Bolthole Index

Baca County, Colorado

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Springfield, Colorado

The Town of Springfield, in Baca County, Colorado, runs its own zoning code with A-1, R-1, C-2 and PUD districts1. Inside town limits, a tiny home needs a town permit2, and a general building permit rule was not confirmed. Septic permits are issued by the Baca County Public Health Agency, not the town3; we could not confirm how that applies to lots on town sewer.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: town code with A-1, R-1, C-2 and PUD districts1
Building permit
Town permits for electrical work and tiny homes; general building permit not confirmed2
Septic
Permit from the local public health agency (Baca County Public Health Agency)3
RV living (R-1)
Temporary guest use only: two-week permit, renewable twice4
Tiny home (R-1)
Allowed as the principal use of a lot with a town permit5
R-1 minimum lot
6,500 sq ft, 65 ft wide6
R-1 front setback
25 ft7

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Town of Springfield (Town Hall)

Town zoning, tiny home permits, electrical permits and RV guest-stay permits inside Springfield town limits

Septic permits

Baca County Public Health Agency

Local public health agency: septic (OWTS) permits and inspections

719-523-6621

741 Main Street, Suite#4, Springfield, Colorado 81073

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Springfield means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Springfield, Colorado have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. The Town of Springfield adopts its own zoning in Chapter 16 of its municipal code, with A-1, R-1, C-2 and PUD districts1. Rules differ by district, so check which one a lot sits in before you buy.

In the R-1 single-family district, the minimum lot area is 6,500 square feet and the minimum lot width is 65 feet6. The front setback is 25 feet, the interior side setback is 7 feet and the rear setback is 10 feet (30 feet on double-frontage lots)7. Buildings in R-1 are limited to 30 feet above natural adjacent ground8, and buildings may cover no more than 25 percent of a lot9.

Manufactured and mobile homes are allowed in the C-2 district only by special exception from the board of adjustment10. We could not confirm a minimum dwelling size or an accessory dwelling rule in Springfield; ask Town Hall.

Do you need a building permit in Springfield, and who issues it?

Springfield town permits are confirmed for electrical work and for placing a tiny home; a general building permit rule was not confirmed in the code sections we reviewed2. Ask Town Hall whether a new house or addition needs a permit before you start.

The town has adopted the 2006 International Fire Code and the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, and whether it adopts a general building code was not confirmed11. Baca County has no building department, and the county's own role is limited to the state Division of Housing's foundation approval for factory-built and HUD homes12.

Tiny home applications need proof of ownership, installation instructions, a site plan, elevations, a floorplan, utility connections and proof of utility availability13. Inspections, certificates of occupancy and permit fees were not confirmed; Town Hall is the office to ask14.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Springfield, CO?

A tiny home can be the principal use of a lot in the R-1 district with a permit under Sec. 16-655. Lot coverage is limited to three times the tiny home's footprint9. The state's Division of Housing approves tiny homes for long-term living, and they must meet local zoning15.

RV living is limited. On R-1 single-family property, an RV is allowed as a temporary guest residence under a town permit, which is issued for two weeks and renewable for two additional two-week periods4. The owner must apply at Town Hall by the next business day, pay a $150.00 registration fee unless the board of trustees sets another amount, and plug into the owner's electrical service without a generator4. Tents and primitive camping are not allowed, and RV parks in R-1 need board of trustees approval16.

How do septic permits work in Springfield?

Septic permits are not issued by the town. Colorado requires a permit from the local public health agency before a septic system is installed, altered or repaired, and in Baca County that agency is the Baca County Public Health Agency317. The agency also does the final inspection before the system is backfilled18.

New residential structures in R-1 must satisfy the town's area requirements for water and sewerage19. Which lots are served by town sewer, and whether a septic system is allowed on a given lot, were not confirmed; ask Town Hall and the public health agency before you buy.

Building a home in Springfield: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district of the lot with Town Hall14, since setbacks and uses differ by district1.
  2. Ask Town Hall whether your project needs a town building permit; electrical work and tiny homes do2.
  3. Confirm water and sewer availability for the lot19.
  4. If the lot is not on town sewer, apply to the Baca County Public Health Agency for a septic permit317.
  5. For a tiny home, file the Sec. 16-65 application with a site plan and utility proof13.
  6. For a factory-built or HUD home, foundation approval goes through the state Division of Housing12.

What stays with Baca County, and what to check before you buy

The town's rules apply only inside Springfield limits; land outside is governed by Baca County, and the county page covers it: Baca County. Septic permits for the county are handled by the county public health agency3. Well permits are required by the state20, and floodplain development must meet state standards21.

Baca County averages 16.6 inches of precipitation a year22 and has had severe drought in 45.8% of years23. Baca County's effective property tax rate is 0.4%24.

Watch-outs

  • Springfield's code ties tiny home permits and RV guest permits to specific rules; a general building permit rule was not confirmed, so ask Town Hall before you build2.
  • An RV permit in R-1 lasts two weeks and the owner must wait 30 days after it expires before another permit4.
  • We could not confirm septic or well rules for lots inside Springfield; call the Baca County Public Health Agency17.

