Short answer
Denver treats storage taller than 12 feet as high-piled storage, or taller than 6 feet for high-hazard commodities such as rubber tires, Group A plastics, flammable liquids and pallets, and requires operational and construction permits for warehouse and high-piled storage operations. Fire Prevention’s Warehouse Group reviews storage arrangements every year, checking storage heights, arrangement and commodity classification, and the city’s inspection fee for high-piled storage is assessed per tenant space, from $165 to $1,020 depending on size. Sprinklers, fire pumps and alarms are inspected like any commercial building.
What counts as high-piled storage
Denver Fire defines high-piled storage as combustible materials in closely packed piles, or on pallets, in racks or on shelves, where the top of storage is more than 12 feet high. For high-hazard commodities, including rubber tires, Group A plastics, flammable liquids and pallets, the threshold is more than 6 feet. The rules sit in Section 413 of the Denver Building Code and Chapter 23, which set requirements for configuration, storage height and area, and the point at which automatic sprinklers, detection, smoke and heat venting or additional exterior doors are needed.
Permits, the warehouse survey and the design submittal
The city says operational and construction permits are required for warehouse operations, and that high-piled storage needs Fire Construction permits before installation. A prospective tenant or owner can request a warehouse survey to check code compliance for the intended operation before committing to a space.
The owner’s or tenant’s design consultant addresses the storage arrangement at the design stage and submits it to the Fire Prevention Engineering unit. The city’s page lists what the submittal has to show:
- A floor plan with the high-piled storage areas and their dimensions, the usable storage height for each and the number of rack tiers.
- Clearance between the top of storage and the sprinkler deflector, aisle dimensions and the maximum pile volume for each array.
- Commodity classification and location, including banded or encapsulated commodities.
- Fire department access door locations, and the suppression and detection systems with the sprinkler design density.
- Locations of in-rack and ceiling sprinkler water supply valves, smoke removal and curtain board details, and the transverse and longitudinal flue space dimensions.
The city’s page lists DFDHighPiled@denvergov.org as the contact for high-piled storage and links a commodity information worksheet, a policy on idle pallet storage and a height-restricted facility agreement.
Annual storage inspections and fees
The Fire Prevention Warehouse Group performs an annual comprehensive review of storage arrangements. Annual and walk-through inspections verify storage heights, arrangements and commodity classification. Denver’s July 23, 2026 fee schedule assesses the high-piled storage fee per tenant space:
| Square feet | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2,500 | $165 |
| 2,501 to 10,000 | $245 |
| 10,001 to 50,000 | $410 |
| 50,001 to 100,000 | $610 |
| 100,001 to 200,000 | $815 |
| 200,001 or more | $1,020 |
What the checklist asks about storage and systems
| Area | What the checklist says |
|---|---|
| Clearance | 18 inches below sprinkler heads, 24 inches below the ceiling in non-sprinklered buildings, and a 4 foot aisle on three sides of storage or display |
| Equipment rooms | 36 inches of clear space around equipment in electrical and mechanical rooms, and 30 inches around electrical panels |
| Sprinklers | Wet and dry systems inspected annually, with the sprinkler room and valves labeled |
| Fire pumps and standpipes | A weekly 10-minute dry churn test and an annual test for the pump, and a current 5-year flow test for standpipes |
| Fire department access | Fire lanes and fire department connections unobstructed, and a Knox switch on powered gates that block access |
| Hazardous materials | Flammable liquids in approved cabinets, spill control for open containers and separation of incompatible materials |
The frequency guide puts the system intervals in one table, and the fire watch guide covers what to do if sprinklers must be shut down for repair in an occupied building.
Getting warehouse systems serviced
Call (970) 591-1310 with the building address, the sprinkler and pump details you have, the last inspection report and any deadline. Denver Fire Safety coordinates a qualified provider, who is named to you, with scope, timing and price, before you authorize work. Storage layout and permit questions for high-piled storage go to the city’s Fire Prevention Engineering unit.
Sources and limits
Written from Denver Fire Department’s warehouse and high-piled storage page, inspection checklist and July 23, 2026 fee schedule as reviewed on October 27, 2026. Storage classification and sprinkler design are engineering questions for your design consultant and the city.
Denver Fire Department: warehouse and high-piled storage
Definitions, permits, the warehouse survey, design submittal contents and annual storage inspections.
Denver Fire Department inspection fee schedule, July 23, 2026
Annual inspection fees by building size and occupancy, and the non-compliance reinspection fees.
Denver Fire Department inspection checklist
The undated form inspectors use, listing what is checked for alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, kitchens, exits and more.
Who publishes this guide
Denver Fire Safety is an independent commercial service coordinator for Denver-area properties. It is not affiliated with the City and County of Denver or the Denver Fire Department, and it does not hold the licenses described above. A qualified provider, named to you before you authorize work, performs and documents the regulated work. Call (970) 591-1310 to start a request. If there is an active fire, smoke or immediate danger, call 911.