Off-grid site report
Montezuma County, CO
37.4739, -108.5045 · 6,936 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Montezuma 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 rulesMontezuma County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMontezuma County uses a countywide Landowner-Initiated Zoning system under its Land Use Code, generally based on lot-size districts (often 3+ acre minimums). Confirm your parcel's designation with Planning & Zoning before assuming a use is allowed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rule on using an RV or tiny home as a permanent residence was confirmed in official text; RV parks and campgrounds are reviewable land uses under the code. Ask Planning & Zoning directly about your situation. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedMontezuma County states plainly it has no building department and issues no Certificates of Occupancy for most residential construction; only septic, access/driveway, floodplain, and stormwater permits apply as relevant, with structural design left to a private engineer. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county's Environmental Health division permits and enforces septic systems under state Regulation 43, and reportedly runs a transfer-of-title inspection program tied to property sales. Composting toilet specifics were not confirmed, so ask Environmental Health. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo official Montezuma County page confirming adoption of a local greywater program was found; state law requires counties to opt in, so this is not confirmed either way. Ask County Environmental Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Montezuma County-specific rainwater harvesting rule was located; this likely defaults to Colorado's statewide exemptions for small-scale residential collection administered by the Division of Water Resources. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells and water rights are governed entirely by the state through the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Water Division 7 (based in Durango); the county has no separate well-permitting role. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county ordinance requiring grid electric or municipal water hookup was found; electrical and plumbing work must meet state licensing standards through the Division of Professions and Occupations regardless of grid connection. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,704 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 13 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 32 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,025 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 14 to Oct 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Southwest Memorial Hospital - 8.6 mi
- Fire station
Dolores Fire Protection District - 0.4 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Safeway - 9.2 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 81323).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Montezuma 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.