Off-grid site report
Conejos County, CO
37.3278, -106.0200 · 7,645 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Conejos 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 rulesConejos County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedConejos County administers its own 2005 Land Use Code countywide with Agricultural, Residential, Commercial, and Industrial districts; the Land Use Office states permits are required and many uses need a special/conditional use permit. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyResidential/Agricultural zoning generally allows one single-family dwelling per parcel; industrial-zoned land does not allow residential structures at all. Tiny-home-on-wheels or RV occupancy rules were not confirmed, so check with the Land Use Office. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyConejos County has not adopted the state building codes ahead of a statewide 2026 deadline, but a county building permit is still mandatory and the permit packet references codes like the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code; building without an approved permit is treated as a violation. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county Land Use Office administers the OWTS (septic) program under Colorado Regulation 43 and the county Board of Health; a site and soil evaluation is mandatory and installing without a permit doubles fees. Composting toilet specifics were not confirmed, so verify directly with Land Use. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyColorado law only permits greywater reuse where a county has adopted a local program and notified the state Water Quality Control Division; no evidence of such adoption in Conejos County was found, so confirm current status with the Land Use Office or Board of Health.
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedNo Conejos-specific ordinance was found; the state's general residential rain barrel allowance under Colorado's prior appropriation water law appears to be the operative rule here, not confirmed to be modified locally.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPrivate wells are permitted and regulated entirely by the Colorado Division of Water Resources (Office of the State Engineer), not by Conejos County; the county may require proof of water supply during building review. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo Conejos County ordinance requires grid-tie or municipal water hookup, so off-grid solar, wind, and hauled or well water are legal, but the dwelling, septic system, and well still require their own permits. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,813 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 8 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 32 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,009 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- Jun 2 to Sep 17
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Conejos County Hospital - 5.4 mi
- Fire station
La Jara Fire Station - 5.1 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 12.4 mi
- Grocery
Jack's - 4.8 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 81140).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Conejos 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.