Off-grid site report
Saguache County, CO
38.0877, -106.1423 · 7,720 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Saguache 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 rulesSaguache County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifySaguache County has no formal zoning map, but its Land Development Code, authorized under Colorado land use statutes, governs construction and land use countywide instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedCounty code sets a 900-square-foot minimum for residences, bars accessory structures on vacant parcels until a residence is permitted, and requires a variance plus HUD compliance proof for manufactured homes. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedSaguache County requires a construction permit for essentially all structures, including barns and greenhouses, administered by the Land Use Department, with permits expiring after a set period if not completed. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county adopted Colorado's state OWTS Regulation 43 and requires a county-issued permit plus a licensed or county-approved soil evaluation before any septic installation; composting toilets are not addressed in what I found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo official Saguache County greywater ordinance was found; the state generally requires local program adoption to authorize reuse, but whether the county administers one is not confirmed. Ask the Land Use Department. source
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedRooftop precipitation collection is governed by the state Division of Water Resources and tied to a registered well permit; no county-specific rule was found. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells are permitted through the state Division of Water Resources, and the county references well permits or water court decrees when approving manufactured home siting and subdivisions. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyOff-grid living is legal, and the county openly states that grid electricity, mail, cell service, and emergency response can be limited or unavailable, with private road maintenance left to owners. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,774 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 9 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 24 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,067 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 19 to Sep 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Rio Grande Hospital - 31.0 mi
- Fire station
Saguache Fire Station - 0.3 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Saguache Town Market - 0.2 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 81149).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Saguache 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.