Bolthole Index

Weld County, Colorado

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Town of Johnstown, Colorado

The Town of Johnstown, Colorado administers building permits through its Building Department and adopts the 2024 International Residential Code.12 Johnstown sets its own zoning; private wastewater systems need a written Town permit and must meet state and the appropriate county health department requirements, including Weld County for Weld-side properties.34

At a glance

Building permits
Town Building Department; applications through eTRAKiT1
Residential building code
2024 International Residential Code2
Zoning
Town districts and official zoning map3
Private wastewater
Written Town permit plus appropriate county and state requirements4
Accessory dwelling
Maximum 50% of principal building footprint or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller5
Floodplain
Town floodplain approval required for affected parcels, even with a building outside the floodplain6

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Johnstown Building Department — Permit Processing

Building permit applications, processing and occupancy documents

970-578-9608

[email protected]

201 Centennial Drive Johnstown, CO 80534

Planning & zoning

Town of Johnstown Planning and Development Department

Zoning questions, development review and Town floodplain approval

[email protected]

Building permits

SafeBuilt — Johnstown Building Code and Inspections

Building code questions, plan reviews and permit inspections

970-305-3161

[email protected]

Septic permits

Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment — Environmental Health Services

Weld County septic records and wastewater-system requirements

(970) 400-6415

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Johnstown means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Johnstown, CO?

Johnstown administers its own building permits, and residential construction inside town limits follows the Town’s adopted 2024 International Residential Code.12 Submit building permit applications through the Town’s eTRAKiT self-service portal.1 For new construction other than single-family homes on platted lots, Johnstown requires Planning and Development approvals and finalized agreements before building permit submission.1 An owner doing the work personally can enter their own information in the application’s contractor section; that application route does not remove the inspection requirements for permitted work.17

Who handles Johnstown building permits and inspections?

Contact Johnstown Permit Processing at 970-578-9608 or [email protected] for building application processing and payments.1 The Building Department is at 201 Centennial Drive Johnstown, CO 80534.1 SafeBuilt handles plan reviews and permit inspections under contract to Johnstown; building code and inspection questions go to 970-305-3161 or [email protected].78 SafeBuilt inspection requests are due by 4pm for the next business day.8 After approval, Johnstown provides invoices, building permit documents and occupancy or completion certificates through eTRAKiT.1

Does the Town of Johnstown have zoning?

Johnstown establishes its own zoning districts, with the official Zoning Districts Map on file at the Planning and Development Department.3 Ask [email protected] to identify the parcel’s district and the applicable land-use code, plat or development plan before designing a home or accessory building.9 Johnstown treats an accessory dwelling unit as a secondary building subject to its residential development standards.5 The ADU size limit is 50% of the principal building footprint or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller, and a two-story secondary building used for an ADU may reach 25 feet in height.5

How do septic permits work inside Johnstown?

A private wastewater system inside Johnstown needs a written permit signed by the Town before construction begins.4 The system’s type, capacity, location and layout must also meet Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requirements and those of the appropriate Weld or Larimer County health department.4 For a Weld County address, contact Weld County Environmental Health Services about county requirements and existing septic permit records.410 Town approval is also tied to inspection: notify Johnstown when the installation is ready for final inspection, before underground portions are covered, and complete the work to the Town’s satisfaction.11

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

We could not confirm Johnstown’s rules for living in an RV on private land, temporary camping or a minimum whole-dwelling floor area; ask the Town Planning and Development Department about the proposed use before buying.9 For a small home proposed as an accessory dwelling, Johnstown’s verified ADU standards impose a footprint-based size cap rather than providing a general tiny-home allowance.5 Residential building work inside Johnstown also falls under the adopted residential code.2 Ask Planning to review the parcel’s district and development documents for the specific layout and use you intend.39

Building a home in Johnstown: what comes first?

Start with Johnstown Planning and Development to identify the zoning district and any development approvals required before building permit submission.31 For a parcel affected by the 100-year (1%) FEMA regulatory floodplain, submit a Floodplain Development Permit with the building application even if the house footprint avoids the floodplain; the Town’s Floodplain Administrator must approve it before the building permit can issue.6 Coordinate any private wastewater installation with the Town and appropriate county health department before construction.4 Submit the building application through eTRAKiT, arrange required inspections and obtain final approval for the occupancy certificate.17

What stays with Weld County, and what should Johnstown buyers check?

For private wastewater systems on Johnstown’s Weld County side, county health requirements remain part of the approval process alongside the Town’s written permit.4 Weld County Environmental Health Services can check whether a septic permit and installation inspection are on file at (970) 400-6415.10 We could not confirm a private-well rule specific to Johnstown; ask Town Planning about the intended water supply before committing to the parcel.9 For land outside Johnstown town limits, use the Weld County guide: Weld County’s zoning rules apply to unincorporated land, while the Town maintains its own zoning districts.123

Watch-outs

  • Johnstown requires floodplain approval for an affected parcel even when the proposed building footprint avoids the floodplain.6
  • A private wastewater permit requires Town inspection before underground portions are covered.11
  • We could not confirm Johnstown RV occupancy or temporary camping rules; ask Planning and Development before planning to live on the site during construction.9

