Off-grid site report
Gunnison County, CO
38.6093, -106.5167 · 9,256 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Gunnison 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 rulesGunnison County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyGunnison County has no traditional zoning; instead the Community and Economic Development Department requires a Land Use Change Permit for changes to a parcel's use. Long-term raw-land camping limits are reported in the news but not confirmed on an official county regulation page. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe county Building Office requires a permit to build, alter, move, or change occupancy of nearly any structure, with a narrow exemption for accessory structures under 200 sq ft without utilities; the county has adopted the 2021 International Codes, including Appendix Q for small stick-built homes, but tiny homes on wheels are reportedly treated like RVs (not officially confirmed). source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Gunnison County Building Office administers building codes for all unincorporated county land, and even off-grid cabins without utilities generally need a permit, aside from the small unutility'd accessory-structure exemption. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county Environmental Health Office requires an OWTS permit before building or repairing a septic system, generally requires a minimum one-acre lot, and allows composting or incinerating toilets only without reducing the required OWTS sizing. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedGunnison County has not adopted a local greywater reuse program under the state's Regulation 86, so greywater must be handled through the standard OWTS/septic system rather than a separate permitted reuse system. source
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was found; the county appears to follow Colorado's general state-level rainwater collection allowance, administered by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. County-specific details are not confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedGunnison County does not issue well permits; the Colorado Division of Water Resources handles well permitting statewide, including the exempt-well rules such as the 35-acre threshold for broader household and livestock use. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo state or county law forces a grid or municipal utility hookup, but the Gunnison County Building Office still requires structures (beyond the small unutility'd accessory exemption) and septic systems to be permitted whether or not they're connected to utilities. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,714 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 18 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 11,073 (severe)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Gunnison Valley Hospital - 22.4 mi
- Fire station
Pondorosa Lodge Colorado Firecamp - 18.1 mi
- Hardware store
True Value - 22.4 mi
- Grocery
City Market - 22.4 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 81241).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Gunnison 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.