Ridgeland Properties

Agricultural (A) zoning in Huerfano County, Colorado has a 35 acre minimum lot, and 35 acres is also the usual line for a Colorado exempt well that can water livestock. Since Oct 12, 2026, many sales of property with a septic system need a Transfer of Title septic inspection before closing. Sources checked Oct 26, 2026.

Guides / Huerfano County, CO

⛰️ Buying land in Huerfano County, Colorado

What to check before you buy mountain, ranch or raw land around La Veta, Walsenburg and Gardner. Every point links to the public source Sierra used. Sources checked Oct 26, 2026.

Quick take

  1. Agricultural (A) zoning has a 35 acre minimum lot. Ask before buying a smaller A lot.
  2. 35 acres is also the usual line for a Colorado exempt well that can water livestock. Under 35 acres, expect a well for indoor household use only.
  3. Since Oct 12, 2026, many sales of property with a septic system need a Transfer of Title septic inspection before closing.
  4. Not every county road is plowed in winter. Ask which roads to the parcel are maintained.
  5. A draft code change would raise the A-zone size for a home by right to 170 acres. As of Oct 26, 2026, Sierra found no record that it was adopted. Ask Land Use where it stands.

1. Zoning and minimum lot size

  1. County zones are Agricultural (A), Rural Residential (RR), Urbanizing Residential (UR), Commercial, Industrial, plus airport and wind overlays.
  2. A zone: 35 acre minimum lot, 200 ft minimum lot width, setbacks of 60 ft front, 25 ft side and 30 ft rear, and 15% maximum lot coverage.
  3. RR zone: 2 acre minimum lot, setbacks of 20 ft front, 10 ft side and 20 ft rear, 40 ft height limit, 30% lot coverage.
  4. Minimum home size in every zone is 600 sq ft. A smaller cabin needs a variance.
  5. The county website lists the 2021 IRC and IBC building codes (Res. 23-25), and Ordinance 26-03 adopts the 2024 codes. Ask which applies to your permit. A site improvement survey is required in every zone except Agricultural.
  6. If your lot is under 35 acres in the A zone, ask Land Use whether you can build on it before you buy.
  7. Private covenants can be stricter than the county. Read the recorded covenants and plat for any subdivision lot.

Sources: County Code Sec. 11-15, zoning districts, County Land Use and Building.

2. Proposed code changes to watch

  1. On May 15, 2026 the county opened a 30 day public comment period on housing-related Land Use Code changes.
  2. The draft would create a new Homestead zone.
  3. It would raise the minimum A-zone lot for a home as a use by right to 170 acres.
  4. Status not confirmed. Sierra found the draft and the comment notice, but no adoption record. Confirm with Land Use before relying on either the old or new rules.

Sources: County notice, May 15, 2026, Draft code changes (PDF), County ordinance list.

3. Water rights and wells

  1. Outside Colorado's designated ground water basins, small exempt wells fall under state statute C.R.S. 37-92-602. Confirm with the state which rules apply to your parcel.
  2. Parcels of 35 acres or more can generally get a well for up to 3 homes, up to 1 acre of garden and lawn, and watering of domestic animals and livestock on a farm or ranch.
  3. Parcels under 35 acres generally get household use inside one home only, with no outside watering and no livestock.
  4. A creek on the property is not a water right by itself. Using surface water needs a decreed right. Ask the seller for any decree or well permit number.
  5. Look up existing well permits by address or permit number in the state's Well Permit search before you make an offer.

Sources: DWR Guideline 2023-1 on exempt well uses, C.R.S. 37-92-602, DWR Well Permit search, DWR well permitting.

4. Septic and perc

  1. Septic permits come from the Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department, not the county building office.
  2. You need a permit before a system is installed.
  3. A soils evaluation is part of the application. The Health Department or a registered engineer can do it.
  4. A permit expires one year after it is issued if work has not started. A change of property ownership voids an unused permit, so a seller's old permit may not carry over to you.
  5. New since Oct 12, 2026: many transfers of property with a septic system need a Transfer of Title inspection by a certified private inspector and a Health Department Acceptance Document. The application fee is $100. The Acceptance Document is good until closing or 12 months, whichever comes first. Conditional acceptance or a waiver is possible in some cases. Cesspools usually must be replaced. Penalties apply under C.R.S. 25-10-113.
  6. Existing septic records can be searched by request. It is free for owners and $10 per property for professionals, with up to 5 business days for a reply.

