Bolthole Index

Fremont County, Colorado

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Fremont County, Colorado

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Unincorporated Fremont County, Colorado requires a building permit for new construction, issued by the county's Building Department in Cañon City12. County zoning also applies: every allowed or primary use requires zoning compliance, and some uses require an application, review and permit3. Fremont County enforces the 2018 International Building, Residential and Energy Conservation Codes, as amended by county resolution4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required in unincorporated Fremont County; the county Building Department issues it12
Zoning
Yes in unincorporated Fremont County; every allowed or primary use requires zoning compliance3
Septic (OWTS)
County-issued through the Building Department, under CDPHE Regulation 4356
Well
A state well permit is required statewide; proof of an existing well or public water is also a building-permit submittal requirement78
Owner-builder
Not confirmed on any Fremont County source; ask the Building Department directly9
Building code
2018 IBC, IRC and IECC editions, adopted by county resolution4
Tiny home
May be permitted as an ADU on a permanent foundation if built to IRC Appendix Q10
Minimum home size
400 sq. ft. for a single-family dwelling; other dwelling types have different limits11

Who to call

Building permits

Fremont County Building Department

Building permits, plan review and inspections for unincorporated Fremont County, including septic system permitting

719-276-7460

615 Macon Ave., Room 212, Cañon City, CO 81212

Building permits

Fremont County Building Department: Adopted Codes

Which construction codes and edition years the county has adopted

Building permits

Fremont County Building Department: Bulk Water/Cistern Policy

What counts as proof of a potable water supply for a building permit, and when a bulk-water cistern may be accepted

Septic permits

Fremont County Building Department: On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS/septic)

Septic (OWTS) permits, licensed installer lists, inspections and homeowner maintenance guidance

719-276-7460

615 Macon Ave., Room 212, Cañon City, CO 81212

Septic permits

Fremont County Building Department: OWTS Application Checklist

What a septic (OWTS) permit application must include before the county will accept it

719-276-7460

Zoning

Fremont County Planning and Zoning

Zoning resolution, subdivision regulations, zoning verification and code enforcement for unincorporated Fremont County

719-276-7360

[email protected]

615 Macon Ave., Room 210, Cañon City, CO 81212

Zoning

Fremont County Planning and Zoning: General Information

How to get a property's zoning classification confirmed before relying on it

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Fremont County, Colorado?

Yes. The Fremont County Building Department requires a building permit and enforces minimum building requirements throughout unincorporated Fremont County12. If a property sits inside Cañon City, Florence, Williamsburg, Rockvale, Coal Creek or Brookside, the applicable city's building department handles the permit instead2. Fremont County enforces the 2018 International Building, Residential and Energy Conservation Codes, as amended by Resolution No. 60 of 2020; incorporated municipalities adopt their own codes4.

Every building permit application needs evidence of a potable water supply, usually a water tap contract, recent water bill, or a well construction and test report8. When those options are unavailable, the county may accept a cistern supplied by bulk water under limited circumstances, but it gives no assurance that bulk water will remain an acceptable long-term supply8. Colorado law generally lets a county except farm buildings used solely to shelter agricultural implements, farm products, livestock or poultry from its building code and permit requirement12.

Who issues building permits in Fremont County, and how do you reach them?

The Building Department is at 615 Macon Ave., Room 212, in Cañon City; call 719-276-7460, weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.2. The same office handles septic (OWTS) permits, so one call or visit can often cover both6. Planning and Zoning, for zoning verification, subdivision and rezoning questions, is one floor over at Room 210 in the same building, 719-276-7360, or email [email protected]13.

Before relying on any zoning information for a property, fill out a zoning verification form; there is no charge, and Planning and Zoning notes that zoning classifications and regulations both change over time, so older information should be re-verified14.

Does Fremont County have zoning?

Yes. Fremont County zoning covers unincorporated land, and every allowed or primary use requires zoning compliance; certain uses also require an application, review and permit3. Cañon City, Florence, Williamsburg, Rockvale, Coal Creek and Brookside have separate municipal jurisdictions3. Planning and Zoning recommends a property-specific zoning verification because classifications and regulations can change14.

