Off-grid site report
Crowley County, CO
38.1931, -103.8561 · 4,357 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Crowley 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 rulesCrowley County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyCrowley County has its own Planning & Zoning Department administering a county manual and regulating land-use changes, but specific district maps or acreage minimums were not confirmed in this research. Call the county Planning & Zoning office for parcel-specific rules. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThe county's building permit form covers stick-built and manufactured homes, but no county-specific policy on tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings was found; confirm with Planning & Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedCrowley County requires a building permit with floor plans, a project cost sheet, a use tax payment, and compliance with county minimum structural design standards, issued by the county Building Inspector. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedCrowley County's own instructions state septic permits come from the Otero County Health Department, not Crowley County, operating under statewide OWTS Regulation 43 standards set by CDPHE. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Crowley County greywater ordinance was found; since septic matters route to Otero County Health, greywater permitting may as well, but this is not confirmed. Ask Otero County Health directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Crowley County-specific rainwater rule was found, so the statewide Colorado baseline (permitted collection under certain limits) would apply by default.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWell permitting statewide, including in Crowley County, is handled entirely by the Colorado Division of Water Resources; the county water department does not supply water or issue well permits. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo state or Crowley County law was found requiring grid or municipal utility hookup, so off-grid power and hauled water appear legally viable subject to building and septic permitting.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,695 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 11 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 14 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,972 (cold)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center - 22.3 mi
- Fire station
Rocky Ford Fire Station - 12.3 mi
- Hardware store
True value - 10.1 mi
- Grocery
Thaxton market - 10.1 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 81033).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Crowley 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.