Do You Need a Building Permit for Your Greenhouse?
Before beginning construction, it is essential to consult with your local authorities—including city, county, or subdivision Planning and Zoning Departments—to understand any specific requirements or restrictions for your area.
With over 35 years of experience in manufacturing and selling Growing Dome® geodesic greenhouse kits, Growing Spaces is adept at guiding customers through the permitting process. Owners of our geodesic greenhouses, from backyard hobbyists to large institutions and schools across the country, have successfully obtained the necessary building permits for their Growing Domes.
Our Growing Dome greenhouses are specifically designed as year-round geodesic structures for sole use as a greenhouse. Many building departments may classify the Growing Dome geodesic greenhouses as temporary structures that do not require a building permit for a few reasons:
- Growing Domes from 15′ to 33′ in diameter do not require a concrete foundation.
- In some jurisdictions, all six of our geodesic dome greenhouse kits may be classified as agricultural or unoccupied structures, which often streamlines the permit process, even for our largest 42′ kit.
However, many building departments utilize a structure's square footage to determine if it is permanent or temporary.
Growing Spaces manufactures its geodesic dome greenhouses using high-quality materials. Each size is engineered to withstand severe weather, including high winds, hail, summer heat, cold winters, seismic loads, and even wildfires.
The Building Permit Process
If a building permit is required for a geodesic greenhouse in your location, we are fully prepared to assist you.
Steps to Obtain Plans:
- Fill out the Questionnaire: Take our Building Department Questionnaire (pdf) to your local building department and have them complete it.
- Review and Recommendation: Once you return the questionnaire to us, we will determine if our standard set of engineered plans will suffice or if modifications are necessary. We can also advise on the type of foundation required based on your area's wind and snow loads.
- Standard Plans: If no engineering modifications are needed, our standard plans will work for your project. These plans are provided after a Sales Agreement has been signed and a deposit has been placed.
Engineered Modifications: If adjustments are required, we will connect you with a licensed engineer who can make the necessary changes for an additional fee. The estimated cost for these changes typically ranges from $300 to $1,500. Our engineers hold licenses in Colorado and numerous other states that require a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) stamp.
Common Reasons for an Engineering Consultation
- The engineer must be licensed in your specific state (if outside of Colorado).
- The property's physical address must be included on the drawing.
- Your local snow or wind loads exceed the specifications listed on our standard drawings.
- You choose a foundation type different from the three we recommend.
While we are committed to assisting customers with the permitting process, the customer maintains sole responsibility for obtaining and purchasing building permits for the Growing Dome greenhouse kits. Growing Spaces will not communicate with building departments on your behalf or cover any costs incurred during the permitting process. We do offer full refunds if a customer is ultimately unable to obtain the required building permit.