Fremont County's zoning resolution sets different dwelling-size rules by housing type. A single-family dwelling, efficiency unit or manufactured home has a 400-square-foot minimum; an ADU has a 250-square-foot minimum and a 1,250-square-foot maximum; and a park model must contain 200 to 399 square feet1115. ADUs must also meet the development requirements of the parcel's zone district plus applicable building, sanitation and other laws15. Minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and building height still depend on rules not confirmed here, so request those parcel-specific standards from Planning and Zoning14.

How do septic and well permits work in Fremont County?

Fremont County's own Building Department issues OWTS (septic) permits for unincorporated land, applying Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Regulation 4356. An application needs a licensed OWTS contractor, evidence of water (a water bill or well test report), and full payment of county permit fees, use tax and the Colorado surcharge at the time of submittal16. A site and soil evaluation from a registered professional engineer or competent technician is also required, covering the property's physical features, soil profile, lot size, absorption area, tank size and number of bedrooms16.

A typical system holds wastewater in the tank for a minimum of 30 hours to let solids and grease separate before it reaches the leachfield, and effluent is considered safe to enter the aquifer once it has passed through at least 4 feet of soil below the leachbed6. Statewide, no one may construct, alter or use an OWTS without a permit, and no part of a new system may be covered or used until the local health agency (or, for an engineer-designed system, the engineer's own inspection) confirms it passes1718. Only 9% of Fremont County's soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field under the NRCS system, so budget for a careful site evaluation and possibly an engineered system19. If you need a well instead of or alongside a septic system, every new groundwater well statewide needs a permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources, and review of a complete application can take up to 49 days7.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Fremont County?

We could not confirm a Fremont County rule for living in an RV on private residential land; ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel's district and the proposed duration before relying on an RV for housing14. Colorado's camping rules for land controlled by Colorado Parks and Wildlife do not answer the private-land question20.

Fremont County does provide a path for a tiny home used as an accessory dwelling unit: it may be permitted only on a permanent foundation and must be built under IRC Appendix Q10. The ADU must meet the applicable zone district's development requirements and all building, sanitation, federal, state and local rules; its floor area must be at least 250 and no more than 1,250 square feet1511. Colorado Division of Housing approval for a regulated tiny home does not replace Fremont County zoning approval2110. Ask Planning and Zoning whether the parcel can have an ADU and whether a proposed tiny home qualifies before ordering the unit14.

Building a home in Fremont County: the steps, in order

  1. Submit a zoning verification form to Planning and Zoning (no charge) to confirm your parcel's zoning district before you design14.
  2. Line up proof of potable water: a water tap contract, recent water bill, or well construction and test report; a bulk-water cistern is only a fallback, and the county gives no guarantee it stays available8.
  3. If you need a new well, apply to the Colorado Division of Water Resources; a complete application can take up to 49 days to review7.
  4. If you need a septic system, hire a Fremont County-licensed OWTS contractor and get a site and soil evaluation from a registered engineer or competent technician, then submit the OWTS application with fees, use tax and the Colorado surcharge paid up front16.
  5. Submit your building permit application to the Building Department at 615 Macon Ave., Room 212; plans must meet the county's adopted 2018 International Codes222.
  6. Keep the septic system and tank uncovered for every inspection, and post the property address visibly from the road when you call for an inspection16.
  7. If your driveway will connect directly to a state highway, get a CDOT access permit first; a Level 1 single-family/agricultural permit costs $5023.

What should you check before you buy land in Fremont County?

Confirm the parcel's zoning classification with Planning and Zoning using a free zoning verification request, since regulations and zoning both change over time and older information should be re-checked14. Ask how the property would get potable water: a well, a public tap or, only as a last resort, a bulk-water cistern the county does not guarantee will stay supplied8. Because only 9% of Fremont County's soils are free of severe septic limitations, and just 29.9% of the county's land sits at 15% slope or less, plan on a real site and soil evaluation before assuming a standard drain field will work1924.

