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

Unincorporated Teller County requires building permits, with exemptions for qualifying accessory and agricultural buildings^1,6. The county adopts the 2021 International Residential Code with amendments¹. Most construction requires plan review, with listed reroofing, stucco, siding, glazing and woodstove exceptions⁸. Starting work without a required permit triggers a compliance inspection, twice the ordinary permit fee and an additional compliance fee⁹.

In Cripple Creek, modular and manufactured homes require a city Community Development building permit; Victor also handles its own building permits^10,11. Teller County Environmental Health remains the county contact for septic applications^4,5.

All owners of record must sign a Homeowner Builder application; the county limits new dwellings to 1 per 24 months and 2 permits per 10 years⁶. The second dwelling requires documented ownership and primary-residence occupancy of the prior dwelling for at least 12 months; without residency evidence, the wait is 60 months after the prior Certificate of Occupancy⁶. Agricultural exemptions require solely agricultural use supporting the assessor classification, setback compliance and any applicable electrical, mechanical or plumbing permits⁶.

The Teller County Building Division is the permit and inspection office for unincorporated land¹. Its public counter is at 800 Research Drive, Suite 100-B, Tamarac Business Center, Woodland Park, CO 80863, and the main phone is 719-687-3048¹. County building inspectors take code questions during the morning window shown on the office page¹.

Planning and zoning questions go to the Teller County Planning / Zoning Division at the same address and phone number³. The division administers county land-use regulations and publishes floodplain application materials³. Septic questions go to Environmental Health - Septic Services in Divide⁵. The county publishes separate applications for a single-family dwelling, driveway, OWTS, floodplain development, right-of-way use and a Certificate of Occupancy¹².

Teller County zoning applies to unincorporated land, and a zoning violation blocks a county building permit^2,13. Planning / Zoning administers the county regulations and publishes the zoning map and district handouts^2,14. Woodland Park and Victor set their own zoning, as does Green Mountain Falls, a town mainly in El Paso County that reaches into Teller County^15,16,17. Teller County Environmental Health handles county septic applications separately^4,5.

Rural Residential setbacks are 50 feet front, 25 feet side and 30 feet rear; R-1 and current R-1M setbacks are 25 feet front, 15 feet side and 30 feet rear^2,13. A county deck review used different R-1M setbacks for a particular parcel, so have Planning / Zoning confirm the parcel’s buildable envelope¹⁸. R-1 maximum height is 35 feet; RR allows 35 feet residential and 50 feet nonresidential².

New subdivision lots without both central water and sewer generally need 10 acres, subject to district exceptions². Parcel creation or reshaping requires Planning and Board approval, with the cited policy exempting actions creating parcels all over 35 acres⁶.

Teller County Public Health and Environment administers onsite wastewater treatment systems under updated Regulation 43, effective July 24, 2026⁴. The septic office publishes an OWTS permit application, but requirements and exemptions vary by transaction and system circumstance; use the county's flowchart and forms or ask Environmental Health which path applies^4,5.

Where a building lacks sewage-treatment service, Colorado requires local OWTS approval before building construction or remodeling approval¹⁹. After permitted septic work is complete, a final inspection must occur before the system is used, and occupancy approval depends on local OWTS approval¹⁹. Only 6.2% of mapped Teller County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so evaluate the soil and site before fixing the house layout²⁰.

Teller County does not allow an RV, camper, trailer, motor home, tent or similar unit as a permanent residence in unincorporated areas². Camping on vacant land needs no permit for up to 14 days; a longer stay requires one². On improved property, camping is limited to 14 days at a time and 30 days in any six-month period, with written owner permission for guests and approved wastewater disposal².

Temporary housing during construction requires a Temporary Housing Permit, an active dwelling permit, approved utilities and setback compliance². One ADU or guest house, but not both, is allowed by right subject to county conditions². An ADU must share the primary dwelling's road entry and show legal water and adequate septic capacity where applicable². The R-1M district permits mobile homes as dwelling units². We could not confirm a distinct tiny-home occupancy rule or countywide minimum dwelling size; ask Planning / Zoning and the Building Division how the proposed unit is classified.

1. Confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated Teller County or a municipality, because the county Building Division serves unincorporated property¹.

1. Ask Planning / Zoning to confirm the district, proposed use, dimensional standards and whether floodplain review applies^21,22.

1. Establish adequate legal access and obtain any required access permit before the building permit can issue⁶. For a new county-regulated driveway, submit the application and fee; the county inspects the site, a licensed right-of-way contractor obtains the permit before work, and a final inspection is required²³. Direct access from a house to a state highway requires a CDOT permit²⁴.

1. Establish water and wastewater; a site without sewer service needs local OWTS approval before building approval¹⁹.

1. Submit the dwelling application and plans, complete required inspections, secure final septic approval and apply for a Certificate of Occupancy when required^6,8,12,19.

Before buying unincorporated Teller County land, confirm zoning, legal access and sewage-disposal compliance: unresolved violations or missing required access or sewage-disposal permits can block the building permit⁹.

A Teller County Floodplain Development Permit is required before development in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, including clearing, fill and grading as well as construction²². Other necessary local, state or federal permits must be obtained first, and floodplain occupancy or use requires an inspection and Certificate of Compliance²². Ask Planning / Zoning about the proposed site before disturbing land³.

Only 6.2% of mapped county soils avoid severe conventional drain-field limitations, so assess septic feasibility before fixing the house layout²⁰. Terrain also constrains siting: 31.4% of county land has a slope of 15% or less²⁰. A new groundwater well requires a Colorado well permit, subject to exceptions⁷. Published residential driveway-permit fees are $40 for access up to 150 feet and $50 for longer access; total project fees vary²⁵.