Off-grid site report
El Paso County, CO
38.7902, -104.7995 · 5,903 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for El Paso 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 rulesEl Paso County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyEl Paso County has had countywide zoning since 1942, administered by Planning & Community Development; rules differ significantly by district (A-35, RR-5, etc.), so raw-land occupancy legality depends on the specific parcel's zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county allows one additional dwelling unit and one guest house per parcel in districts like A-35, but clear rules for tiny homes on wheels or RVs as sole permanent residences were not confirmed in the Land Use Code materials reviewed.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedPermits are issued not by the county planning office but by the joint Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, covering unincorporated county land and most municipalities; small structures may be exempt and homeowners can self-permit their own primary residence. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedEl Paso County Public Health permits and inspects on-site wastewater treatment systems under the state's Regulation 43 baseline, requires a licensed installer for applications since January 2024, and mandates inspection before property transfer; composting toilet rules were not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo distinct El Paso County greywater reuse program was confirmed; the state allows greywater reuse only where a local program is adopted meeting CDPHE standards, so confirm directly with El Paso County Public Health whether such a program exists.
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedRainwater collection is governed by state law (SB 09-080), which lets residents with a qualifying exempt well get a Rooftop Precipitation Collection Permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources; no added county-specific restriction was found. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWell permitting is a state function run by the Colorado Division of Water Resources under the 1957 Colorado Ground Water Law, generally limited to one exempt well per legal parcel; the county's larger-lot zoning districts align with typical exempt-well acreage needs but do not separately regulate wells. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county ordinance requiring connection to grid electric or municipal water was found; this appears to follow the state's lack of a mandatory-hookup law, though individual municipalities within the county may impose their own rules that were not confirmed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,691 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 17 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 38 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,292 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 5 to Oct 4
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
UCHealth Urgent Care - Powers - 8.3 mi
- Fire station
Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District - 1.1 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 1.3 mi
- Grocery
King Soopers - 1.2 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 80906).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in El Paso 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.