Bolthole Index

Mesa County, Colorado

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in De Beque, Colorado

Inside the Town of De Beque, Colorado, new construction needs a town building/zoning compliance approval and then a building permit from Mesa County, which the town contracts to run its permits and inspections1. The town sets its own zoning under Title 14 of its municipal code2. Septic permits come from Mesa County's OWTS department, not the town3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for buildings and structures inside town limits; issued by Mesa County under contract41
Zoning
Town zoning under Title 14 of the municipal code2
Septic
Mesa County OWTS department issues septic permits in Mesa County3
RV living
Limited: only in an approved RV park or other permitted location; guests up to 72 hours5
Tiny homes
IRC Appendix BB (Tiny Houses) is adopted; zoning-district permissions not confirmed6
Manufactured homes
At least 24 feet wide and 36 feet long, on an engineered permanent foundation7
Accessory dwelling
One per parcel, up to 800 sq ft and two bedrooms8
Owner-builder
Colorado exempts an owner's own repair and maintenance only in some county licensing programs; not a new-home exemption9

Who to call

Zoning

Town of De Beque Town Hall (building/zoning compliance)

Building/zoning compliance approval for site preparation, new construction and major remodels inside De Beque

970-283-5475

381 Minter Avenue

Building permits

Mesa County Building Department (contracted for De Beque)

Construction permit and inspection services for De Beque under an agreement with the town

970-244-1651

Septic permits

Mesa County Septic (OWTS) Department

Septic (OWTS) permits and clearances across Mesa County

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of De Beque means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in De Beque, Colorado?

Yes. De Beque requires a permit for buildings and structures inside town limits, and each separate building, structure, pool or retaining wall needs its own4. The town's code lists exemptions such as sidewalks and driveways or decks not more than 30 inches above grade4. Agricultural buildings used only to shelter implements, farm products, livestock or poultry pay no permit fee, though electrical, mechanical and plumbing work still needs permits10.

The town adopted the 2024 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses11. Any site preparation, new construction or major remodel also needs the town's Building/Zoning Compliance Approval1.

Who issues building permits in De Beque, and how do you reach them?

Two offices are involved. The Town of De Beque issues the Building/Zoning Compliance Approval, and applicants must also obtain a building permit from Mesa County, which the town names as its building code administrative entity1. The town contracts with the Mesa County Building Department for construction permit and inspection services12.

Call Town Hall at 970-283-54751 first; the town says to phone the Mesa County Building Department at 970-244-1651 for the latest application and information bulletins12. Permit fees follow the Mesa County Building Department fee schedule13. Where a lot is in a flood hazard area, no permit is issued without Floodplain Administrator approval14.

Does De Beque have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

De Beque has its own zoning: the town's land use code is Title 14 of the municipal code, amended in November 20252. Lot sizes, setbacks and height limits depend on the zone district, and we could not confirm those district tables; ask Town Hall which district a parcel is in before buying.

An accessory dwelling is allowed in limited cases: one per parcel, with a single-family detached home, up to 800 square feet and two bedrooms, plus one off-street parking space8. Manufactured homes must be at least 24 feet wide and 36 feet long on an engineered permanent foundation, and a home previously set elsewhere may not be placed in town7. The town adopted IRC Appendix BB for tiny houses, but we could not confirm which zone districts allow them6.

How do septic permits work in De Beque?

Mesa County's Septic (OWTS) Department issues septic permits, septic clearances and reviews land use applications where a septic system is proposed15. A septic permit is required before installing, altering, expanding or repairing a system, and the system must be designed and stamped by a Department-approved Colorado licensed professional engineer16. County regulations bar an OWTS permit in a special service district where public sewer is available, unless sewer service to the property is not feasible16.

Because only about 5.7% of Mesa County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system17. We could not confirm whether a given in-town lot is on town sewer; ask Town Hall and the county septic department before buying.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in De Beque?

Living in an RV on a lot in town is restricted. De Beque's code bars occupying an RV outside an approved RV park, trailer park or other specifically permitted location, except invited overnight guests on the inviter's land for no more than 72 hours5. One unoccupied RV may be stored in a garage, rear yard or driveway at least 20 feet from the curb, with no living quarters5. A temporary construction-office RV needs a Town Clerk permit, with no sleeping or cooking5.

So living in an RV while you build is not allowed on an ordinary town lot. Tiny houses built under IRC Appendix BB are recognized in the building code, but zoning-district permissions are unconfirmed6.

