Off-grid site report
Boulder County, CO
39.9496, -105.5670 · 8,672 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Boulder 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 rulesBoulder County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyBoulder County's Land Use Code applies only in unincorporated areas, with a baseline of one dwelling per 35 acres on rural land and a 14-day-per-year cap on casual camping per parcel under Article 4-507. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRVs, travel trailers, and fifth wheels do not qualify as dwellings and cannot be lived in even temporarily; tiny homes are allowed only on permanent foundations, per Boulder County Land Use. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBoulder County's Community Planning & Permitting Department requires permits for construction and electrical work in unincorporated areas, using its own electrical inspectors and the 2021 International Codes with local amendments. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedBoulder County Public Health enforces its own Onsite Wastewater Treatment System regulations, adopted under state law but stricter in places, and requires licensing for installers, inspectors, and cleaners. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyIt's not confirmed whether Boulder County has adopted its own greywater program under state Regulation 86; contact Boulder County Public Health directly to check. source
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedRainwater collection follows the state framework administered by Colorado's Division of Water Resources; expanded collection generally requires ties to an exempt well and a DWR permit, with no county-specific expansion found. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWell permitting is handled entirely by the state Division of Water Resources; no Boulder County ordinance adding extra well restrictions was found. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county rule requires grid hookup, but any off-grid electrical work still needs a permit and inspection from Boulder County's own electrical inspection program. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,566 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 29 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 86 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 9,817 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 31 to Sep 23
- Design low
- -7 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Foothills Hospital - 18.1 mi
- Fire station
Nederland Fire Protection District Station 3 - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 3.0 mi
- Grocery
Mountain People's Co-op - 3.1 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 80474).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Boulder 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.