Sources: Health Department septic program, Transfer of Title program, Septic records search, Local septic regulations (PDF).

5. Power and off-grid

  1. San Isabel Electric Association serves the area. Confirm the provider for your exact parcel.
  2. New service and line extensions follow the co-op's line extension policy in its tariffs, and construction payments may apply. Call 800-279-7432, option 3, for new construction and get a written estimate before you buy a parcel with no power at the road.
  3. The co-op publishes net metering and solar information for members who want solar.
  4. Sierra did not confirm any off-grid cost numbers. An off-grid home still needs the usual building and septic permits.

Sources: San Isabel Electric, SIEA new service application, SIEA tariffs and line extension policy (PDF).

6. Road access and winter snow

  1. The county maintains about 513 miles of local roads and 160 miles of arterial roads.
  2. The county says not all county roads will be plowed. Primary and school bus routes come first. Crews work Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 3:30 pm, with longer hours in big storms.
  3. Private roads and driveways are never plowed by the county.
  4. Road grading runs May to October.
  5. A new driveway onto a county road needs a county access permit. Access onto a state highway needs a CDOT permit.
  6. Sierra did not confirm access for any parcel. Make sure your parcel has recorded legal access, and ask a title company to check.

Sources: County Road and Bridge, County Land Use and Building.

7. Wildfire and flood risk

  1. Check wildfire risk for the parcel on the Colorado Wildfire Risk Public Viewer from the Colorado State Forest Service. It is free and needs no login.
  2. The county has a burn ordinance (Ordinance 22-01, effective Aug 20, 2022). Check current fire restrictions before burning.
  3. Check the FEMA flood map for any parcel on a creek or river. Sierra did not confirm how much of the county has current FEMA maps. If no map shows, ask Land Use.

Sources: Colorado Wildfire Risk Public Viewer, FEMA Flood Map Service Center, County ordinance list.

8. Livestock

  1. In the A zone, animal production and grazing (not commercial feedlots) and recreational domestic animal husbandry are allowed by right under the county use table (Sec. 11-17). Sierra did not confirm any animal-per-acre limit.
  2. Commercial feedlots and large confined feeding operations need a conditional use permit.
  3. Subdivision covenants can add their own animal rules. Read them.
  4. A county ordinance effective Jan 17, 2026 (25-03) covers non-native animal species. If you plan unusual animals, ask the county how it applies.
  5. Livestock water usually means a 35+ acre exempt well permit or a decreed water right. See section 3.

Sources: County Code Ch. 11 zoning (Sec. 11-15 and 11-17), County ordinance list.

9. Property tax basics

  1. The County Assessor values property for taxes.
  2. The County Treasurer collects taxes and issues Certificates of Taxes Due. Ask for one before closing to see any unpaid taxes.
  3. The Treasurer holds an annual tax lien sale for unpaid taxes.
  4. Sierra did not confirm current tax rates for any parcel. Look up the parcel's last tax bill with the Treasurer.

Sources: County Assessor, County Treasurer, State Division of Property Taxation listing.

10. Who to call

  1. Land Use and Building: 401 Main St, Suite 304, Walsenburg. 719-738-3000 ext 103. Zoning, building permits, variances. Website.
  2. Road and Bridge: Walsenburg shop 719-738-2420, Gardner shop 719-746-2926, La Veta shop 719-742-3672. Website.
  3. Septic: Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department, 119 E 5th St, Walsenburg. 719-738-2650. Website.
  4. Assessor: 401 Main St, Suite 205. 719-738-3000 ext 504. Website.
  5. Treasurer: 401 Main St, Suite 206. 719-738-3000 ext 505. Website.
  6. Clerk and Recorder (deeds, covenants, plats), Erica Vigil: Website.
  7. Wells and water rights: Colorado Division of Water Resources. Website.
  8. Power: San Isabel Electric, 800-279-7432. Website.

Land Use and Building is open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, per the county website. Building permits are filed online through the county SmartGov portal.

Disclaimer: This guide is general research from public sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm everything with the county, the state and a title company or attorney before you buy.

Common questions

What is the minimum lot size in Huerfano County?

Agricultural (A) zoning has a 35 acre minimum lot. RR zone lots have a 2 acre minimum. Ask before buying a smaller A lot.

Can a well water livestock in Huerfano County?

35 acres is the usual line for a Colorado exempt well that can water livestock. