Off-grid site report
Denver County, CO
39.7843, -104.7756 · 5,384 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Denver 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 rulesDenver County, CO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedDenver's entire land area falls under the citywide Denver Zoning Code administered by Community Planning and Development (CPD); there's no unincorporated rural zone or raw-land homesteading option.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedDenver must allow at least one ADU per single-family lot by-right under state law (HB 24-1175), but tiny homes on wheels are treated as RVs, not permanent dwellings; no confirmed Denver-specific exception.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedAll construction, including ADUs, requires a Denver CPD Development Services building permit under adopted codes; fee and timeline specifics are not confirmed, so ask CPD. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedOn-site wastewater systems follow state CDPHE Regulation 43, but most Denver properties are on municipal sewer; DDPHE's Environmental Quality division handles local oversight, and composting toilets don't remove the need for proper wastewater handling elsewhere. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedDenver's DDPHE runs an official Graywater Program allowing reuse of water from washers, tubs, showers, and bathroom sinks for irrigation or toilet flushing, distinct from blackwater.
Rainwater harvesting
RestrictedDenver follows the statewide rule allowing up to two rain barrels totaling 110 gallons for outdoor use only; no Denver-specific ordinance expanding this was found. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWell permitting is a state (Colorado Division of Water Resources) function, and Denver's small platted lots rarely qualify for the rural exempt-well pathway, making municipal Denver Water the practical option. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedNo state or Denver law explicitly requires utility hookups, but Denver's habitability and occupancy codes enforced by CPD/DDPHE make full utility disconnection impractical for legal permanent occupancy.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,656 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 16 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 54 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,068 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 3 to Oct 6
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
University of Colorado Hospital - 4.5 mi
- Fire station
Aurora Fire Department Station 3 - 4.1 mi
- Hardware store
Havana Self Storage - 8.4 mi
- Grocery
El Jakalito Market - 8.4 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 80249).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Denver 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.