Off-grid site report
Lake County, CO
39.3675, -106.1876 · 11,346 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lake 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 rulesLake County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedLake County Community Planning and Development administers countywide zoning with a Use Table specifying allowed, conditional, or prohibited uses per district; camping as a primary use requires at least 5 acres and district approval. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedMost zone districts require a 600 sq ft minimum occupied structure, but the county's Backcountry Structure category (also capped at 600 sq ft) allows smaller off-grid-style dwellings; RVs/campers are limited to temporary occupancy per the county FAQ. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedLake County Community Planning and Development issues all building, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, and solar permits countywide and for Leadville; parts of the county require CDPHE sign-off before permits issue due to Superfund overlap. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedStandard single-family homes need a county-permitted OWTS installed by a licensed contractor, but the Backcountry Structure category is exempt from full OWTS in favor of a Board of Health-approved alternative sanitary method. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Lake County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state CDPHE Reg 86 framework likely applies, but this should be confirmed directly with Lake County Environmental Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Lake County ordinance modifying state rainwater collection rules was found; Colorado's statewide framework through the Division of Water Resources is presumed to apply.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedStandard single-family homes are required by the county to have a well, while Backcountry Structures are exempt and rely on hauled water; actual well permitting is a state function through the Division of Water Resources. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyFull off-grid disconnection isn't allowed for standard homes, which need well and septic, but the county's Backcountry Structure category permits hauled water and alternative waste treatment; solar is legal but requires a county permit. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,709 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 15 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 9,912 (severe)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Vincent General Hospital - 10.5 mi
- Fire station
Red, White & Blue Fire Rescue Station 7 - Blue River - 8.1 mi
- Hardware store
Alma Super Storage - 8.2 mi
- Grocery
Safeway - 9.3 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 80420).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lake 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.