFR 59.1, definition of development (NFIP). Checked 2026-10-19.
Development means any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures...
- 44 CFR 60.3, floodplain management criteria. Checked 2026-10-19.
Require permits for all proposed construction or other development in the community...
- Denver CPD, Residential Garages. Checked 2026-10-19.
All garages need zoning, building, and sewer use and drainage permits (SUDP).
- 2024 IRC R105.2, Work exempt from permit (text published by the City of Benson, AZ). Checked 2026-10-19.
One-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. Fences not over 7 feet high. Decks not exceeding 200 square feet in area, that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a…
- Denver CPD, Residential Decks, Porches, Patios, Pergolas, and Carports. Checked 2026-10-19.
Uncovered decks 12” or more off the ground require a zoning permit. If they are 30” or more off the ground, they will also require a building permit. All covered structures... need both a zoning and a building permit.
- Denver CPD, Permitting an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Checked 2026-10-19.
ADUs are allowed in all zone districts that allow new single unit dwellings. ADUs must be built by a licensed contractor... Only one ADU is allowed per primary dwelling unit.
- Denver CPD, Fences and Walls. Checked 2026-10-19.
All fences over four feet tall need a zoning permit... Post-hole dug fences only need a building permit if they are taller than eight feet, but all other fence and wall types require building permits if they are over four feet tall.