Sources

  1. Town of Johnstown Building Department — Permit Processing (johnstownco.gov)
  2. Chapter 18: Building Regulations (Town of Johnstown), quoted and re-checked
  3. Article 4: Districts and Uses (Town of Johnstown), quoted and re-checked
  4. ecode360.com (Town of Johnstown), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article 5: Residential Development and Design (Town of Johnstown), quoted and re-checked
  6. Building Department (Town of Johnstown), quoted and re-checked
  7. Building Department (Town of Johnstown), quoted and re-checked
  8. SafeBuilt — Johnstown Building Code and Inspections (johnstownco.gov)
  9. Town of Johnstown Planning and Development Department (johnstownco.gov)
  10. Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment — Environmental Health Services (weld.gov)
  11. ecode360.com (Town of Johnstown), quoted and re-checked
  12. Weld County Commissioners approve updates to zoning code, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Johnstown

Town of Johnstown’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Residential building work inside Johnstown town limits.

    • The Town also adopts other codes in Chapter 18, including building, mechanical, plumbing, energy, fuel gas, fire, property maintenance, electrical, existing building, pool and spa, Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready, and Colorado Wildfire Resiliency codes.

    residential code edition: 2024 International Residential Code (Chapters 1 through 43 and Appendix AB)

    “Pursuant to Title 31, Article 16, Part 2, C.R.S., the International Residential Code, 2024 Edition as published by the International Code Council, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, Chapters 1 through 43 inclusive and Appendix AB ("IRC") is hereby adopted by reference as the Town of Johnstown Residential Building Code to have the same force and effect as if fully set forth herein.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted residential and commercial building work inside Johnstown town limits.

    • SafeBuilt performs plan reviews and permit inspections under contract to the Town.
    • Inspection requests are due by 4 p.m. for the next business day.
    • A final inspection occurs after finish grading, completion, readiness for occupancy, and final electrical sign-off.
    “The following needs to be completed before an inspection can be conducted: [...] Concrete cannot be poured before inspection approval.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Johnstown town limits.

    • The official zoning map is on file with the Planning and Development Department.
    • The code establishes H-A, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, MU-DT, MU-NC, MU-RC, I-1, I-2, PD, and PUD districts or district categories.
    “To carry out the purposes of this code, the following districts are established, with the intent given for the character of specific areas, the development patterns and context, and the types or intensity of uses and buildings. [...] The boundaries of the districts are shown on the official Zoning Districts Map on file with the Planning and Development Department.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units in residential districts inside Johnstown town limits.

    • An accessory dwelling unit is treated as a secondary building subject to Table 5-2.
    • Maximum size is 50% of the principal building footprint or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller.
    • A two-story secondary building used for an ADU may be up to 25 feet high.
    • The source table states one secondary building per lot, or two per lot over 40,000 square feet.

    maximum ADU size: 50% of principal building footprint or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller · maximum height for two-story ADU: 25 feet

    “Secondary Building (detached accessory building, garage, hobby shop, Acc. Dwelling Unit) [...] 50% of principal building footprint, or 1,000 s.f. max, each structure, whichever is smaller [...] A two-story structure, if used for the purposes of providing an accessory Dwelling Unit within the structure, may be 25' in height.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private wastewater systems inside Johnstown town limits.

    • The Town issues the written private wastewater permit and inspects the work.
    • System type, capacity, location, and layout must comply with CDPHE and the Larimer or Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, as appropriate.
    • Additional requirements may be imposed by the Town, CDPHE, and the appropriate county health department.
    “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Town. [...] The type, capacities, location and layout of a private wastewater disposal system shall comply with all recommendations and requirements of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and of the Larimer or Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, as appropriate.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private wastewater disposal systems inside Johnstown town limits.

    • The Town may inspect at any stage.
    • The applicant must notify the Town for final inspection before underground portions are covered.
    • The permit is ineffective until installation is completed to the Town's satisfaction.
    “A permit for a private wastewater disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the Town. The Town shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction, and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Town when the work is ready for final inspection and before any underground portions are covered. The Town shall promptly inspect the work upon receipt of notice.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Any parcel inside Johnstown town limits impacted by the 100-year (1%) FEMA regulatory floodplain.

    • A Floodplain Development Permit must be submitted with the Building Permit application packet even if the building footprint will not impact or encroach on the floodplain.
    • A Building Permit may not be issued until the Floodplain Development Permit is approved by the Floodplain Administrator in the Planning and Development Department.

    regulatory floodplain: 100-year (1%) (applies to parcels impacted by the FEMA regulatory floodplain)

    “Any parcel that is impacted by the 100-yr (1%) regulatory Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Floodplain must also submit a Floodplain Development Permit with the Building Permit application packet, even if the building footprint will not impact or encroach on the floodplain. A Building Permit may not be issued until the Floodplain Development Permit is approved by the Floodplain Administrator in the Planning & Development Department.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Johnstown town limits.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Johnstown town limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Johnstown town limits.
  • Well permit — Private wells inside Johnstown town limits.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural structures and activities inside Johnstown town limits.
2 more unanswered
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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 Johnstown publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Weld County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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