Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10
Septic permitting in Colorado is handled at the county level — county health departments approve systems in 52 of 64 counties.Every entry below names the approving authority for that county, cited to the authority’s own page.
Septic rules change and some cities run their own programs — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All states → Colorado water rights & wells → Full Colorado profile →
64 counties · county health departments · permit status scouted for 64
Adams County Health Department - Environmental Health (Water Quality / OWTS program)
Septic Systems ↗Alamosa County Land Use and Building Department (OWTS under Colorado Regulation 43 / CDPHE)
Alamosa County Building Department - OWTS ↗Arapahoe County Public Health - Environmental Health
Septic Systems ↗Archuleta County Water Quality Department (Development Services)
Archuleta County - Septic System Information ↗Baca County (local public health agency under CDPHE Regulation 43)
Baca County Colorado - Zoning Permits and Land Use ↗Bent County Public Health
Bent County Public Health - Public Health Services ↗Boulder County Public Health
OWTS Permits and Fees - Boulder County ↗Broomfield Health Protection Division / Board of Health
On-site Wastewater Treatment System and Septic System License ↗Chaffee County Building Department (Development Services / Environmental Health)
Adopted Codes & Design Criteria ↗Cheyenne County Public Health
Public Health Agency ↗Clear Creek County Environmental Health Department
Clear Creek County - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Conejos County Land Use / Board of Health (OWTS under CDPHE Regulation 43)
Conejos County - Land Use (OWTS) ↗Costilla County Planning and Zoning / Environmental Health (OWTS)
Costilla County OWTS Application ↗Otero County Health Department (serving Crowley County)
Requirements for a Crowley County Building Permit ↗Custer County Planning & Zoning / Environmental Health (OWTS program)
Planning & Zoning | Custer County CO ↗Delta County Environmental Health (Public Health)
Water/Wastewater ↗Denver Department of Public Health & Environment
CDPHE – On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems (local agency permitting) ↗Dolores County (Septic Inspector; OWTS under CDPHE Regulation 43)
Septic Application ↗Douglas County Health Department (On-site Wastewater Treatment System Regulation)
Septic Systems ↗Eagle County Environmental Health
Water & Waste Water ↗El Paso County Public Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Program
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Elbert County Public Health and Environment (ECPHE) - OWTS
OWTS Regulations | Elbert County, CO ↗Fremont County Building Department / Public Health & Environment (OWTS program)
Fremont County On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Regulations ↗Garfield County Public Health - Environmental Health Division
Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) ↗Gilpin County Community Development / Public Health Agency (OWTS under CDPHE Regulation 43)
Gilpin County - Septic and Well Information ↗Grand County Building & Sanitation Division (Grand County Sanitarian)
co.grand.co.us ↗Gunnison County Community and Economic Development Department
Environmental Health & OWTS ↗Hinsdale County Building Department (OWTS Program)
Building Department ↗Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department (OWTS program under CDPHE Reg 43)
Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department OWTS Program ↗Jackson County Environmental Health (OWTS)
Colorado CDPHE - On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Jefferson County Public Health (Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems program)
Septic Systems ↗Kiowa County Public Health (under CDPHE Regulation 43)
Kiowa County Colorado - Public Health ↗Kit Carson County Public Health and Environment (Environmental Health)
Land Use ↗La Plata County Public Health, Environmental Health Division
La Plata County Septic Systems ↗Lake County Public Health Agency / Community Planning & Development (OWTS under CDPHE)
Septic System Permitting | Lake County, CO ↗Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (OWTS program)
Septic Systems (OWTS) ↗Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department, Environmental Health (OWTS Program)
Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department - OWTS Program ↗Lincoln County (local public health agency / Land Use Office) under CDPHE Regulation 43
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - OWTS ↗Northeast Colorado Health Department (NCHD)
Northeast Colorado Health Department - OWTS ↗Mesa County Community Development - OWTS (On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems)
About the Septic (OWTS) Department ↗Mineral County Land Use Office
Mineral County — On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) ↗Craig/Moffat Regional Building Department
Building Permit Information ↗Montezuma County Environmental Health Department (OWTS under CDPHE Regulation 43 plus local regulations)
Environmental Health ↗Montrose County Board of Health / Montrose County Public Health (OWTS program)
Planning & Development ↗Northeast Colorado Health Department (NCHD), OWTS program under CDPHE Reg 43
Northeast Colorado Health Department OWTS Program ↗Otero County Environmental Health Services (OWTS under CDPHE Regulation 43)
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic) ↗Ouray County Land Use Department
Resolution No. 2024-037 Revised Land Use Fee Schedule ↗Park County Environmental Health Department
Environmental Health ↗Northeast Colorado Health Department (NCHD) - serves Logan, Phillips & Sedgwick Counties
Northeast Colorado Health Department - Septic Permit Application ↗Pitkin County Environmental Health
OWTS Information ↗Prowers County Public Health and Environment - Environmental Health
Prowers County Permitting & Development Guide ↗Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (under CDPHE)
Pueblo County Public Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment System ↗Rio Blanco County OWTS / Environmental Health
Building Division and OWTS-Septic Permits ↗Rio Grande County Department of Building Safety
Rio Grande County Building Department ↗Routt County Department of Environmental Health
Septic Permitting Information ↗Saguache County Land Use Office
Land Use | Saguache County ↗San Juan County Environmental Health (OWTS permitting administered with La Plata County Public Health)
San Juan County Colorado - Environmental Health ↗San Miguel County OWTS / Environmental Health (under CDPHE)
On-Site Wastewater Treatment (Septic) Systems ↗Northeast Colorado Health Department (NCHD)
Northeast Colorado Health Department - OWTS ↗Summit County Environmental Health Department (Public Health)
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) ↗Teller County Public Health and Environment (Board of Health, Regulation 43)
Septic Services ↗Northeast Colorado Health Department
Northeast Colorado Health Department - OWTS ↗Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment - Environmental Health Services
Environmental Health Services ↗Northeast Colorado Health Department (OWTS Program)
Northeast Colorado Health Department - Onsite Wastewater Treatment System ↗Every county here has a full profile — its index score, water, land prices, and the rest of its building rules. See the Colorado state page for all counties ranked, or the national septic guide.
Off-grid gear
Before the Colorado septic office sees a parcel, you can test it yourself. What we'd bring:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.