Fremont County is heavily public land: 47.9% of it is federally owned, which shapes what private acreage is actually available and how it borders public land25. It's also a dry county by Front Range standards, with only 13.9 inches of precipitation a year and severe drought in 21.9% of years, while 63.8% of the land is wooded262728. Density is low, 32.8 people per square mile across 50,318 residents, and the nearest metro area is about 46 miles away293031. Farmland averages $2,756 an acre and the typical home value is $343,086; the median property tax bill is a modest $1,081 a year at an effective rate of 0.4%, though a typical home insurance premium runs $1,861 a year3233343536.

Watch-outs

  • A building permit application in Fremont County requires proof of a potable water supply; if there is no well or public water tap, a bulk-water cistern may be accepted only in rare cases and the county promises nothing about bulk water staying available long-term8.
  • Only 9% of Fremont County's soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so budget for a real site and soil evaluation by a registered engineer or competent technician before assuming a standard system will work1916.
  • Fremont County enforces the 2018 International Building, Residential and Energy Conservation Codes, as amended by county resolution4.
  • RV living on private land remains unconfirmed, but a tiny home may be permitted as an ADU only on a permanent foundation under IRC Appendix Q and must satisfy the parcel's zoning requirements141015.
  • If a property is inside Cañon City, Florence, Williamsburg, Rockvale, Coal Creek or Brookside, the county Building Department does not have jurisdiction; contact that town's own building department instead2.

Sources

  1. Fremont County Building Department (2026 county census)
  2. Fremont County Building Department (fremontcountyco.gov)
  3. Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  4. Adopted Codes, quoted and re-checked
  5. Fremont County Septic Systems (2026 county census)
  6. Fremont County Building Department: On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS/septic) (fremontcountyco.gov)
  7. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Fremont County Building Department: Bulk Water/Cistern Policy (fremontcountyco.gov)
  9. (2026 county census)
  10. Fremont County, Colorado Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  11. Fremont County, Colorado Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  12. Colorado Revised Statutes 2025 Title 30 Government - County (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Fremont County Planning and Zoning (fremontcountyco.gov)
  14. Fremont County Planning and Zoning: General Information (fremontcountyco.gov)
  15. Fremont County, Colorado Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  16. Fremont County Building Department: OWTS Application Checklist (fremontcountyco.gov)
  17. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  20. Title 33 - Parks and Wildlife - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Consumers of Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes - HUD (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Fremont County Building Department: Adopted Codes (fremontcountyco.gov)
  23. Access Permits | Frequently Asked Questions (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  30. County population: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  33. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  34. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  35. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  36. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 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.

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Fremont County in Colorado

64
County map
Fremont County highlighted among the Colorado counties · colored by Index score

How Fremont County scores

Seclusion72100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency42100% ev.
Admin Boringness4190% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy75100% ev.
Carry Cost83100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$343kTypical home
0.4%Property tax
$2,756Land / acre
13.9"Annual rain
21.9% of yrsSevere drought
1.3 / yr (+1.3)Mid-century 100°F days
23.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.06" (+4.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.32×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,861Home insurance / yr
4.9% / yrInsurance growth
1.39%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
123,813People within 2 hr
16,502Radius comparison (15 mi)
32.8People / sq mi
47.9%Federal land
29.9%Land at 15% slope or less
9%Septic soil without severe limits
83,103 acWorkable land screen
63.8%Wooded land
17.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
46°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Fremont County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Fremont County rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building-code enforcement by Fremont County in unincorporated areas.

    • The adopted codes are the 2018 IBC, IRC, and IECC, as amended by Resolution No. 60, Series of 2020.
    • Incorporated municipalities adopt their own building codes.

    code edition: 2018 (as amended by Resolution No. 60, Series of 2020)

    “The Fremont County Building Department enforces the International Building Code, the International Residential Code and the International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 Editions, as amended by Resolution of the Fremont Board of County Commissioners in Resolution No. 60, Series of 2020.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning and land-use regulation in unincorporated Fremont County.

    • Incorporated Cañon City, Florence, Williamsburg, Rockvale, Coal Creek, and Brookside have separate municipal building jurisdictions.
    • Uses may require zoning compliance, application, review, and permits.
    “All allowed or primary uses require zoning compliance. Certain uses within districts are allowed only through application, review, and permits.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwelling-unit sizes regulated by Fremont County zoning in unincorporated areas.