Sources

  1. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  2. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 18-108 Electrical permit (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  3. Regulation No. 43 - On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Regulation, quoted and re-checked
  4. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  5. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  6. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  7. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  8. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  9. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  10. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-32 C-2 (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  11. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 18-25 Fire code adopted (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  12. Jurisdictions without Building Departments - HUD Code Homes, quoted and re-checked
  13. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-65 Permit for tiny homes (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  14. Town of Springfield (Town Hall) (springfieldco.gov)
  15. Consumers of Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes - HUD (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  17. Baca County Public Health Agency (bacacountyco.gov)
  18. Regulation No. 43 - On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Regulation, quoted and re-checked
  19. Springfield Municipal Code Sec. 16-29 R-1 single-family residential (Town of Springfield), quoted and re-checked
  20. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. SB24-179 Floodplain Management Program (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Springfield

Town of Springfield’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Inside Springfield town: electrical work and tiny home placement require town permits; a general building permit rule was not confirmed in the sections reviewed

    • Electrical permit excepts minor repairs such as repairing flush and snap switches, replacing fuses, changing lamp sockets and receptacles, taping bare joints and repairing drop cords
    “No tiny home shall be parked, placed, or installed upon a lot unless a permit is first issued in accordance with this section.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Inside Springfield town: fire and energy codes confirmed adopted (2006 editions); general building code adoption not confirmed in the sections reviewed

    • Both adopted editions are 2006 International Codes, subject to local additions or changes in sections 18-26 and 18-139

    International Fire Code edition: 2006 · International Energy Conservation Code edition: 2006

    “International Fire Code, 2006 edition, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the fire code of the town”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Springfield town limits; Chapter 16 Zoning with A-1, R-1, C-2 and PUD districts

    “No building, structure or land use shall be used, altered or created for any purpose other than those designated for this zone.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 single-family residential district inside Springfield town

    • Lot width minimum 65 feet measured at the actual setback of a building

    minimum lot area: >= 6500 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 65 ft

    “minimum lot area shall be 6,500 square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 single-family residential district inside Springfield town

    • Side setback seven feet interior, ten feet on street side of corner lots
    • Rear setback ten feet, but 30 feet on double frontage lots
    • Applies to structures other than a wall, fence, flagpole, sign or public utility pole

    front yard: >= 25 ft · interior side yard: >= 7 ft · rear yard: >= 10 ft (30 ft on double frontage lots)

    “front yard setback shall be a minimum of 25 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 single-family residential district inside Springfield town

    • Where principal building is a tiny home, coverage may not exceed three times the footprint of the tiny home

    maximum coverage by principal and accessory buildings: <= 25 percent (tiny home principal building: three times its footprint)

    “coverage of each lot by principal and accessory buildings shall not exceed 25 percent, except where the principal building is a tiny home, coverage of the lot by principal and accessory buildings shall not exceed an area o”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 single-family residential district inside Springfield town

    • Exceptions for structures or utility poles listed under A-1 height exceptions

    maximum height above natural adjacent ground: <= 30 ft (A-1 height exceptions)

    “All buildings and structures in this zone shall be limited to 30 feet above natural adjacent ground level”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicle on a single-family residential property in the R-1 district inside Springfield town

    • Owner must apply for a permit at Town Hall within the next business day after the RV arrives or is used as a temporary guest residence
    • Registration fee $150.00 or other amount set by the board of trustees
    • Must plug into the owner's electrical service; no generator
    • Permits are non-transferrable; 30 day wait after expiry before another permit
    • RV parks allowed in R-1 only by approval of the board of trustees

    initial permit term: 2 weeks (renewable for two additional two-week periods)

    “the initial permit shall be for two weeks and can be renewed for two additional two-week periods”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in RV parks in the R-1 district inside Springfield town

    • RV parks need board of trustees approval; RVs only on designated sites with hookups
    “tents and other primitive camping is not allowed.”
  • Tiny homesAllowed (with conditions)

    One tiny home as principal use of a lot in the R-1 district inside Springfield town

    • Permit required under Sec. 16-65 with site plan, elevations, manufacturer instructions and NFPA 70 and ANSI 119.5 or NFPA 1192 compliance
    • Proof of availability of water, sewer, electrical power and gas utilities
    • Lot coverage limited to three times the tiny home footprint
    • In C-2, tiny home only by special exception
    “one tiny home as the principal use of the lot upon which it is located.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured and mobile homes in the C-2 district inside Springfield town

    • Only by special exception approved by the board of adjustment
    • Mobile home parks in C-2 must meet PUD zone requirements of Sec. 16-35
    • A-1 also lists mobile homes as a special exception subject to findings on neighborhood harmony
    “manufactured home, mobile home, or tiny home.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New residential structures in the R-1 district inside Springfield town

    • Lot must satisfy town area requirements for water and sewerage; the specific distance or availability rule is not stated in the section reviewed
    “No residential structure shall be built on any lot in this zone unless said lot also satisfies the area requirements for water and sewerage established by the town.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision inside Springfield town, including townhome subdivision of duplex lots (Chapter 17)

    • Board of trustees public hearing
    • Separate utilities for each unit, recorded party wall agreement, plat by licensed surveyor
    “A townhome subdivision will be subject to approval at public hearing of the board of trustees”
  • Permit processPartial

    Tiny home permits inside Springfield town; general building permit process not found

    • Application requires proof of ownership, installation instructions, site plan, elevations, floorplan, utility connections and proof of utility availability
    “The enforcement officer shall grant the permit upon demonstration of compliance with the applicable requirements of this section and this chapter.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Springfield or Baca County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Springfield town
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Springfield town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Springfield town
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Springfield town
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Springfield town
10 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Springfield publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Baca County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Baca County: county rules, score and offices