Off-grid site report
Broomfield County, CO
39.9147, -105.0467 · 5,289 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Broomfield 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 rulesBroomfield County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedBroomfield uses a single citywide zoning map dating to 1973 with amendments; a few legacy parcels retain pre-annexation Adams or Boulder County agricultural/rural-residential zoning, but there's essentially no unincorporated raw land as in rural counties. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedTiny homes and manufactured homes are permitted only as ADUs on permanent foundations matching the primary home's exterior, under the Broomfield Building Division's adopted code; RVs, trailers, and shipping containers are not allowed as permanent dwellings. Whether a standalone tiny home can be a sole residence isn't confirmed, so ask the Building Division.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBroomfield adopted Ordinance 2295 for the 2024 Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Existing Building and Fire codes plus the 2023 Electrical Code and Colorado Low Energy Carbon Code, administered by the Building Division; a separate statewide WUI code is expected to be considered locally around early 2026.
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedState CDPHE Regulation 43 sets the baseline, but Broomfield's Board of Health has its own OWTS regulations and requires applicants to verify distance to the city sewer main before applying; a direct sewer connection is mandatory if the main is within 100 feet of the property line under municipal code. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedBroomfield passed its own greywater ordinance in 2021 allowing residential reuse of sink, shower, and laundry water (excluding kitchen sinks and blackwater), built on state Regulation 86 and municipal code standards, with required inspection and certified operation. source
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedNo Broomfield-specific ordinance was found loosening or tightening the statewide rain barrel limit, so the state framework applies; Broomfield does run its own rain barrel rebate program through its water utility. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells statewide require a Colorado Division of Water Resources permit, and because Broomfield is almost entirely annexed and served by municipal water (including commitments to a water conservancy subdistrict), a new exempt domestic well is minimal to none in practice within city limits. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedBroomfield Municipal Code requires mandatory sewer connection when a main is within 100 feet of the property line, and because the city is built-out and annexed, most parcels sit within reach of municipal mains, which can trigger connection requirements beyond what a rural county would impose.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,570 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 14 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 42 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,444 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- May 2 to Oct 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
University of Colorado Hospital - 16.1 mi
- Fire station
North Metro Fire Rescue District Station 62 - 3.3 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 13.3 mi
- Grocery
Safeway - 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 80020).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Broomfield 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.