    • The resolution lists separate minimums for ADUs, efficiency units, manufactured homes, park models, and single-family dwellings.
    • Units of 400 square feet or larger must comply with manufactured-home construction and placement standards where stated.

    accessory dwelling unit minimum: >= 250 square feet · efficiency unit minimum: >= 400 square feet · manufactured home minimum: >= 400 square feet · park model minimum: >= 200 square feet (maximum 399 square feet) · single-family dwelling minimum: >= 400 square feet

    “Shall have a minimum gross floor area of two hundred (200) square feet and a maximum of three hundred and ninety-nine (399) square feet. (Units four hundred (400) square feet and larger must comply with manufactured home construction and placement standards.)”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny-home occupancy as an accessory dwelling unit in unincorporated Fremont County.

    • A tiny home may be permitted as an ADU only if placed on a permanent foundation and constructed in accordance with Appendix Q of the IRC.
    • ADUs must comply with building, sanitation, federal, state, and local requirements and the applicable zone district.
    “A tiny home may be permitted as an ADU if placed on a permanent foundation and constructed in accordance with Appendix Q of the IRC.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Fremont County.

    • ADUs must comply with Fremont County building and sanitation codes and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
    • ADUs must follow all development requirements of the zone district.
    • Maximum ADU size is 1,250 square feet.
    • Utilities should use the primary dwelling meters when possible and must conform to service-provider requirements.

    maximum ADU floor area: <= 1250 square feet

    “The construction or placement of the ADU must comply with Fremont County building and sanitation codes, as well as all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.”

Colorado rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, including adding previously unlicensed space to a Health Facility license, or operational permits for a Colorado-licensed Health Facility located in a jurisdiction with no local Building Department.

    • The Division is responsible for issuing the building permit when no local Building Department exists.
    • Limited Scope Project permits may be used instead of an individual Building, Fire, or Life Safety Code permit for projects identified by the Division.
    • Permit issuance is contingent upon review and approval by the Fire Code Official.
    • The determination of when a building permit is required is based on International Building Code Section 105 requirements, except Sections 105.1.1 and 105.1.2.
    • Substantial changes to the project scope, including adding square footage, require a new permit application.
    • Once all corrections identified through code review are satisfactorily addressed, the Division will issue the permit.

    building permit determination: International Building Code Section 105, except Sections 105.1.1 and 105.1.2 (Substantial changes to project scope require a new permit application.)

    “Under these circumstances, the Division will issue the applicable Building Permits and associated Certificates of Occupancy”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Construction, renovation, emergency, cash-funded, or in-house-funded projects involving Colorado state buildings and administered through the Department of Personnel and Administration/Office of the State Architect.
      “State Buildings Program (SBP) is responsible for establishing minimum building codes for all construction by state agencies [...] Colorado has no statewide building code”
  • InspectionsRequired

    All reviewed Colorado State Buildings Program construction projects subject to state building-code compliance review.

    • The policy states that all reviewed construction projects are inspected for building-code compliance.
    • Required inspections are identified on the Building Inspection Record and may include building, special, fire, plumbing, electrical, boiler, elevator, and health-department inspections as applicable.
    • Local fire districts and other state authorities may have separate inspection responsibilities.
    • The policy applies to state buildings and state projects, not uniformly to every private project in Colorado.
    “All reviewed construction projects shall be inspected for building code compliance.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Municipal zoning districts in Colorado where the municipality adopts building-height or story regulations.

    • The applicable height or story limit is determined by the municipality's zoning regulations and district classification.
    • The statute provides authority but no statewide numeric height limit.
    • Height restrictions do not apply to existing buildings under the cited municipal zoning authority, except as stated for new growth of vegetation.

    building height or number of stories: local regulation (No statewide numeric limit specified)

    “the governing body of each municipality is empowered to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Installation and resulting residential use of HUD-code manufactured homes and mobile homes in Colorado, subject to Colorado Division of Housing requirements and local zoning or building requirements.

