Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Rico, Colorado

Town of Rico’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction inside Rico town limits

  • Permit is required for all construction in town except the exempt items listed on the page.
  • Exempt: one-story detached accessory structures used as tool storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet.
  • Exempt: fences not over six (6) feet high; retaining walls not over four (4) feet high (with surcharge and liquid exceptions as stated on the page); painting, tiling, cabinets and similar finish work; re-siding and re-roofing without structural alteration.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued, so status is conditional.

  “building permits are required for all construction within the town of rico building in town is subject to the following”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction and alterations inside Rico town limits

  • The building page lists the 2006 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fire, Existing Building and Energy Conservation Codes as applicable.
  • Electrical, plumbing and fuel gas installation are governed by the State of Colorado (page text).
  • The town's ordinance list also shows Ordinance 2024-03 adopting Town of Rico construction rules and regulations, and Ordinance 2026-01 adopting the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code; the page's 2006 code list may be superseded and was not reconciled.

  “building in town is subject to the following: 2006 international building code 2006 international residential code 2006 international mechanical code”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Rico town limits. The Town of Rico administers its own Rico Land Use Code and Zone District Map.

  • The town's guiding-documents page lists a Rico Land Use Code and a Rico Zoning Map, and its ordinance list includes amendments to the Rico Land Use Code (2023-06, 2026-02).
  • The district standards in the code were not read: the town's PDF copies of the Rico Land Use Code returned HTTP 403 to the harness, so no dimensional or use table is recorded here.
  • The ordinance list shows a global revision of the code; the current text may differ from the 2023 codification.

  “rico land use code rico home rule charter rico master plan rico zoning map town of rico ordinances 2020 - present”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual sewage disposal systems (ISDS, septic) built inside Rico town limits

  • The building page says construction of ISDS within the town is subject to Town of Rico Ordinance 2017-01, which incorporates CDPHE Regulation 43 (state rule applied through the town).
  • The ordinance list shows Ordinance 2026-02 (dated 5/20/2026) repealing Ordinance 2017-01 and adopting Town of Rico on-site wastewater treatment system regulations. Its text and effective date were not readable, so the 2017-01 reference may be out of date.
  • Engineer stamp requirement: ISDS plans must be signed and stamped by a Colorado-licensed engineer (building page).

  “construction of isds within the town of rico are subject to the requirements of town of rico ordinance 2017 –01, which incorporates colorado department of health and environment regulation 43.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of individual sewage disposal systems inside Rico town limits

  • Septic work is permitted through the town septic permit application (building page).
  • Test holes for septic systems are excluded from the excavation permit requirement (building page).
  • Conditional on the 2026-02 wastewater regulations, whose text was not read.

  “septic permits are required for the installation of all individual sewage disposal systems (isds)”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction of a road or driveway inside Rico town limits

  • Road and driveway construction and repair requires an excavation permit (building page).
  • Excavation of more than three cubic yards not tied to a building, landscape or septic test-hole permit also requires an excavation permit.

  “excavation permits are required for the following: utility installations and repairs not including septic systems. road and driveway construction and repair.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals inside Rico town limits

  • Short-term rental restrictions and licensing requirements are set in the Rico Land Use Code, amended by Ordinance 2023-06 (ordinance list dated 02/28/2024).
  • The restriction text itself was not read.

  “an ordinance of the town of rico, colorado amending the short-term rental restrictions and licensing requirements in the rico land use code”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Rico town limits
• Inspections — Inspections for construction inside Rico town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new homes inside Rico town limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district inside Rico town limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district inside Rico town limits

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.