Off-grid site report
Summit County, CO
39.5811, -105.8672 · 10,309 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Summit 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 rulesSummit County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallySummit County has a comprehensive countywide Land Use and Development Code for unincorporated areas, administered by the Planning Department with five sub-area planning commissions; incorporated towns have separate codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedAccessory dwelling and caretaker units require administrative Planning Department review before a building permit; specific rules on tiny houses on wheels or RV occupancy duration are not confirmed on an official county page. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Summit County Building Department issues all building permits in unincorporated areas, and Planning reviews for zoning compliance, setbacks, height, and lighting first. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSummit County Environmental Health issues OWTS permits, requires licensed engineers/contractors, mandates dosing systems with inspection before occupancy, and requires a Use Permit inspection at sale or major remodel, stricter than a typical state baseline. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyColorado's greywater program requires local jurisdictions to opt in; no official Summit County page confirms it has adopted a program, so ask Environmental Health directly. source
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedState Division of Water Resources rules allow rooftop rainwater collection for small residential buildings for outdoor, non-drinking use only; no Summit County-specific addition was found. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWell permits statewide, including Summit County, are issued by the state Division of Water Resources; county Planning coordinates with DWR during subdivision and special-use review. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo official Summit County page mandates grid or municipal utility hookups for unincorporated land; the county's focus is ensuring wells and septic systems are separately permitted.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,647 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 26 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 117 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 10,884 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- Jun 14 to Sep 21
- Design low
- -11 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CommonSpirit - St. Anthony Summit Hospital - 11.2 mi
- Fire station
Summit Fire & EMS - Station 11 - 5.3 mi
- Hardware store
Breckenridge Building Center - 10.2 mi
- Grocery
City Market - 10.6 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 80435).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Summit 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.