Off-grid site report
Mineral County, CO
37.7649, -106.8292 · 8,445 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Mineral County, CO, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesMineral County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedMineral County has adopted its own countywide zoning regulations administered by the Land Use Office and Planning Commission; silence on an issue doesn't exempt you from other laws.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyNo countywide tiny-home ordinance found; RVs used as residences require a separate RV Park/Campground Annual Permit from the county, distinct from standard building permits.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedMineral County requires building permits but has not adopted IBC/IRC codes wholesale, though it encourages IRC standards; septic compliance under state Regulation 43 is required before a building permit is issued.
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedOWTS design generally requires a licensed Colorado Professional Engineer, with a lighter path for gravity systems via a certified NAWT designer; Silver Thread Public Health District licenses installers while the county Land Use Office issues the permit. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Mineral County-specific greywater program was found; confirm with the Land Use Office and Silver Thread Public Health District whether a local program exists, since state law requires one for greywater reuse to be legal.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance was found; the state baseline for small-scale residential collection likely applies, but this is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyWell permitting is handled entirely by the Colorado Division of Water Resources (State Engineer) statewide; no Mineral County-specific well rules were found, so confirm exempt-well eligibility directly with the state.
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo county rule mandates grid electric or municipal water hookup, but any dwelling still must clear the county Building Permit and OWTS approval process regardless of utility status.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,684 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 15 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 9,059 (severe)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Rio Grande Hospital - 26.2 mi
- Fire station
Creede Volunteer Fire Station - 8.3 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Kentucky Bell Market - 8.0 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 81130).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Mineral County, CO?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.