Building a home in De Beque: the steps, in order

  1. Call Town Hall at 970-283-5475 to confirm the zone district and what your project needs1.
  2. Submit a dimensioned site plan, a use tax application and the Building/Zoning Compliance application to the town1.
  3. Get Floodplain Administrator sign-off if the lot is in a flood hazard area14.
  4. Apply to Mesa County for the building permit1.
  5. Arrange septic through the Mesa County OWTS department if the lot is not on sewer15.
  6. Schedule inspections; floodplain sign-off is also required before a Certificate of Occupancy18.

What stays with Mesa County, and what to check before you buy in De Beque

Septic permits come from Mesa County even for addresses in town15. For land outside De Beque's limits, Mesa County's own rules apply; see the Mesa County page. Wells need a state permit for every new groundwater-diverting well, subject to exemptions19. A driveway onto a state highway needs state access approval20.

Mesa County's effective property tax rate is 0.4%21. About 73.2% of the county is federal land22, so confirm legal access to any parcel outside town.

Watch-outs

  • Septic, in-town sewer availability and zone-district lot sizes, setbacks and height limits were not confirmed; ask Town Hall at 970-283-54751 and the Mesa County Septic (OWTS) Department15.
  • The town's code adopts the 2024 IRC but also lists older appendix chapters; confirm with the Mesa County Building Department which edition applies to your plans11.
  • Owner-builder rules inside De Beque were not confirmed; ask the Mesa County Building Department12.

Sources

  1. Town of De Beque Town Hall (building/zoning compliance) (townofdebeque.colorado.gov)
  2. De Beque Code Sec. 14.04.150 Transition from prior regulations (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  3. About the Septic (OWTS) Department, quoted and re-checked
  4. De Beque Code Sec. 12.22.020 IRC Amendments (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  5. De Beque Code Sec. 7.08.030 Recreational vehicle and trailer parking (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  6. De Beque Code Sec. 12.22.010 IRC adopted by reference (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  7. De Beque Code Sec. 14.44.050 Mobile and manufactured home installation and design standards (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  8. De Beque Code Sec. 14.12.120 Use-specific standards (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  9. Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 (2026 county census)
  10. De Beque Code Sec. 12.22.020 IRC Amendments (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  11. De Beque Code Sec. 12.22.010 IRC adopted by reference (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  12. Mesa County Building Department (contracted for De Beque) (townofdebeque.colorado.gov)
  13. De Beque Code Sec. 12.22.020 IRC Amendments (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  14. De Beque Code Sec. 12.22.020 IRC Amendments (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  15. Mesa County Septic (OWTS) Department (mesacounty.us)
  16. Mesa County On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. De Beque Code Sec. 12.22.020 IRC Amendments (Town of De Beque), quoted and re-checked
  19. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Access Permits | Frequently Asked Questions (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of De Beque

Town of De Beque’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction of buildings and structures inside De Beque town

    • Exempt items include sidewalks/driveways and platforms not more than 30 inches above grade, swings and playground equipment, decks not more than 30 inches above grade, re-siding, roof recover within limits, plastic covered crop shelters, temporary removable pools up to 180 days/year
    • Agriculture buildings are exempt from permit fees and inspections but not electrical, mechanical and plumbing
    “Each separate building, structure, pool, retaining wall, etc. shall require a separate permit.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses inside De Beque town

    • Adopted with local amendments in Sec. 12.22.020
    • Appendix chapters BB, BF, BO, CB, CC only; no other appendix chapters adopted
    • Mesa County Board of Appeals serves as the town's Board of Appeals

    IRC edition: 2024

    “there is hereby adopted by referenced thereto, the International Residential Code, 2024 Edition, together with the amendments set forth below”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings in De Beque town; flood-hazard buildings need Floodplain Administrator sign-off first

    • Temporary occupancy limited to provisions of this code or codes referenced in the ordinance
    “A final verification and approval from the Floodplain Administrator will be given prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or Final approval, whichever is applicable.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside De Beque town limits

    • Town land use code is Title 14 of the municipal code; amended by Ord. No. 555 (Series 2025), 11-18-2025.
    “Within the zone districts established in this Code there exist uses of land, lots, structures, and/or buildings that were lawfully established before this Code was passed”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes only inside De Beque town; zoning-district minimum floor area for site-built homes not found

    • Minimum footprint dimensions, not a floor-area rule for all dwellings

    minimum manufactured home width: >= 24 feet · minimum manufactured home length: >= 36 feet

    “Any manufactured home must be not less than 24 feet in width and 36 feet in length;”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RV and trailer occupancy on private land inside De Beque town

