Off-grid site report
Hinsdale County, CO
38.0289, -107.3149 · 8,695 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hinsdale 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 rulesHinsdale County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyHinsdale County administers its own Zoning & Planning Regulations outside Lake City through the Building Department; inside Lake City town limits, the Town has separate zoning and a Historical District review layer. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Hinsdale-specific ordinance on tiny homes on wheels or RV occupancy as a residence was found; the adopted building code would govern any permanent dwelling structure. Confirm with the Building Department.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedHinsdale County has adopted the 2015 ICC codes (IRC/IBC) with 2018 energy code references; electrical and plumbing permits go through state inspectors rather than the county. Lake City handles its own building permits inside town limits. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedOWTS systems are regulated under the state's Regulation 43, administered locally through Silver Thread Public Health District and the county Building Department. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyColorado's greywater program is opt-in per jurisdiction under Regulation 86, and no evidence was found that Hinsdale County has adopted a local greywater ordinance. Ask the county Building Department to confirm. source
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedNo Hinsdale-specific rainwater ordinance was found; the state baseline (small rain-barrel exemption or a permit tied to an exempt well) applies, administered by the state Division of Water Resources. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells are permitted entirely through the state Division of Water Resources; the county has no separate well permitting authority but reviews water-supply referrals during land-use processes. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo state or county mandate to connect to grid electric or municipal water was found; off-grid power and hauled water are viable subject to building code and siting requirements like setbacks from wells, septic, and propane tanks. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,697 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 15 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 79 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 9,208 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- Jun 11 to Sep 16
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Telluride Regional Medical Center - 28.0 mi
- Fire station
Lake City Area Fire Protection District - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
Ouray Hardware and Mercantile - 19.4 mi
- Grocery
Get Some Groceries - 0.1 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 81235).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Hinsdale 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.