Bolthole Index

Rio Grande County, Colorado

Zoning, building permits and septic in the Town of Del Norte, Colorado

The Town of Del Norte, Colorado, in Rio Grande County, adopts its own zoning chapter1 and requires buildings to meet the 2018 International Residential Code2. Residences must qualify for a building permit under the town's Chapter 183. We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside town limits, so ask Town Hall and the Rio Grande County Building Department before you buy.

At a glance

Zoning
Town of Del Norte adopts its own zoning chapter with RU, R1, R2, MHP, CH, CB, I and RV districts1
Building code
2018 International Residential Code, as amended by the Town2
Building permit
Required for residences and accessory dwelling units inside town3
RV living
RV district is for short-time visitors and campers4
Tiny homes
Tiny homes on wheels up to 400 sq ft in the RV district; permanent tiny homes are a conditional use there5
Accessory dwelling
Allowed in R1, R2 and CH on parcels of at least 7,500 sq ft, with a conditional use permit6
Minimum home size (R2)
720 sq ft and 12 feet wide7
Septic
Colorado local boards of health adopt and enforce septic rules; the office for lots inside town is unconfirmed8

Who to call

Zoning

Town of Del Norte Town Hall

The town's main office; the first call for zoning and town building permit questions inside Del Norte

719-657-2708

140 Spruce Street, P.O. Box 249, Del Norte, CO 81132

Building permits

Rio Grande County Building Department

County building permits and septic (OWTS) documents for unincorporated Rio Grande County; the town's accessory-dwelling rule refers to the county building inspector

719-657-9472

925 6th Street Room 208. Del Norte, CO 81132

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

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Does Del Norte, Colorado have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. The Town of Del Norte adopts its own zoning chapter, Chapter 16 of the municipal code, with RU, R1, R2, MHP, CH, CB, I and RV districts1. Zoning applies only inside town limits; land outside them falls under Rio Grande County.

In the R2 district, a residence must be at least 12 feet wide with at least 720 square feet of floor area7. Lot sizes, setbacks and height limits sit in a district table we could not review, so ask Town Hall for the numbers for the parcel you are considering9.

An accessory dwelling unit is allowed in R1, R2 and CH on parcels of at least 7,500 square feet, and it needs a conditional use permit6. Short-term rentals of 30 days or less are a conditional use in any zoned district10.

Do you need a building permit in Del Norte, and who issues it?

Residences inside Del Norte must qualify for a building permit under Chapter 18 of the town code3. The town requires construction to conform to the 2018 International Residential Code as the Town has amended it2.

We could not confirm which office accepts the application inside town limits. The town's accessory-dwelling rule requires a final inspection by the county building inspector11, which suggests the county Building Department takes part, so call Town Hall first and the Rio Grande County Building Department second1213.

Plumbing, gas and electrical permits and inspections in Rio Grande County are performed by the State of Colorado13. Whether a Del Norte owner-builder exemption exists is unconfirmed.

How do septic permits work in Del Norte?

We could not confirm who regulates or permits septic systems for lots inside Del Norte, or whether a given lot must connect to town sewer. Ask the Town Hall utility staff whether sewer reaches the parcel12.

Colorado sets minimum on-site wastewater standards, and each local board of health adopts detailed rules and enforces them8. Outside town, the Rio Grande County Building Department publishes the county's on-site wastewater treatment regulations and forms13. A Colorado septic permit is required for an on-site system serving a building that has no sewage treatment works connection14.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Del Norte?

Only in limited ways. Del Norte's RV district is meant for a park used solely by short-time visitors, campers and tiny homes on wheels4. Campgrounds are a conditional use in the RU district15.

A tiny home on wheels must be towable and no larger than 400 square feet, and the code treats it as a temporary residence5. Permanent tiny homes are a conditional use in the RV district5. The code also bars RVs, trailers and shipping containers from serving as an accessory dwelling6.

Manufactured homes are allowed in R2 if anchored to a foundation, at least 12 feet wide and at least 720 square feet16.

Building a home in Del Norte: the steps, in order

  1. Call Town Hall at the number above and give the parcel address; confirm its zoning district and whether town sewer is available12.
  2. Ask for the district's lot size, setback and height limits, which we could not confirm9.
  3. Check the parcel against the flood hazard maps; in a special flood hazard area, a manufactured home must sit at or above base flood elevation17.
  4. Apply for the building permit under Chapter 18 and design to the 2018 International Residential Code32.
  5. For an accessory dwelling, add the conditional use permit and a utility department letter6.
  6. Book state plumbing, gas and electrical inspections13.

What stays with Rio Grande County, and what to check before you buy in Del Norte

Land outside town limits follows Rio Grande County's rules, not the town's. The county's Building Department and Land Use Department share an address in Del Norte, and the Building Department handles the county's on-site wastewater documents13.

For a new well, Colorado requires a permit for every new groundwater-diverting well, subject to statutory exemptions18; we could not confirm well rules inside town. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit19.

Rio Grande County's effective property tax rate is 0.4%20, and its median bill is $893 a year21.

Watch-outs

  • Rules for Rio Grande County's unincorporated land do not apply inside Del Norte, and the town's zoning does not apply outside it1.
  • We could not confirm the town's permit fees, setbacks, lot sizes or certificate of occupancy process; ask Town Hall before you sign a contract12.
  • Living in an RV is limited to the RV district's short-stay use, so do not plan on full-time RV living on a town lot4.

