Bolthole Index

Weld County, Colorado

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Garden City, Colorado

The Town of Garden City, Colorado (Weld County) requires building permits for most projects and sets its own zoning inside town limits12. Living in an RV is allowed only in a permitted RV park or campground3. Septic permits sit with Weld County's Environmental Health Services, not the town4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for most projects inside town limits; small sheds up to 120 sq ft are exempt1
Building code
2024 International Residential Code, with town amendments5
Zoning
Town zoning map with zone districts, including a Residential District2
RV living
Only inside a permitted RV park/campground; guests up to 7 days a year on residential property3
Residential setbacks
Front 20 ft, side 5 ft (15 ft on a street side), rear 25 ft6
Height limit
35 ft for principal buildings in the Residential District7
Septic
Weld County Environmental Health Services administers septic permits countywide4
Wells
State well permit required for every new well8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Garden City, Town Hall

Building permits and permit questions inside Garden City town limits

(970) 351-0041

621 27th Street Road, Garden City CO 80631

Septic permits

Weld County Environmental Health Services (On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems / Septic)

Septic (on-site wastewater treatment system) permits, site evaluations, design reviews and inspections in Weld County

(970) 400-6415

1150 O St., Greeley, CO 80631

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

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Do you need a building permit in Garden City, Colorado?

Yes, for most work. Garden City requires a building permit for construction inside town limits under the residential code the town adopted1. The town's own permit page says building permits are required for most projects and sends applicants to Town Hall at (970) 351-00419.

The main exemption is small: a one-story detached shed or playhouse with a floor area of no more than 120 square feet and a roof height of no more than 10 feet1. Garden City adopted the 2024 edition of the International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, with local amendments5. A local amendment adds an insulation inspection after wall, ceiling and floor insulation and exterior windows go in10.

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

Garden City Town Hall handles building permits inside town limits: call (970) 351-0041 or visit 621 27th Street Road, Garden City CO 806319. Weld County's Building Division serves unincorporated land, so a Garden City address should not start at the county planning counter11.

We could not confirm the town's current permit fee schedule or its certificate-of-occupancy steps; ask Town Hall before you budget.

Does Garden City have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, lot setbacks and height?

Yes. Garden City divides the town into zoning districts shown on a zoning map, including a Residential District2. Zoning inside the town is the town's, not Weld County's12.

In the Residential District, principal buildings need a front yard of 20 feet, a side yard of 5 feet (15 feet where the side abuts a street) and a rear yard of 25 feet6. Principal buildings may be 35 feet tall at most7. At least 25 percent of the lot must stay open space13.

Garden City does not allow people to live or sleep in an RV, trailer or motor home except inside a permitted RV park or campground3. The one exception is guests: a vehicle may house guests on private residential property for up to 7 days in a calendar year14. Living in an RV on your own lot while you build is therefore not something the town's code allows. We could not confirm the town's rules on tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum lot size; ask Town Hall.

How do septic permits work in Garden City?

Septic permits for on-site systems in Weld County come from Weld County Environmental Health Services, which handles permitting, site evaluations, design reviews and inspections for systems under 2,000 gallons per day4. Colorado requires a permit to build, alter, install or repair an on-site system15. The town's building permit does not replace that permit.

Weld County's stated policy favors public sewer wherever feasible and limits on-site systems to areas where sewer is not feasible16. Whether a given Garden City lot is on town sewer is something we could not confirm; ask Town Hall, then call the county septic office at (970) 400-641516.

Building a home in Garden City: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zone district and setbacks with Town Hall, (970) 351-00419.
  2. Ask Town Hall whether the lot connects to public sewer; if not, contact Weld County Environmental Health Services about a septic permit16.
  3. Apply for the building permit through the town; the town's page links an online application portal9.
  4. Build to the 2024 International Residential Code with the town's amendments5.
  5. Request inspections, including the insulation inspection the town adds10.
  6. If you drill a well, the state requires a permit for every new well8.

What stays with Weld County, and what should you check before buying in Garden City?

Weld County, not the town, runs septic permits, and the state Division of Water Resources issues well permits48. The county's building and zoning rules apply to unincorporated land, so for land outside town limits use the Weld County page instead12.

Before buying, confirm with Town Hall the lot's zone district, sewer availability and permit fees. We could not confirm floodplain rules, driveway access rules or short-term rental rules for the town. Weld County's effective property tax rate is 0.5 percent17.

Watch-outs

  • Garden City's town code, not Weld County's, governs RVs inside town limits, and living in an RV outside a permitted RV park is not allowed3.
  • A permit for a septic system comes from Weld County Environmental Health Services even when the building permit comes from the town4.
  • We could not confirm the town's permit fee schedule, tiny-home rules or minimum lot size; call Town Hall at (970) 351-0041 before you buy9.

