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

Town of Rye’s own rules

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Construction inside Rye town limits: the town requires adherence to state plumbing, electrical and fire codes, but does not name its own adopted building code.

  • The page names only the state plumbing code, state electrical code and state fire code; it does not name a residential building code (for example IRC) as adopted.
  • The page does not state whether these codes are enforced by the town, the county, or the state.

  “the town of rye does require adherence to the state plumbing code, state electrical code and the state fire code.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Rye town limits: the town's own official policy page states it has no zoning requirements.

  • Statement is the town's own policies page; no zoning ordinance exists to cite.
  • Coding requirements are also stated as absent; state plumbing, electrical and fire codes still apply (see building_code_adoption claim).

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts inside Rye town limits.

  • Rye has no zoning ordinance, so no zoning district map is published.

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size inside Rye town limits. Rye has no single-family or agricultural zoning district to cite because it has no zoning.

  • No Town of Rye coding or zoning requirement sets a minimum size, per the town page.

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size inside Rye town limits. Rye has no single-family or agricultural zoning district because it has no zoning.

  • Septic and well permits may still constrain lot use (see septic and well claims).

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

• SetbacksNone

  Building setbacks inside Rye town limits. Rye has no single-family or agricultural zoning district because it has no zoning.

  • Septic system setbacks under the Pueblo OWTS regulation are a health rule and were not verified here.

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage inside Rye town limits. Rye has no single-family or agricultural zoning district because it has no zoning.

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

• Building heightNone

  Building height inside Rye town limits. Rye has no single-family or agricultural zoning district because it has no zoning.

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwelling units on private land inside Rye town limits.

  • No Town of Rye land-use rule restricts accessory dwellings, per the no-coding-or-zoning statement.
  • Septic, well and state rules still apply.

  “the town of rye does not have any coding or zoning requirements within town boundaries.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Rye

Town of Rye 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)

  On-site wastewater treatment systems (septic) on land inside Rye town limits, administered by the Pueblo County Office of Environmental Health (Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment).

  • The county health office's form states state and county laws require the permit; the Town of Rye's own page does not regulate septic.
  • The schema forces health-district scope to district-specific; the rule applies inside Rye town because Rye has no separate septic authority.

  “state and county laws require that a permit be issued prior to constructing or making repairs to an on-site wastewater treatment system (owts).”

• Septic permitRequired

  New, remodel or repaired on-site wastewater treatment systems (septic) on land inside Rye town limits.

  • A permit must be issued before constructing or making repairs to an OWTS, per the county health office form.
  • Form revision date is rev 12/31/2025; a 2026 Regulation VIII revision appeared in search results but was not opened, so current requirements are unverified.
  • Fees are non-refundable.

  “state and county laws require that a permit be issued prior to constructing or making repairs to an on-site wastewater treatment system (owts).”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Septic (OWTS) permit fees for land inside Rye town limits only. No Town of Rye building or zoning permit fees were found.

  • Fees are on the county health office form rev 12/31/2025 and may have changed under the 2026 Regulation VIII revision (not opened).
  • A state fee of $20 applies to new and remodel permits per the form.
  • Fees are non-refundable.

  new system permit fee: 1095 USD (state fee of $20 required for new and remodel permits is separate) · remodel permit fee: 850 USD (state fee of $20 required for new and remodel permits is separate) · site and soil evaluation fee: 430 USD · minor repair permit fee: 210 USD · renewal of expired permit fee: 170 USD

  “□ $1,095 new system permit □ $850 remodel permit □ $430 site and soil evaluation”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic (OWTS) permit application process for land inside Rye town limits. No Town of Rye building permit process found.

  • Applications may be emailed or submitted through the county health office's online portal, per the form.
  • Inspection and approval steps were not verified.

  “email applications to: [email protected] or submit an electronic application via our online portal at https://myhealthdepartment.com/pueblo/login.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New construction inside Rye town limits (building permit).
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Rye town limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Rye town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Rye town limits.
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspections for land inside Rye 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.