    • HUD homes must be certified by the applicable State Administrative Agent for installation in Colorado; imported units are monitored by the State Administrative Agent of the state from which they are imported, rather than necessarily by Colorado's SAA.
    • A HUD home may be installed anywhere in Colorado only where local zoning allows it.
    • Local jurisdictions may require site mitigation to meet local wind and snow loads, but the mitigation cannot directly affect or change the construction of the home itself.
    • The Division of Housing regulates installation and installation inspections for HUD homes; mobile-home foundation and structural construction requirements are regulated by local jurisdictions with active building departments.
    • The state minimum HUD design criteria listed by the source are Wind Zone 1, Thermal Zone 3, and Middle Roof Load Zone (30 psf).

    wind zone: 1 zone · thermal zone: 3 zone · roof load zone: 30 psf (Middle Zone)

    “HUD homes [...] can be installed anywhere in Colorado as long as the local zoning allows for it.”
  • Who permits septicMixed

    On-site wastewater treatment systems statewide in Colorado.

    • The state establishes minimum standards through the Water Quality Control Commission.
    • Every local board of health must adopt detailed OWTS rules within its jurisdiction.
    • Local public health agencies and local boards of health have primary enforcement responsibility; the department may assume functions if a local agency substantially fails to administer and enforce the law.
    “Every local board of health in the state shall develop and adopt detailed rules for on-site wastewater treatment systems within its area of jurisdiction.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, installation, repair, or use of an OWTS statewide when the building or structure is not serviced by a sewage treatment works.

    • The permit is issued by the applicable local public health agency under local board-of-health rules.
    • A person may not construct, alter, install, or permit use of an OWTS without first applying for and receiving the required permit.
    • Local boards of health may prohibit OWTS permits in defined areas where additional systems may create a public-health or water-quality hazard.
    “Constructs, alters, installs, or permits the use of any on-site wastewater treatment system without first applying for and receiving a permit as required under this article;”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    OWTS construction, installation, alteration, or repair statewide before the system is placed in use, plus operating inspections when authorized under applicable rules.

    • A final inspection must occur after permitted work is completed and before the system is placed in use.
    • The local public health agency or its designated professional engineer determines compliance with the permit, statute, and applicable rules.
    • For a building not serviced by a sewage treatment works, an occupancy permit requires final OWTS inspection and local agency approval.
    “Final inspection of a system to be made by the local public health agency or its designated professional engineer after construction, installation, alteration, or repair work under a permit has been completed, but before the system is placed in use, to determine that the work has been performed in accordance with the permit and that the system is in compliance with this article and the rules adopted under this article;”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitation for dwellings and occupied structures statewide that is provided without connection to a sewage treatment works.

    • The structure must have adequate facilities for sanitary disposal of sewage.
    • An OWTS may be used subject to applicable permit, inspection, construction, installation, alteration, and use requirements.
    • Construction of new cesspools is prohibited.
    • Septage removed during maintenance or cleaning must be disposed of at an approved site and in an approved manner.
    “No person shall construct or maintain any dwelling or other occupied structure that is not equipped with adequate facilities for the sanitary disposal of sewage.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Every new groundwater-diverting well in Colorado, including residential wells, subject to statutory exemptions and basin-specific rules.

    • The Division of Water Resources administers groundwater permitting and issues permits.
    • Applicants must complete the appropriate application and pay the associated fee.
    • Statutory exemptions and additional Denver Basin or Designated Basin rules may affect the requirement or permit conditions.
    • In many areas, a well may also require an augmentation plan if its priority is not sufficient to divert in priority.

    complete-application review time: <= 49 days (DWR states review of complete new and replacement applications may take up to 49 days)

    “Every new well in the state that diverts groundwater must have a well permit.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Residential or other occupied structures statewide that are not serviced by a sewage treatment works.

    • Colorado law conditions building and occupancy permitting on either service by a sewage treatment works or an approved OWTS process.
    • If the structure is not serviced by a sewage treatment works, the local public health agency must issue the OWTS permit before building construction or remodeling approval, and must complete a final inspection and approve the installation before occupancy approval.
    • This claim does not establish a universal statewide mandate to connect to a particular municipal water or sewer provider.
    “A permit to construct or remodel a building or structure that is not serviced by a sewage treatment works until the local public health agency has issued a permit for an on-site wastewater treatment system;”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land and creation of interests subject to Colorado county subdivision law.

