"Do I need a permit to put a storage container in my Aurora backyard?"

"For temporary use (under 180 days) most Aurora and unincorporated Adams/Arapahoe County properties don't require a permit. For permanent installations or anything visible from a public right-of-way, check with Aurora Planning Services or your HOA - rules vary by neighborhood. We can drop a unit and you can keep it as long as the zoning allows."

"Will my stuff stay dry through a Colorado winter?"

"Yes - Wind \u0026 Water Tight and Cargo Worthy grades are sealed against rain and snowmelt. The one thing to manage is condensation: a temperature swing from a 70°F afternoon to a 10°F night can sweat the inside walls. We sell desiccant kits and recommend two roof vents for any unit storing fabric, paper, or electronics."

"How big is a 20ft container in plain terms?"

"About the floor space of a one-car garage (160 sq ft), but taller - 8'6\" of headroom in a Standard, 9'6\" in a High Cube. A 20ft holds the contents of a typical 3-bedroom house if you stack and pack it. A 40ft holds a 4–5 bedroom move plus the garage."

"Can I lock it up myself, or do I need a special lock?"

"Every container has lock rods. You can pad-lock it with a standard heavy disc lock, or upgrade to a welded lock box (we install for $150) that armors the lock against bolt cutters. For high-value storage we recommend the lock box plus a perimeter chain."

"Will it crush my driveway or yard?"

"A loaded 20ft weighs roughly 5,000 lb empty - about the same as a full-size pickup. Spread across 160 sq ft of contact, that's lighter PSI than a single car tire. Most paved driveways and packed gravel pads handle it fine. Soft lawns will leave ruts under the corners; we recommend laying down four 6×6 timber pads ($60 total from any lumber yard)."

"What if I only need it for a few months - can I rent instead?"

"We're a sales yard, not a rental fleet. For short-term needs (under 6 months) renting from a national provider often pencils out cheaper. For 6+ months, buying a used unit and reselling it later is almost always less expensive - and we'll buy it back from you at fair market if you no longer need it."

"Can a delivery truck fit down my street?"

"Our tilt-bed trucks need about 100 feet of clear straight approach and 14 feet of overhead clearance. Cul-de-sacs, tree-lined streets, and tight HOA roads sometimes require a smaller truck or street-side drop. We do a free site check by photo or Google Street View before scheduling - no surprises on delivery day."

Storage Containers in Aurora, Colorado - Aurora Used Shipping Containers

Most of what gets called a “storage container” in Aurora is the same Corten-steel box that crossed the Pacific full of someone else’s stuff a few years back. Once it’s parked on your driveway, it becomes the cheapest cubic foot of dry, secure space you’ll ever buy.

Why a storage container

Compare the per-month cost of a steel container against a self-storage unit:

Self-storage 10×20 unit in Aurora - $185–$240/month, plus $50–$80 round-trip fuel every time you need something.
A used 20ft Wind & Water Tight container - $1,200 one-time, sits on your property, accessible 24/7 in your pajamas.

Break-even is roughly six months. After year two, the container costs you nothing. After year five, you sell it on Craigslist for half what you paid and net out ahead of a single year of self-storage. That’s why almost every contractor, hobbyist, and growing family eventually puts one in the backyard.

Which size fits

For residential and small-business storage we sell four footprints - but most folks buy one of two:

20ft Standard is the workhorse: 160 sq ft of floor, fits one full household move, drops on a normal-width driveway. Most popular for backyard storage, garage overflow, and contractor tool sheds.
40ft Standard doubles the space: 320 sq ft, holds a 5-bedroom house plus the garage. Needs a longer driveway and a tilt-bed truck with room to swing. Best for builders, hobby shops, and anyone consolidating from multiple storage units.

If headroom matters - you’re storing tall furniture, a vintage car, kayaks on a wall rack - go High Cube and get an extra foot of ceiling for about $200–$300 more.

What condition to buy

Storage doesn’t reward paying extra for cosmetics. Our 4-tier grading:

Grade	Best for storage when…	Aurora price (20ft)
One-Trip	The container is visible from the street and aesthetics matter	$2,800
Cargo Worthy	You want the cleanest grade that still pencils as storage	$1,450
Wind & Water Tight	You want dry, secure, and don’t care about cosmetic wear	$1,200
As-Is	Pure budget - back-fence storage, DIY conversion, or salvage steel	$950

For 80% of residential storage buyers, Wind & Water Tight is the sweet spot. The box keeps your gear bone-dry, locks tight, and looks honest-but-used after a fresh coat of Rustoleum if you want to dress it up.

How delivery works

The Aurora yard runs tilt-bed delivery trucks daily across the Denver metro. The full process:

You send us your ZIP and a photo of the drop spot - driveway, gate width, overhead lines.
We confirm a date - typically 3–7 business days out.
The driver tilts the bed and slides the container off as he pulls forward. No crane needed for placements you can drive a truck up to.
You pay on delivery (ACH, wire, card, or check) and sign for the unit.

Total time on your property is 20–30 minutes. The container is set within a couple inches of where you ask.

Storage container pricing

Aurora yard prices on the four most popular storage configurations:

Footprint	Wind & Water Tight	Cargo Worthy
20ft Standard	$1,200	$1,450
20ft High Cube	$1,450	$1,750
40ft Standard	$1,700	$2,100
40ft High Cube	$2,000	$2,450

Local Aurora and inner-metro delivery is a flat $150 inside 25 miles. Outer metro (Lakewood, Parker, Thornton) and the Front Range corridor are quoted per mile from the yard - see the calculator on the home page for a live number.

Aurora permits & HOA

The legal stuff, in plain English:

City of Aurora does not require a permit for a residential storage container used temporarily (under 180 days). Permanent installations may need a zoning variance - check with Planning Services at 303-739-7250 first.
Adams County and Arapahoe County unincorporated areas are generally permissive for rural/agricultural and large residential lots. Setback rules apply.
HOAs are the bigger headache. About half of Aurora’s HOAs have container-friendly bylaws (especially newer Reunion, Murphy Creek, Saddle Rock neighborhoods); the rest restrict size, placement, or duration. Always check your covenants before scheduling delivery.

We don’t pull permits for you, but we’ll help with the spec sheet, dimensions, and weight load info you need to file.

Storage container FAQ

The questions below cover the most common storage-buyer concerns. Anything we missed, ask in the quote form and we’ll answer same-day.

Storage Containers in Aurora, Colorado