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

Unincorporated Huerfano County requires building permits for residential construction, with exceptions under the adopted codes¹. Like the counties around it in Colorado, Huerfano County requires a county building permit². A one-story detached accessory building up to 120 square feet on vacant land, or up to 200 square feet where a residence exists, may be built without a building permit; anything larger needs one⁶. Huerfano County lists the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code, with local changes under Resolution 23-25².

An owner-builder must sign the Building Authority board's letter of understanding concerning subcontractors; contractor licensing and insurance requirements may still apply². Agricultural crop production and certain accessory buildings on agricultural property are listed as exempt, but ask Land Use and Building whether the specific project qualifies before construction².

The county's rules apply to unincorporated land. Inside the Town of La Veta, the town's building inspector issues building permits⁴.

Huerfano County Land Use and Building is the starting point for building permits, land-use applications, planning, zoning and code enforcement². The office is at 401 Main Street, Suite 304, Walsenburg, CO 81089, and the phone number is 719-738-3000 ext 103². The office lists hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday².

Huerfano County uses MyGov for contractor registrations, building permits and license applications². Building applications require construction plans showing the plot, floor plan, building height and size, and the locations and dimensions of site improvements, plus applicable ownership, water and sanitation documents². County building fees follow the adopted fee schedule; ask Land Use and Building for the current project-specific amount and required inspection stages^1,2.

The county's permit office serves unincorporated land only; inside the Town of La Veta, building permits come from the town⁴. We could not confirm who issues building permits inside Walsenburg, so ask the city before you build there.

Yes. County zoning regulations apply in unincorporated Huerfano County, and the county maintains zoning district maps through the County Clerk and Recorder's office^1,2. The Land Use and Building office says county development is guided by the zoning regulations and the comprehensive plan adopted in 2025². Incorporated places zone separately: the Town of La Veta and Walsenburg each have their own zoning^7,8.

Huerfano County states a 600-square-foot minimum for structures used as family dwellings; ask Land Use and Building whether a smaller-home variance is available for the proposed project^1,2.

Minimum lot area depends on the district: 35 acres in Agricultural, 2 acres in Rural Residential, and half an acre in Urbanizing Residential, Commercial-Service and Industrial⁵. Setbacks vary by district and overlay, so confirm the figures for your parcel with Land Use and Building before siting a building^1,2.

The Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department, a two-county health district, permits the installation, repair and use of on-site septic systems in Huerfano County³. Submit the application and fee before work begins³. Where a municipality or special district provides public sewer service, an on-site system cannot receive a permit unless sewer service is infeasible or the sewer authority authorizes the permit; ask the department whether anything else differs inside city limits³. Septic installers must be licensed by the health department³.

Order matters. For a building without sewer service, the county will not issue a building permit until the health authority has issued the septic permit, and it will not issue a certificate of occupancy until a final septic inspection and approval are done¹. Only 23.8% of county soils avoid a severe USDA limitation rating for a conventional drain field, so evaluate septic feasibility early⁹. Published fees are $625 for a new septic permit, $250 for a repair permit or renewal, and $150 for a soils evaluation, payable with the application and non-refundable¹⁰. Call the health department's Huerfano County office at 719-738-2650³.

We could not confirm a complete current rule for living in an RV on private land in unincorporated Huerfano County². Because county zoning applies, ask Huerfano County Land Use and Building whether the parcel's district allows the proposed occupancy and what permits or time limits apply².

For a tiny home, Huerfano County states a 600-square-foot minimum for family dwellings, with a variance available for proposed dwellings under that size; ask Land Use and Building how to apply^1,2. A permanent residence also needs water, septic or wastewater treatment, plumbing, radon mitigation, electricity and a foundation system². Colorado-regulated tiny-home plans require state approval before construction and remain subject to local zoning and applicable codes¹¹.

1. Ask Huerfano County Land Use and Building to confirm the parcel's zoning district, allowed residential use and applicable site standards².
2. Establish legal water and wastewater plans; every new groundwater-diverting well needs a state permit subject to statutory and basin-specific rules¹².
3. Get the septic permit from the district health department first, because the county will not issue the building permit without it^1,3.
4. Secure an access permit if the property lacks existing access from a county road or state highway; Road and Bridge handles county-road access and CDOT handles state-highway access².
5. Prepare the county application with a site plan, sanitation and water documents, ownership or authorization evidence, and other applicable materials, then submit it through the county's online portal².
6. Complete the permitted septic work and the final septic inspection before occupancy¹.

Start with the parcel's zoning district, allowed use, setbacks and legal access before treating vacant land as buildable². A property without existing access from a county road or state highway requires an access permit from Road and Bridge or CDOT, respectively². A residential application for construction in a flood-hazard area must include the county-required flood information².

Huerfano County requires proof of adequate potable water for new construction and additions with new bathrooms or kitchens¹. Central-water service requires a provider availability letter or tap receipt; bulk-water service also requires a county waiver¹. A domestic well must produce at least 1 gallon per minute, certified by a qualified professional, and a new groundwater well generally requires a state permit^1,12. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.3%, with a median annual bill of $707⁹.