    • Divisions creating parcels of at least 35 acres each are excluded when none is intended for use by multiple owners.
    • Additional statutory exclusions include certain 35-acre-per-interest divisions, court or eminent-domain divisions, security instruments, investment entities, cemetery lots, severed mineral or water interests, certain joint-tenancy or tenancy-in-common interests, parcel combinations, contingent sale contracts, and cluster developments.
    • A board of county commissioners may exempt a division from the subdivision definition by rule, regulation, or resolution if it determines the division is not within the purposes of the subdivision statute.
    • Local county subdivision regulations and review procedures still determine administration.

    parcel-size exclusion: >= 35 acres (Each parcel must be at least 35 acres and none may be intended for use by multiple owners.) · minimum area per interest for listed exclusion: >= 35 acres per interest (Subject to the statutory exceptions and anti-evasion language.)

    “"Subdivision" or "subdivided land" means any parcel of land in the state which is to be used for condominiums, apartments, or any other multiple-dwelling units, unless such land when previously subdivided was accompanied by a filing which complied with the provisions of this part 1 with substantially the same density, or which is divided into two or more parcels, separate interests, or interests in common, unless exempted under paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of this subsection (10).”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Direct residential access from a property to a Colorado state highway, and construction, relocation, closure, modification, or change in use of access points to state highways.

    • Direct access from a house to a state highway requires an access permit.
    • Some state-highway access categories require access from a lesser street or by easement from a parent parcel whenever possible.
    • Level 1 permits cover single-family residential/agricultural permits; Level 2 covers commercial property and developments exceeding 20 vehicular trips per day without roadway improvements; Level 3 covers commercial property requiring roadway improvements.
    • Level 1 fees are $50, Level 2 fees are $100, and Level 3 fees are $300.
    • No fees are charged to local government applications or political subdivisions.
    • There is no upfront charge to review an Access Permit Application.
    • The permittee is responsible for roadway-improvement costs required with issuance of an access permit.
    • Performance-bond requirements apply only to private projects; local agencies are not required to comply, although CDOT regions may require a bond at their discretion.

    Level 1 access permit fee: 50 USD (Single-family residential/agricultural permits) · Level 2 access permit fee: 100 USD (Commercial property permits and developments exceeding 20 vehicular trips per day without roadway improvements) · Level 3 access permit fee: 300 USD (Commercial property permits requiring roadway improvements)

    “If you want the house to have direct access off of the state highway, then you will need an access permit.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in floodplain areas subject to Colorado floodplain-management requirements, and state-owned land in counties or municipalities that do not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

    • Local floodplain regulations must equal or exceed FEMA National Flood Insurance Program minimum design and construction criteria.
    • Local floodplain regulations must comply with Colorado Water Conservation Board rules and regulations for regulatory floodplains.
    • The state program applies to development on state-owned land in counties and municipalities that do not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
    “Local government floodplain management regulations for development in floodplain areas must equal or exceed the federal emergency management agency's national flood insurance program's (national flood insurance program) minimum design and construction criteria and must comply with the Colorado water conservation board's (CWCB) rules and regulations for regulatory floodplains in Colorado.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals statewide, defined in the cited official source as lodging-unit rentals for fewer than 30 days.

    • There is no statewide STR regulatory scheme.
    • Boards of county commissioners may license and regulate STR owners or agencies and set license fees, terms, issuance, and revocation procedures.
    • Home-rule municipalities and private contracts or homeowners' association covenants may impose additional restrictions.

    maximum rental duration for STR definition: < 30 days

    “There are no statewide regulations regarding STRs. As established through House Bill 20-1093, state law allows for boards of county commissioners (BOCCs) to license and regulate an owner or owner’s agency and to fix the fees, terms, and manner for issuing and revoking licenses.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Colorado's statewide legal framework for land-use permitting and development regulation.

