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

Town of Brookside’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Most construction, remodeling, additions and structural improvements inside Brookside town limits; issued by the town, not Fremont County

  • Permit application must be submitted before beginning work.
  • Newcomers page: all building permits within brookside are issued by the town of brookside; the building inspector is a town contact who can say whether a permit is necessary.

  “a building permit is required for most construction, remodeling, additions, and structural improvements within the town of brookside.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Residences inside Brookside town limits

  • Applies to residences; the page states residences must be at least 1,200 square feet, on a permanent foundation, and have a certificate of occupancy.
  • Process for issuing the certificate is not described on the page.

  “residences must be at least 1,200 square feet, on a permanent foundation, and have a certificate of occupancy”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Brookside town limits (Fremont County, Colorado); the town administers its own land use code

  • The town's land use code is Ordinance 2-2025, passed April 8, 2025, updating the code to the 2025 edition (first reading minutes and a May 2025 second-reading agenda item were seen only in search snippets and not opened; completion of second reading not verified).
  • The town's own highlights page states that town ordinances regulate land use, livestock, and residential development.

  “town ordinances regulate land use, livestock, and residential development.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residences inside Brookside town limits; the highlights page does not name a district

  • Requirement stated as a general residence rule on the highlights page; district-by-district variation not identified because the adopted code PDF was not retrievable.
  • Also requires a permanent foundation and a certificate of occupancy.

  minimum residence floor area: >= 1200 square feet (none stated on the highlights page)

  “residences must be at least 1,200 square feet, on a permanent foundation, and have a certificate of occupancy”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Living in RVs, trailers or outbuildings as a residence on land inside Brookside town limits

  • Stated as a residence requirement on the town's highlights page; the adopted code text was not reviewed.

  “living in outbuildings, rvs, or trailers is not permitted”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  A second residence on one parcel inside Brookside town limits

  • One residence per parcel; a second residence is allowed only if grandfathered or approved by variance.

  residences per parcel: 1 residence (second residence allowed if grandfathered or approved by variance)

  “one residence per parcel only one residence per parcel is allowed unless a second residence is grandfathered or approved by variance”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Water tap fee for a new residential connection in Brookside town limits; building permit fees are not covered by this claim

  • The water tap fee includes $7,125 paid to Canon City, per the town.
  • Tap fees must be paid before permits issue.
  • Building permit fees were not published on the pages opened; the planning page says the town will advise of any applicable fees after review of the application.

  residential water tap fee (3/4 inch): 12925 USD (includes $7,125 paid to Canon City)

  “water taps a ¾" residential water tap fee is $12,925.00 (includes $7,125 paid to cañon city). tap fees must be paid in full prior to issuance of permits.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application for construction inside Brookside town limits

  • Application may be emailed to [email protected], dropped off at Brookside town hall, or mailed to 1720 Brookside Ave, Brookside, CO 81212.
  • Town reviews the application and then contacts the applicant about approval, additional information needed, or fees.

  “once the application is reviewed, the town will contact you regarding approval, additional information needed, or any applicable fees.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Brookside

Town of Brookside does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Brookside town limits; Fremont County health department is the permitting authority

  • Scope recorded as countywide because the county health department rule applies inside the town; the town's own page assigns septic permitting to the county.

  “septic permits must be obtained from fremont county health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic system installation on land inside Brookside town limits

  • Permit issued by the Fremont County health department, not by the town.

  “septic permits must be obtained from fremont county health department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for work inside Brookside town limits
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Brookside town limits
• Inspections — Inspections for construction inside Brookside town limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list inside Brookside town limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the main single-family residential district inside Brookside 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.