Unincorporated ground changes who reviews your building, and that is the first thing we sort out for owners buying along I-70 at Strasburg. The community lies along the I-70 corridor east of the Denver metro core and counted 3,307 residents at the 2020 census. It covers 20.830 square miles at 5,414 feet and spans Adams and Arapahoe counties, so a parcel can fall under one county's plan review, the other's, or a split that we need to resolve before any money goes into design.
That county-level review is a feature as much as a complication. Counties handle large, open sites every week, and a well-prepared industrial submittal for a storage yard, a shop or a distribution shell is routine rather than novel. Our role is to arrive with the parcel research, a site plan that respects access and drainage, and a code basis that the reviewer can verify without a long exchange of letters.
Strasburg was built beside the Comanche Crossing of the railroad and takes its name from a railroad official, so rail alignments, easements and old crossings are part of the ground we study. We read the title work and the county record for rights-of-way, utility easements and access agreements, because on a long, narrow strip next to a corridor a single easement can decide where the building goes.
Two counties, two editions, one parcel decision
The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver tracker dated January 20, 2026 lists Arapahoe County on the 2021 International Building Code with an update expected in the 2027 cycle, and Adams County on the 2018 code while it adopts the 2024 I-codes. Those are county-level entries, since Strasburg is unincorporated, and they differ by one or two editions. A building sited on the Adams side may be reviewed to a different code than one a mile away on the Arapahoe side.
We resolve that by pulling the legal description, confirming the county line against the plat and getting a written statement of the adopted edition from the building department. Where an update is expected, we ask when it takes effect for permits already in review, so a design started under one edition is not stranded by a change midway.
Buildings and yards that suit open ground
Open parcels favor wide, low buildings with generous yards. We build pre-engineered metal buildings for equipment storage, light manufacturing and fleet maintenance, and larger tilt-wall or steel-frame buildings for users who need clear heights and dock positions. The slab, the apron and the truck circulation are laid out first and the building is fitted into them.
Ground preparation is a major share of the work. Site clearing and mass grading sets the pad elevation, controls runoff and builds a stable base for loaded vehicles, and on land that has been farmed or grazed, we plan topsoil stripping, haul-off and erosion control. Where the site is large, we phase the grading so only the area under construction is disturbed.
Why the east corridor is an industrial option
Strasburg sits on the interstate that links the metro to the eastern plains, and land here is priced for users who need space more than they need an address. Companies that supply construction, agriculture, energy or trucking often find that a yard and a shop east of the metro offer lower land cost and similar reach to the city.
The same logic applies at Bennett to the west and Byers in between, and each community offers slightly different county rules, utility conditions and rail access. We help owners compare them on the basis of the operation: truck volume, shift pattern, equipment and the amount of outdoor storage that is needed.
Trucking and regional logistics operators are the most common buyers, since a parcel that holds a shop, a fuel island, a wash bay and parking for tractors and trailers is hard to find closer in. For them we draw the yard in detail, with turning paths for combination vehicles, separate lanes for drivers and visitors, and lighting that makes the lot safe overnight.
Reaching the site and the crew
Because the community is out on the corridor, mobilization is a real cost. We bring equipment on lowboys, stage materials on site and schedule inspections in blocks to avoid repeated trips by the inspector or by the construction trade team. Concrete is ordered from the nearest plant that can meet the required strength and time window.
Our service area includes the entire east metro, and we reach Strasburg on the same interstate we use for sites near the airport. We tell owners honestly when a distant parcel will add travel and per diem cost, and we show it as a separate line.
When a project has many moving parts, we can run it under a single contract through industrial design-build, which puts the engineer, the estimator and the superintendent on the same side of the table from the first site visit. For owners who already have a design, we offer a preconstruction review that checks constructability, cost and permit exposure before bids go out.
Where costs vary on a county site
The largest variable on an unincorporated parcel is often utilities. Water, wastewater, gas and electric may have to be extended, drilled or provided on site, and each carries lead times and fees that cannot be guessed from a drawing. We request will-serve letters and rough costs for each utility during preconstruction, then fold them into the budget with stormwater detention and drainage and access road improvements.
The second variable is geotechnical. Plains soils can be expansive or collapsible, and a building's foundation and slab design depend on borings. We commission the geotechnical investigation early and let the engineer's recommendations inform the foundation type before pricing.
Confirm the county before you commit
Send the parcel number and what you plan to put on it. We will confirm the reviewing county, the code edition and a budget for the site work.
Questions Owners Ask
How do I know which county reviews my building?
The parcel's legal description and the county line determine it. We check the plat, then ask the building department to confirm in writing. If the parcel straddles the line, we ask both counties how they handle the review.
Is there a difference between Adams County and Arapahoe County requirements?
Yes. The January 20, 2026 tracker lists Arapahoe County on the 2021 code and Adams County on the 2018 code while it adopts the 2024 I-codes. Each county also has its own fire district, road standards and drainage rules.
Can I get water and sewer on an unincorporated parcel?
Sometimes, depending on whether a district serves the parcel. If not, a well and septic system may be required. We ask for a will-serve letter or a written statement of options before you close.
Are there rail rights-of-way I should watch for?
Yes. The community grew beside the railroad and parcels near the corridor often carry easements or crossing agreements. Title research and a survey identify them, and we keep the building and yard clear.
How long does a county approval take?
It varies by workload and by how complete the submittal is. A complete submittal with the right code basis, drainage report and access plan moves faster, and we assemble these before submitting.