    • Occupancy only in an approved RV park, trailer park or other specifically permitted location
    • Invited overnight guests may occupy on land of the inviter up to 72 hours
    • Designated rest areas 12 hours
    • One unoccupied RV may be stored in garage, rear yard or driveway at least 20 feet from the curb with no living quarters
    • Temporary construction office RV needs Town Clerk permit; no sleeping or cooking
    • Violation is a non-criminal civil infraction

    guest occupancy limit: <= 72 hours

    “No person shall park or occupy any trailer travel trailer, motorized home, motor home, recreational bus or recreational vehicle, outside of an approved recreational vehicle park, trailer park or other specifically permitted location in accordance with the provisions of the land use regulations, except that invited overnight guests may occupy such vehicles located on any tract of land owned by the person extending the invitation for a period of time not to exceed 72 hours”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in vehicles on private land inside De Beque town

    • Only invited overnight guests, on land owned by the inviter, not over 72 hours
    • Otherwise only in approved RV park or specifically permitted location

    guest occupancy limit: <= 72 hours

    “invited overnight guests may occupy such vehicles located on any tract of land owned by the person extending the invitation for a period of time not to exceed 72 hours”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny houses inside De Beque town built under IRC Appendix BB

    • Zoning district permissions for tiny houses not verified
    “The following chapters of the Appendix of the International Residential Code, 2018 Edition, are adopted: (1) Appendix BB, Tiny Houses.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes installed inside De Beque town

    • Home must be 24 ft wide by 36 ft long minimum, on engineered permanent foundation, pitched roof, brick/wood-like siding
    • No home previously set elsewhere may be located in Town
    • Wheels, axle and hitch removed; must connect to utilities before occupancy
    • Mobile homes allowed in approved mobile home parks; dependent mobile homes not in parks

    minimum width: >= 24 feet · minimum length: >= 36 feet

    “any manufactured home must be not less than 24 feet in width and 36 feet in length; installed on an engineered permanent foundation, have brick, wood or have cosmetically similar exterior siding and a pitched roof”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units inside De Beque town, subject to zone district use tables (not reviewed)

    • One ADU per parcel, only with a single-family detached dwelling
    • Max 800 sq ft, max two bedrooms
    • Separate exterior access, cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities
    • Detached ADU to side or rear, not beyond front building line
    • At least one off-street parking space
    • Ownership cannot be severed from the principal use

    maximum ADU size: <= 800 sq ft · maximum bedrooms: <= 2 bedrooms

    “Accessory dwelling units. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) shall comply with the following standards: a. Only one ADU per parcel is allowed.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Mobile and manufactured homes installed inside De Beque town; general new-home rule not found

    • Applies to mobile/manufactured homes; 'as appropriate' to the utilities available
    “No finished home shall be occupied for dwelling purposes unless it is properly placed and connected to water, wastewater, electric and natural gas utilities, as appropriate”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agriculture buildings inside De Beque town

    • Building used solely to shelter agricultural implements, farm products, livestock or poultry; not a place of employment or open to the public
    • Fee and inspection exemption does not cover electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits
    • Must still meet minimum building standards
    “No fees shall be required for a building permit obtained for Agriculture Buildings defined as buildings or structures used for the sole purpose of providing shelter for agricultural implements, farm products, livestock or poultry”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision proposals inside De Beque town, at least as to flood damage prevention

    • Subdivision procedures in Title 14 not reviewed
    • Base flood elevation data required for proposals over 50 lots or five acres, whichever is lesser
    • Adequate drainage and flood-resistant utilities required
    “All subdivision proposals including the placement of manufactured home parks and subdivisions shall be consistent with this chapter.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in flood hazard areas inside De Beque town

    • Town has a Flood Damage Prevention chapter 14.52
    “No permit will be issued without review and approval from the local jurisdiction Floodplain Administrator.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permit fees inside De Beque town

    • Fee schedule is Mesa County Building Department schedule, on file at the Mesa building inspection office; amounts not reviewed
    • Refund of 85% before work or inspections begin and within 180 days

    refund rate: <= 85 percent (none after work commenced or after 180 days)

    “section r108.2 schedule of permit fees is amended by the addition of exhibit a mesa county building department fee schedule.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside De Beque town
  • Inspections — Inspections of construction inside De Beque town
  • Minimum lot size — Residential and agricultural districts inside De Beque town
  • Setbacks — Residential and agricultural districts inside De Beque town
  • Lot coverage — Residential and agricultural districts inside De Beque town
9 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit process

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of De Beque publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Mesa County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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