Bolthole Index

Park County, Colorado

Building permits, zoning and sewer rules in the Town of Alma, Colorado

Inside the Town of Alma, Colorado, the Town's own building department issues building permits, not Park County1. Alma also sets its own zoning in Chapter 16 of its municipal code2. New construction must connect to the Town sewer, so a private septic system is the exception and needs a Board of Trustees exemption3. An RV cannot serve as a dwelling in town4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the Town of Alma building department inside Town limits1
Zoning
Yes; Alma's own zoning, Chapter 16 of the municipal code2
Sewer / septic
New construction must connect to Town sewer; septic only by Board of Trustees exemption3
RV living
Not allowed as a dwelling; camping limited to 7 consecutive days45
Tiny homes
No Alma-specific rule confirmed; state-certified tiny homes are subject to local zoning6
Minimum home size (R District)
600 square feet of finished floor area7
Setbacks (R District)
10 feet each side; front plus rear at least 50 feet8
Wells
State well permit from the Division of Water Resources9

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Alma Building Department

Building permits and inspections for property inside Alma Town limits

(719) 836-2712

[email protected]

59 Buckskin Street, PO Box 1050, Alma, CO 80420

Septic permits

Park County Environmental Health

County septic permits, site evaluation and septic inspections (the office to ask about an Alma sewer exemption that relies on a leach field)

719-836-4267

856 Castello Ave, P.O. Box 216, Fairplay, CO 80440

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 Alma means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Alma, Colorado?

Yes. The Town of Alma building department issues permits and verifies compliant construction for properties inside Town limits1. Park County's Building Department states that its coverage excludes the Town of Alma, so a project inside town does not go to the county10.

New buildings inside Alma also need inspections and a certificate of occupancy before anyone uses them: no building or structure may be used or occupied until the Building Inspector or another Town official issues the certificate after inspections11. The Town's code requires site, building and utility inspections as applicable12.

The Town applies the 2024 ICC code series, effective January 1, 2026, and issues one project permit that covers plumbing, electrical and mechanical work rather than separate sub-permits1. We could not confirm Alma's permit fees or whether the Town offers an owner-builder exemption; ask the building department before you plan around either.

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

The Town of Alma Building Department handles building permits and inspections inside Town limits. Call Town Hall at (719) 836-2712 or email [email protected]; the mailing address is 59 Buckskin Street, PO Box 1050, Alma, CO 804201. The building department page offers a permit application to download and a form to request inspections.

Projects outside Town limits go to the Park County Building Department instead1. The county's own rules, such as its planning and zoning counter, apply to unincorporated land and not to lots inside Alma13.

Does Alma have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and home size?

Yes. Alma zones land inside Town limits under Chapter 16 of the Alma Municipal Code2. The code references Residential (R), Commercial (C) and Mixed Use (MU) districts; we did not confirm a full district list or map, so ask Town Hall which district a lot is in14.

In the R District, the minimum lot area is 7,500 square feet and the minimum lot width is 75 feet15. Side yards are 10 feet on each side, and front plus rear setbacks must total at least 50 feet with neither under 10 feet8. Maximum height is 30 feet16, and the minimum finished floor area is 600 square feet7. Roofed extensions such as porches and covered decks count toward a lot-coverage limit of one-third of the lot17.

In the Commercial District, accessory dwelling units are prohibited18. Manufactured and modular homes must meet the Town's conditions, including a minimum width of 24 feet and length of 36 feet and an engineer-certified permanent foundation19.

How do septic permits work inside Alma?

In Alma, sewer comes first. All new construction within the Town must connect to the Town's central sewer system before occupancy or use3. Using any other sewage disposal system on those properties is prohibited20.

The Board of Trustees may exempt a single-family home or duplex only if it is 400 feet or more from the nearest sewer main, sits on 1 acre or more in common ownership, and has a site adequate for a leach field under County and State rules3. A permit from the Board of Trustees is required before connecting to sewer3.

If an exemption is granted, Park County Environmental Health is the county office that handles septic permits and site evaluations21. We could not confirm which agency issues and inspects the septic permit for a lot inside Alma, so call both Town Hall and Park County Environmental Health before you count on a leach field. Septic soils are a hurdle at county scale: only about 5% of Park County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, which usually means a site evaluation or an engineered system22.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Alma?

Not in an RV. Alma's code says no recreational vehicle, camper, motor home, trailer or similar vehicle may be used as a dwelling unit, accessory building or home occupation4. The exception is an approved mobile home park or campground provided for in the zoning chapter4.

Camping on private property is allowed only in the Residential and Mixed Use districts, and only for up to 7 consecutive days and no more than 28 days in any six-month period5. A tiny home on wheels is likely to be treated as an RV, though we could not confirm that with the Town.

