Building permits, zoning and land rules in Clear Creek County, Colorado

Yes. New residences, additions, alterations, demolitions, decks, detached structures and other structural work in unincorporated Clear Creek County require a county building permit; electrical permits and inspections are handled by the state^1,8. Inside the Town of Georgetown, the town issues its own building permits and also requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from its Design Review Commission². Clear Creek County adopted the 2024 International Residential, Building, Plumbing and Mechanical Codes, among others, with local amendments⁷. Required county inspections apply during permitted construction, and the state electrical inspector handles rough and final electrical inspections¹⁰. Driveway, defensible-space, septic and electrical approvals must all be final before the last building inspection and the Certificate of Occupancy¹¹. A homeowner may be their own contractor, but that does not exempt the work from permits, zoning or inspections, and it must meet the 2015 or later IRC⁸.

The Clear Creek County Building Department handles building permits and inspections for unincorporated property; call (303) 679-2446 or email bldg@clearcreekcounty.us¹². Planning administers zoning and subdivision rules; call (303) 679-2436 or email planning@clearcreekcounty.us¹³. Environmental Health handles septic construction, repairs and use permits at (303) 679-2428 or EH@clearcreekcounty.us¹⁴. Site Development handles grading, driveways and floodplain work at (303) 679-2436 or sitedev@clearcreekcounty.us¹⁵. The county uses a permitting platform, with payment due when an application is filed¹. Building permit fees are calculated during processing from the size and scope of the proposed construction rather than one fixed price⁸. Site Development has its own permit-type fee schedule¹⁶.

Yes. Clear Creek County Planning administers zoning in unincorporated Clear Creek County, and Planning staff check each building permit against permitted uses, building height and other zoning standards^1,17. Inside city and town limits the municipality decides: the Town of Georgetown³, Idaho Springs⁴ and the Town of Silver Plume⁵ each adopt their own zoning rules, and septic permits still come from County Environmental Health⁶. For unincorporated land, use the county's zoning map and regulations, or ask Planning, to identify the parcel's district before designing a project^13,18. Setbacks depend on the zoning district, and Planned Developments carry their own setback requirements⁸. The Agricultural District requires at least 5 acres for a newly erected or structurally altered dwelling or other main building¹⁹. In the Mobile Home Park district, a home may occupy no more than one-third of its lot area, excluding sheds and other accessory structures¹⁹. A permitted accessory dwelling unit is recognized by county zoning, but that does not mean every parcel qualifies²⁰. Clear Creek County has no minimum floor-area requirement for a single-family dwelling, although room dimensions and all other codes still apply⁹.

Clear Creek County Environmental Health, not a town or city, regulates onsite wastewater treatment systems throughout the county, including incorporated areas, under county rules and statewide minimum requirements; the state approves certain tanks, distribution products and higher-level treatment systems⁶. A county permit must be issued before an onsite system is installed, repaired or upgraded; a major construction permit for two or more major components costs $1,023 and a minor permit for one component costs $600⁶. A property that can connect to a sanitation district may not need an onsite permit at all⁶. Environmental Health conducts required inspections during construction⁶. Outhouses are not an approved substitute for an occupied structure's wastewater system⁸. None of the mapped county soils are rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so test feasibility before fixing the house site²¹. A finaled driveway permit is required before the county can issue an onsite wastewater permit¹.

An RV or mobile tiny home is a temporary use, not a general path to year-round housing on vacant land in unincorporated Clear Creek County⁹. Private camping is allowed for up to 14 days per year without a permit, with an additional 30 days available through a Private Camping Permit; longer use requires a Special Use Permit and an approved sanitary facility must be available⁸. During construction, a mobile tiny home may serve as temporary quarters only with an issued single-family building permit on the same property and only when it directly supports the work⁹. Small dwelling units must meet state and local codes, including driveway, water-supply, septic, wind-load and snow-load requirements⁹. A permanent tiny dwelling is possible if it meets zoning, building, driveway, water and septic requirements; a mobile unit must lose its wheels and sit on a permanent foundation to be converted to a dwelling^8,9.

1. In unincorporated land, ask Planning (inside Georgetown, Idaho Springs or Silver Plume, start with the town) to confirm the zoning district, allowed residential use, setbacks and height limits^1,8,18.

1. Ask Site Development about driveway, grading and floodplain approvals. The driveway must be built to county standards before the foundation inspection can be called, and floodplain work falls under the county's grading and excavation permits^1,22.

1. Arrange water and wastewater. A groundwater well requires a state permit, while onsite wastewater work requires a county permit and inspections^6,23.

1. Submit plans through the county process for review by Building, Planning, Site Development and Environmental Health¹.

1. Complete the required building and electrical inspections¹⁰.

1. Obtain every applicable final approval before the final building inspection and any required Certificate of Occupancy¹¹.

Clear Creek County sits about 28 miles from the nearest city of 100,000 or more²¹. Access, slope and wastewater feasibility deserve attention before closing. Only 17.8% of Clear Creek County land has a slope of 15% or less, and 78% is wooded²¹. Confirm that the parcel is a legal lot and that its zoning allows the intended use before relying on a seller's description^1,24. A new or modified driveway needs county approval, while direct access to a state highway requires a state access permit^1,25. Improvements in the regulatory floodplain require a county site-development permit¹⁵. Test wastewater feasibility early because mapped soils are severely limited for conventional drain fields countywide²¹. A residential rental for fewer than 30 consecutive days requires a county permit and has occupancy limits tied to bedrooms and the wastewater connection¹⁷.