    • Most land-use decisions, including building-code adoption, are driven by local governments rather than the state.
    • Local governments may develop permitting procedures and standards for development under 1041 regulations.
    • The cited statewide source does not establish a uniform statewide permit application, review, approval, or inspection procedure.
    “Colorado is a “local control” state when it comes to land use planning authority (Local Government, 2012). This means that most land use decisions such as adoption of zoning and building codes are driven by local governments, not by the state.”
  • Campground & park staysAllowed (with conditions)

    Temporary overnight camping, including parking a motor home or traveler, on land and water under the control of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, including state parks and state recreation areas.

    • The source addresses lands and waters under the control of the Division of Parks and Wildlife, not all public or private land statewide.
    • Camping includes parking a motor vehicle, motor home, or traveler for the apparent purpose of overnight occupancy.
    • A commission-issued permit may be required; the statute defines permits to include campground permits and electrical hookup permits.
    • The state may charge fees for required passes or permits for use of any state park or state recreation area where supervision, maintenance, or specified facilities warrant a fee.

    overnight occupancy: true (Camping definition includes the parking of a motor vehicle, motor home, or traveler for the apparent purpose of overnight occupancy.) · permit types: campground permits; electrical hookup permits

    “Develop state parks and state recreation areas suitable for such recreational activities as camping, [...] "Camping" means [...] the parking of a motor vehicle, motor home, or traveler”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Colorado counties adopting zoning plans for all or any part of unincorporated territory.

    • The county planning commission may make the zoning plan; in a county having a county planning commission, it must do so upon order by the board of county commissioners.
    • The zoning plan may regulate districts or zones, including building location, height, bulk, size, lot coverage, lot size, open spaces, population density, building and land uses, and access to sunlight for solar energy devices.
    • The plan may include regulations for uses on or along storm or floodwater runoff channels or basins only when the channel or basin has been designated and approved by the Colorado water conservation board, to lessen or avoid hazards from storm or floodwaters.
    • The statute applies to unincorporated territory and does not describe incorporated cities or towns as within this county zoning grant.
    “zoning all or any part of the unincorporated territory within such county”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Colorado counties adopting and enforcing building codes and requiring building permits in designated unincorporated areas.

    • A board of county commissioners may adopt a building code in all or part of the county, but the area must not be within the limits of an incorporated city or town.
    • Buildings or structures used solely to shelter agricultural implements, farm products, livestock, or poultry may be excepted from the building code and permit requirement.
    • Before adoption, the county planning commission may designate part or all of the county for the building code upon request from the board of county commissioners; the board must hold a public hearing and publish notice once weekly for four consecutive weeks.
    • After adoption of the building code, construction, reconstruction, alteration, or remodeling in the designated area requires a building permit, except for the agricultural-shelter exception.
    • The board must fix a reasonable schedule of building-permit fees; no permit fee may be charged unless a qualified inspector actually performs an inspection.
    • Plans must conform to the building code, and plans and specifications generally must bear the seal of a Colorado-licensed architect or engineer unless exempted by section 12-120-403.
    • Every county adopting or updating a building code must adopt and enforce an energy code meeting or exceeding one of the three most recent International Energy Conservation Code versions under section 30-28-211.
    • The 2025 amendment to section 30-28-204 is effective January 1, 2026 and adds accessibility requirements for substantially amended or updated county building codes, with an exception for compliant one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes.
    “A board of county commissioners is authorized to adopt ordinances and a building code”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from county building requirements.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in unincorporated Fremont County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot sizes in unincorporated Fremont County.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks in unincorporated Fremont County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in unincorporated Fremont County.
1 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption

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.

Living off-grid in Fremont County, Colorado

Is Fremont County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Fremont County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: more administrative friction around building and land use and weak self-sufficiency basics: only 13.9″ of rain a year, in severe drought 21.9% of years.

Do you need a building permit in Fremont County, Colorado?

Fremont County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Fremont County Building Department / Public Health & Environment (OWTS program). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Fremont County, Colorado?

Land in Fremont County runs about $2,756 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Fremont County?

Fremont County gets about 13.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 21.9% of years.

How remote is Fremont County?

A typical private-land location has about 16,502 people within 15 miles and 1,435,625 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Fremont compares in Colorado

Compare side-by-side →See all 64 Colorado counties ranked →