We found no tiny-home-specific rule in Alma's code. Colorado Division of Housing-regulated tiny homes are approved for long-term living, but they must satisfy local zoning requirements and be certified for the site where they are installed6. Ask Town Hall before you buy a lot with a tiny home in mind.

Building a home in Alma: the steps, in order

  1. Call Town Hall at (719) 836-2712 to confirm the lot's zoning district, setbacks and sewer availability1.
  2. Check whether the lot is within 400 feet of a sewer main; if not, ask about a Board of Trustees exemption and the leach-field rules it requires3.
  3. Get a well permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources if the property needs its own well9.
  4. Submit the Town's building permit application; fees are calculated after submission1.
  5. Pass the inspections the Town requires, including inspection of the water and sewer service line installation11.
  6. Receive the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in11.

What stays with Park County, and what to check before you buy in Alma

Inside Alma, building permits and zoning are the Town's job; septic and well questions can reach beyond it. Park County Environmental Health works with landowners on septic and driveway permits21, and Colorado requires a well permit for every new well that diverts groundwater9. For land outside Alma's limits, use the Park County page instead.

Before you buy, confirm which zoning district the lot is in, whether Town sewer reaches it, and whether any floodplain or driveway-access rule applies; we could not confirm Alma's floodplain development or driveway rules. County figures give context: Park County's effective property tax rate is 0.3%23.

Short-term rentals need a Town special use permit, issued by the Town Clerk, and the owner must have owned the unit at least 18 months; new permits stop once the cap of 17 units is reached24.

Watch-outs

  • Alma's code lets the Board of Trustees exempt a single-family home or duplex from sewer only when the lot is 400 feet or more from a sewer main and on 1 acre or more3.
  • Park County's building and planning offices serve unincorporated land; a lot inside Alma goes to the Town building department instead1.
  • We could not confirm Alma's permit fees, owner-builder rule, well rules or which agency issues septic permits inside Town limits; call Town Hall at (719) 836-27121.
  • Camping on private property in Alma is limited to 7 consecutive days and 28 days in any six-month period, and RVs cannot be lived in5.

Sources

  1. Town of Alma Building Department (townofalma.com)
  2. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-1-70 Application of regulations (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  3. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 13-2-110 Mandatory connection; permit required; exemptions (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  4. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-11-10 Recreational vehicles and mobile homes (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  5. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 11-5-40 Camping on private property within town (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  6. Consumers of Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes - HUD (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-3-50 Dimensional regulations (R District) (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  8. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-3-50 Dimensional regulations (R District) (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  9. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building, quoted and re-checked
  11. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 18-1-80 Certificate of occupancy required (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  12. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 18-1-80 Certificate of occupancy required (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  13. Park County Development Services, quoted and re-checked
  14. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-3-20 Purpose and objectives (R District) (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  15. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-3-50 Dimensional regulations (R District) (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  16. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-3-50 Dimensional regulations (R District) (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  17. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-3-50 Dimensional regulations (R District) (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  18. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-30 Commercial District use regulations (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  19. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-11-20 Manufactured homes (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  20. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 13-2-110 Mandatory connection; permit required; exemptions (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked
  21. Park County Environmental Health (parkcountyco.gov)
  22. 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
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Alma Municipal Code Sec. 16-20-30 Licensing of short term rental units (Town of Alma), quoted and re-checked

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 Alma

Town of Alma’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Alma town limits

    • Edition not stated in the sections opened.
    • International Fire Code adopted with amendments in Chapter 18, Article 2.
    “the latest edition of the building code as adopted by the Town in Chapter 18 of this Code”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New buildings inside Alma town limits

    • Site, building and utility inspections apply as applicable before certificate of occupancy.
    “upon successful completion of the site and building and utility inspections, as applicable”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings and structures inside Alma town limits

    • Issued by the Building Inspector or duly appointed Town official after inspections.
    • Water and sewer service line installation must be inspected before issuance.
    “No building or structure shall be used or occupied and no change in the existing occupancy”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Alma town limits

    • Zoning is in Chapter 16 of the Alma Municipal Code.
    “No building or structure shall be erected, no existing building or structure shall be moved, altered or extended”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts inside Alma town limits

    • Residential (R), Commercial (C) and Mixed Use (MU) districts are referenced; full district list and map not opened.
    “The purpose of the R District is to promote the continuance of single-family neighborhoods”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Residential (R) District inside Alma town limits

    • Where setback requirements dictate a smaller structure, setbacks prevail.

    minimum finished floor area: >= 600 square feet

    “(d) minimum finished floor area: six hundred (600) square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residential (R) District inside Alma town limits