Sources

  1. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 18-2-30 Amendments (Residential Code) (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  2. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 16-2-120 Uses permitted subject to special review (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  3. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 8-3-20 Prohibited uses (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Health Services, quoted and re-checked
  5. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 18-2-10 Adoption (Residential Code) (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  6. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 16-2-140 Minimum and maximum requirements (Residential District) (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  7. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 16-2-140 Minimum and maximum requirements (Residential District) (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Garden City, Town Hall (townofgardencity.com)
  10. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 18-2-30 Amendments (Residential Code) (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permit Applications and Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  12. Weld County Commissioners approve updates to zoning code, quoted and re-checked
  13. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 16-2-140 Minimum and maximum requirements (Residential District) (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  14. Garden City Municipal Code Sec. 8-3-20 Prohibited uses (Town of Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  15. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Weld County Environmental Health Services (On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems / Septic) (weld.gov)
  17. Effective property tax rate: 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 Garden City

Town of Garden City’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction inside Garden City town under the adopted IRC

    • Exempt: one-story detached accessory structures used as sheds/playhouses up to 120 sq ft and 10 ft roof height
    • Shingle repair not exceeding one square exempt
    • Permit expires if work not commenced within 180 days or suspended 180 days

    exempt shed floor area: <= 120 sq ft (roof height not over 10 ft)

    “One-Story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the roof height does not exceed 10 feet above grade”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses inside Garden City town

    • Adopted with Chapters 1 through 43 and Appendix Chapters G and H
    • Local amendments in Sec. 18-2-30
    • Commercial IBC also adopted in Article 1 of Chapter 18 with amendments

    IRC edition: 2024

    “there is adopted as the residential code of the Town, by reference thereto, the International Residential Code , 2024 edition”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted residential construction inside Garden City town

    • Local amendment adds an insulation inspection; other IRC inspections apply through adoption
    “Insulation Inspection of the structure shall be made following installation of the wall, ceiling and floor insulation and exterior windows”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Garden City town limits

    • Chapter 16 Land Use and Development establishes zone districts, including a Residential District; the Board of Trustees acts as Board of Adjustment.
    “the town is divided into four zoning districts as shown on the zoning map”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential District inside Garden City town

    • Porches/patios attached to principal building may extend up to ten feet into front yard
    • Eaves, chimneys and similar features may extend up to two feet into any required yard
    • Side yard abutting a street: only driveways, sidewalks, retaining walls and fences allowed

    front yard, principal: >= 20 ft · side yard, principal: >= 5 ft (15 ft abutting a street) · rear yard, principal: >= 25 ft · rear yard, accessory: >= 5 ft

    “Minimum side yard : (1) Principal buildings: five feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residential District inside Garden City town (expressed as minimum open space)

    • No maximum coverage percentage stated; minimum open space of 25 percent of lot area

    minimum open space: >= 25 percent of lot area

    “Minimum open space : 25 percent of lot area.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residential District inside Garden City town

    • Accessory buildings no higher than the principal building
    • Utility sheds limited to 25 feet

    principal building height: <= 35 ft · utility shed height: <= 25 ft

    “Maximum building height : (1) Principal buildings: 35 feet. (2) Accessory buildings: no higher than the principal building.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Living in RVs/trailers/motor homes inside Garden City town

    • Allowed only within a permitted RV park/campground
    • Guest exception: temporarily housing guests of the property on private residential property, not exceeding seven days within any calendar year
    • Exception for food-sale vehicles with County Health Department license outside residential zones

    guest RV stay: <= 7 days per calendar year (private residential property only)

    “No person shall use any motor vehicle, bus, trailer, coach or mobile home, self-propelled motor home or recreational equipment for living, sleeping, housekeeping or preparation of food, except within a permitted recreational vehicle (RV) park/campground.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in vehicles/recreational equipment on private land inside Garden City town

    • Sleeping in vehicles only within a permitted RV park/campground
    • Guest exception up to seven days per calendar year on private residential property
    • Camping on public property subject to posted rules under Sec. 10-3-10

    guest stay: <= 7 days per calendar year

    “such vehicles used to temporarily house guests of the property on which the vehicle is located, provided that the vehicle is located on private residential property and such use does not exceed seven days within any calendar year”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Garden City town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Garden City town
  • Minimum dwelling size — Garden City town Residential District
  • Minimum lot size — Garden City town Residential District
  • Tiny homes — Garden City town
15 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • 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 Garden City publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Weld County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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