Whether a new off-grid home can legally get its own water in Colorado: the state well and water-rights rules, then the 22 counties where a specific groundwater basin adds a catch — each cited to the state water agency.
Colorado water rules
Household well
Exempt up to a limit
A household obtains water via a permit-exempt small-capacity well (15 gpm) under CRS 37-92-602 outside designated basins or CRS 37-90-105 inside them; on a 35-acre-plus lot limited outside/stock/1-acre irrigation is allowed.
Limit: Household-use-only well: 15 gpm, ≤0.33 acre-ft/yr, indoor only. Domestic well on a 35+ acre tract: 15 gpm, ≤1 acre-ft/yr.
Actively managedMorgan CountyKiowa-Bijou Designated Ground Water Basin49
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.