    • Density not to exceed 15 dwelling units per acre unless waived by Board of Trustees.

    minimum lot area: >= 7500 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 75 feet

    “(1) minimum lot area: seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet. (2) minimum lot width: seventy-five (75) feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential (R) District inside Alma town limits

    • Front plus rear setbacks must total at least 50 feet, neither under 10 feet.
    • Side yard is 10 feet on each side.

    side yard each side: >= 10 feet · front plus rear total: >= 50 feet (neither less than 10 feet)

    “front and rear setbacks are flexible, provided that the sum of the front and rear setbacks, when added together, shall total not less than fifty (50) feet, and neither setback shall, under any circumstances, be less than ten (10) feet. (2) side yard: ten (10) feet, each side.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residential (R) District inside Alma town limits

    • Counts overhangs, gables, eaves, porches, covered decks and similar roofed extensions.
    • Limit is one-third of lot area.

    maximum lot coverage: <= one-third of lot area

    “in no event shall the square footage of all structures on any residential lot, including overhangs, gables, eaves, porches, covered decks and other similar roofed or covered extensions of such principal structure, exceed one-third”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residential (R) District inside Alma town limits

    • Height measured from average existing grade of four corners to highest point of roof ridge or similar.

    maximum height: <= 30 feet

    “Maximum height: Thirty (30) feet. (d) Minimum finished floor area: six hundred (600) square feet.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    RV, camper, motor home or trailer used as a dwelling inside Alma town limits

    • Exception: approved mobile home park or campground provided for within Chapter 16.
    • No business in parked equipment unless Building Inspector gives prior approval.
    • Camping up to 7 consecutive days is separately allowed in R and MU districts.
    “No recreational vehicle, camper, motor home, trailer or similar vehicle shall be used for a dwelling unit, accessory building, home occupation or other use permitted in the zone district”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in tent or RV on private property inside Alma town limits

    • Only in Residential (R) and Mixed Use (MU) zone districts.
    • Town-owned campgrounds and Alma Park have separate permit rules.

    max consecutive days: <= 7 days · max days in any six-month period: <= 28 days

    “camping for a period in excess of seven (7) consecutive days, or for more than twenty-eight (28) days in any six-month period in the town is prohibited.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Modular and manufactured homes inside Alma town limits

    • Must be commercially factory-built, on engineer-certified permanent foundation, with wood/brick siding and pitched roof, HUD-certified, and meeting the Town building code including snow loads.

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

    “To be eligible for a certificate of occupancy, all modular structures and manufactured homes shall:”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Commercial (C) District inside Alma town limits

    • Residential district ADU standards were not in the sections opened.
    “Prohibited accessory uses: Accessory dwelling units.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Non-sewer sanitation inside Alma town limits

    • Allowed only through Board of Trustees exemption for single-family or duplex, 400+ feet from sewer main, 1+ acre, leach field compliant with County and State rules.
    “The use of any sewage disposal system by such properties other than the central sewage system of the Town is hereby prohibited.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New construction inside Alma town limits must connect to the Town central sewer

    • Properties receiving Town water or domestic well water must also connect to sewer.
    • Board of Trustees may exempt a single-family or duplex only if 400+ feet from nearest sewer main, on 1+ acre in common ownership, and site adequate for a leach field under County and State rules.
    • Permit from Board of Trustees required before connection.
    • Water connection requirement not found.

    exemption minimum distance from sewer main: >= 400 feet · exemption minimum parcel size: >= 1 acre

    “All new construction of any nature within the boundaries of the Town must be connected to the central sewer system of the Town prior to occupancy or use.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and platting inside Alma town limits (Chapter 17)

    • Development exaction determination required before approval or building permit.
    • Minor subdivision is 5 or fewer lots abutting an existing Town street with no variances.
    “No rezoning, subdivision approval or plat approval shall be final, and no building permit shall issue unless and until the developer has either paid the development exaction”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short term rental units inside Alma town limits

    • Special use permit required per unit, issued by Town Clerk on payment of fee set by resolution.
    • Owner must have owned the unit at least 18 months; SUP not transferable.
    • Permits may be for dwelling units in any zone district.
    • Pre-issuance inspection; at least 2 off-street parking spaces; smoke and CO alarms.
    • New SUPs not issued once the cap is reached.

    maximum short term rental units in Town: <= 17 units

    “No person shall own or operate a short term rental unit without first having obtained a special use permit”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Alma town limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Alma town limits
  • Who permits septic — Septic systems inside Alma town limits
  • Septic permit — Septic permits inside Alma town limits
  • Septic inspection — Septic inspections inside Alma town limits
6 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • 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 Alma publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Park County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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