Sources

  1. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-20 District RU, Rural Zone (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  2. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 18-4-10 Adoption (IRC) (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  3. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-40 District R2 (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  4. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-90.010 RV district purpose (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  5. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-90.020 RV definitions (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  6. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-6-20 Accessory uses and structures (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  7. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-40 District R2 (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  8. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-12-10 PUD Overlay (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  10. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-13-10 Short-term rentals (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  11. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-6-20 Accessory uses and structures (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Del Norte Town Hall (delnortecolorado.com)
  13. Rio Grande County Building Department (riograndecounty.colorado.gov)
  14. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-20 District RU, Rural Zone (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  16. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-40 District R2 (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  17. Del Norte Municipal Code Sec. 18-9-380 Manufactured homes (flood) (Town of Del Norte), quoted and re-checked
  18. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Access Permits | Frequently Asked Questions (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: 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 Del Norte

Town of Del Norte’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residences (R2 district standards) and ADUs inside Del Norte town

    • Code text seen references town building permits for ADUs and building-permit qualification for R2 residences; no general exemption list reviewed
    “The residence shall qualify for a building permit pursuant to Chapter 18”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Residential construction inside Del Norte town

    • IRC 2018 Edition, Chapters 1-10 and 12-23, with Appendices L (Permit Fees) and Q (Tiny Houses) when adopted
    • Subject to the Town's additions, deletions and changes
    • Adopted by Ord. No. 755, 5-10-2023

    code edition: IRC 2018

    “No building shall be hereafter constructed, erected, enlarged, altered or moved into the Town of Del Norte unless the same shall, as to design, construction, quality of materials and workmanship, conform with the IRC, as adopted and as amended.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units inside Del Norte town (inspection rule found only for ADUs)

    • ADU rule refers to the county building permitting system and final inspection by the county building inspector
    • General inspection rule for other construction not located
    “Be subject to a final inspection and approval by the county building inspector;”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Del Norte town limits; the Town adopts its own zoning chapter (Chapter 16) with RU, R1, R2, MHP, CH, CB, I and RV districts

    “The Rural (RU) Zoning District is comprised of areas which are primarily in a natural state or areas utilized for growing of crops and plants materials”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Del Norte town (RU, R1, R2, MHP, CH, CB, I, RV)

    • Zoning map and Table 16-4A/4B not reviewed
    “application for residential PUDs shall be limited to RU, R1, R2, MHP zoned areas; applications for commercial PUDs shall be limited to CH and CB zoned areas”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R2 Residential High-Density district inside Del Norte town

    • RU district minimum gross floor area is in Table 16-4B, not reviewed

    minimum floor area: >= 720 sq ft · minimum width: >= 12 ft

    “The residence shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide with a minimum floor area of 720 square feet.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles inside Del Norte town, in the RV district

    • RV district is for short-time visitors and campers
    • Permitted uses per Table 16-4A (not reviewed)
    • RV parks also permitted in R2 per Sec. 16-5-40
    “within a park environment solely used for short time visitors, campers and tiny homes on wheels (THOW).”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping inside Del Norte town, via campgrounds in the RU district (conditional use) and RV parks

    • Campgrounds are a conditional use in RU
    “airports, animal day care facilities and indoor kennels, animal hospitals, campgrounds,”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny homes on wheels inside Del Norte town (RV district)

    • THOW: on trailer, towable, no larger than 400 sq ft, at least 70 sq ft first floor
    • Permanent tiny homes are a conditional use in the RV district

    maximum THOW size: <= 400 sq ft

    “Tiny home on wheels (THOW) means a tiny home on wheels (THOW) is a structure which is intended as a temporary residence or temporary rental property and meets these five conditions:”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes in the R2 district inside Del Norte town

    • Must be anchored to a foundation per the adopted Building Code
    • Minimum 12 feet wide and 720 sq ft floor area
    • Flood-zone manufactured homes must be elevated per Art. 9
    “manufactured homes more than 24 feet wide on a foundation, recreational tents/yurts or recreational vehicle parks, manufactured single-wide homes less than 24 feet wide”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    ADUs in R1, R2 and CH zones inside Del Norte town

    • Parcel at least 7,500 sq ft
    • Conditional use permit and town building permit
    • 300 sq ft minimum, 650 sq ft maximum (basement/attic exempt for integrated)
    • Utility department letter; one extra parking space; owner occupancy in R1/R2
    • No short-term rental use; no RVs, trailers or shipping containers

    minimum parcel: >= 7500 sq ft · maximum ADU size: <= 650 sq ft (integrated ADUs entirely in basements or attics exempt)

    “One ADU is allowed in RI, R2, and CH on parcels meeting or exceeding 7,500 square feet in area.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions inside Del Norte town (Chapter 17), including RV subdivisions

    • RV subdivision processed as a major subdivision
    “An application for a recreational subdivision is processed as a major subdivision in accordance with Chapter 17 of the Del Norte Municipal Code.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in special flood hazard areas inside Del Norte town (Chapter 18 Art. 9)

    • Manufactured homes must be elevated to or above base flood elevation and anchored
    “All manufactured homes or those to be substantially improved shall be elevated on a permanent foundation such that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is at or above the base flood elevation”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Dwelling units in any zoned district inside Del Norte town

    • Conditional use under Article 8
    • Not allowed in public or subsidized housing
    • Not applicable to RVs and similar vehicles
    • ADUs cannot be used as STRs

    short-term period: <= 30 days

    “Short-term rentals of dwelling units in any zoned district in the Town for a period of 30 or less consecutive days shall be allowed only as a conditional use”
  • Permit processPartial

    ADU permitting inside Del Norte town; general process not reviewed

    • Conditional use review under Article 8 of Chapter 16
    “Any ADU must have an initial conditional use permit filed and approved in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, Chapter 16”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Del Norte or Rio Grande County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Del Norte town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Del Norte town
  • Minimum lot size — R1 and RU districts inside Del Norte town
  • Setbacks — Residential districts inside Del Norte town
  • Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Del Norte town
10 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Permit fees

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 Del Norte publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Rio Grande County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Rio Grande County: county rules, score and offices