Off-grid site report

Yuma County, CO

40.1234, -102.7237 · 4,134 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Yuma 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 rulesYuma County, CO

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyYuma County uses a countywide Land Use Code (not mapped zoning); a Land Use Permit is required for most land use changes, and the county has its own exemption for divisions creating 20 or fewer lots under 35 acres. Confirm specifics with the Land Use Department. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyThe county's Land Use Code addresses mobile homes (pre-1976) and multi-dwelling parcels, but tiny-homes-on-wheels or RVs as permanent residences are not confirmed in official sources; ask the Land Use Department. source

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county building code department was confirmed; new construction appears to go through the Land Use Office's Activity Notice process instead. Confirm code adoption and inspections directly with the county. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic (OWTS) permits are required and issued by the Northeast Colorado Health Department under state Regulation 43; landowners may self-install one system per year without a contractor license, subject to inspection. Composting toilets are not separately addressed. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Yuma-County-specific greywater program was found; the state baseline requires counties to opt into a CDPHE-consistent program, and whether NCHD/Yuma County has done so is not confirmed.

Rainwater harvesting

RestrictedNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was found; the state's general small-scale rain barrel allowance tied to prior appropriation water rights applies by default.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWells are permitted by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, with Yuma County adding three active groundwater management districts (Sandhills, Arikaree Basin, Central Yuma County) that overlay state well permitting and exempt-well subdivision rules. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county mandate requiring grid or municipal utility connection for unincorporated rural parcels was found; incorporated towns like Yuma, Wray, or Eckley may have their own rules, which were not confirmed. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 4.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,631 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 18 in/yr
Snowfall: 29 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,895 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 30 to Oct 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Yuma District Hospital: 0.7 mi
Fire station Eckley Volunteer Fire Department: 12.4 mi
Hardware store: none within range
Grocery: none within range

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 80759).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.