Covered Patio Builder in Fort Collins CO

A covered patio in Fort Collins CO costs about $20 to $50 per square foot installed, so a 12 by 20 cover typically lands between $4,800 and $9,000 (Angi, 2026). Pineridge Deck Pros builds gable and shed-roof patio covers that tie into the house, sit on footings below the 30 inch frost line, and carry the snow the City designs for.

Covered patio builder in Fort Collins CO

A covered patio turns a slab that bakes in the afternoon into a room you can use from May to October. In Fort Collins the problem it solves is the sun: at 5,000 feet it is strong, and on a west-facing patio it lands full force through dinner. A solid roof blocks it completely, keeps a summer storm off the furniture, and gives a place for a ceiling fan and lights.

Pineridge Deck Pros builds the cover; the patio underneath is whatever is already there, whether a concrete slab, pavers or a low deck. If the slab itself is cracked or sinking, that concrete work comes first, from a concrete contractor.

Gable, shed or flat

A gable roof rises to a peak with trusses or rafters you can leave exposed, as in the stained timber cover above. It sheds snow both ways and feels tall, and it usually ties into the house with its own beam. A shed roof slopes one way off the house wall and fits under a low eave. A nearly flat cover is the simplest to frame but holds snow, so it needs heavier members for the same span.

Stained timber post and gable trusses of a covered patio over wicker seating — The post and truss of a timber patio cover.

Fort Collins patio cover rules

The City's Residential Patio Cover Guide (revised March 25, 2026) requires a permit for any patio cover that is attached to the house, taller than 8 feet at any point, larger than 120 square feet, or closer than 3 feet to a lot line. The fee is $110 plus sales tax. Inspections cover setbacks and footings in the open hole, post connections, rough frame and electrical, and the final.

Engineered plans if the cover sits on top of a deck, or its beam hangs on hangers.
Engineered plans if it attaches to brick, masonry or stone veneer, or to the roof overhang or rafter tails.
Engineered plans for aluminum or plastic covers, materials the code doesn't spell out.
Engineered plans for covers taller than 12 feet.
Footings at least 30 inches deep on 4 inches of gravel.

The same rules for pergolas are in the Fort Collins pergola and patio cover permit guide. Source: City of Fort Collins building permits.

What covered patios cost

Patio cover costs by size (2026)

Size	Square feet	Typical installed cost
10 x 10 ft	100	$2,000 to $5,000
12 x 20 ft	240	$4,800 to $9,000
20 x 20 ft	400	$8,000 to $20,000
Any size, per square foot		$20 to $50
Fort Collins permit		$110 plus tax

Source: Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Install a Patio Cover? (2026 national data); City of Fort Collins fees. Timber trusses, metal roofing, fans and lights push toward the top. Quotes vary by site.

Worked examples and the cost of roofing, ceilings and lighting are on the covered patio cost in Fort Collins page.

Large covered patio with a steel and wood roof, a concrete fireplace chimney and Adirondack chairs — A large covered patio built around a concrete fireplace.

How a covered patio is built

1
Size it to the shade you want
Track where the sun sits on the patio on a July evening. In Fort Collins the west sun is the one to block, so covers often run deeper on that side.
2
Pick the roof
A gable cover sheds snow and adds height; a shed roof tucks under a low eave. The roof type also sets how the cover ties into the house.
3
Plans and permit
Site plan, framing plan, side view and connection details go to the City. Covers on veneer, on rafter tails or in aluminum go to an engineer first.
4
Footings and posts
Footings 30 inches deep on 4 inches of gravel, inspected open, then posts on manufactured connectors or embedded to the City's depth rule.
5
Frame, roof, finish
Beam, rafters or trusses, roof sheathing and shingles or metal, flashing at the house wall, then stain, lights and a ceiling fan if wanted.

Worked example

A 12 by 20 gable cover over the back patio of a 2000s two-story near Fossil Creek

In this example the patio faces west and the second-floor eave is high enough for a gable to tie into the wall with its own beam. The cover is attached, so it needs a permit; it isn't on veneer or rafter tails, so the standard City details apply without an engineer.

Footings go 30 inches deep on gravel, inspected open. The rafters are sized for 35 psf ground snow, and the roof is shingled to match the house. A fan box goes in during framing, with its own electrical inspection.

240 sq ft patio cover at $20 to $37.50 per sq ft (Angi's 12 x 20 range)	$4,800 to $9,000
City patio cover permit	$110 plus tax
Example total	$4,910 to $9,110

A worked example, not a past job or a quote. Rates: Angi 2026 patio cover guide; City of Fort Collins fees.

After the roof goes on

A cover is also the frame for a screened-in patio later. For footing sizes and snow numbers in other towns, see the footing depth and snow load guide, or go back to the deck builder in Fort Collins page.

Covered Patio Builder in Fort Collins: Questions

Brick house with a wood gable patio cover, wicker chairs and potted plants on the concrete

A wood gable cover shading a patio seating area.

How much does a covered patio cost in Fort Collins?

A patio cover typically costs $20 to $50 per square foot installed, with a national average of $8,500 and most jobs between $4,500 and $12,000 (Angi, 2026). By size, Angi lists $2,000 to $5,000 for 10 by 10, $4,800 to $9,000 for 12 by 20, and $8,000 to $20,000 for 20 by 20. A Fort Collins permit adds $110 plus sales tax.

Do I need a permit for a patio cover in Fort Collins?

Almost always. The City's Residential Patio Cover Guide requires a permit for any cover attached to the house, taller than 8 feet at any point, larger than 120 square feet, or closer than 3 feet to a lot line. Most covers that shade a real seating area are attached or over 120 square feet.

How deep do patio cover footings go in Fort Collins?

At least 30 inches below grade with 4 inches of gravel underneath, per the City's patio cover guide. For a freestanding cover with posts set in concrete, the guide calls for 1 foot of embedment for every 3 feet of post above grade, using pressure-treated posts.

Can a patio cover attach to a brick or stone house?

Yes, but in Fort Collins it needs an engineer. A cover fastened to brick, masonry or stone veneer, hung from the roof overhang or rafter tails, or made of aluminum or plastic all require engineered and stamped plans under the City's guide.

Will a covered patio hold Colorado snow?

It has to. Fort Collins designs homes for a 35 pound per square foot ground snow load, and a cover's rafters, beam and posts are sized for that, plus drifting where a cover sits below a taller roof. Flat or shallow covers carry more snow than steep gable ones, which shed it.

Can I enclose my covered patio later?

Possibly, but it becomes a different project. Fort Collins treats enclosing a covered patio as a residential addition, with its own permit and requirements, not a patio cover. A screened porch is the lighter option; see the screened-in patio page.

Covered Patio Builder in Fort Collins CO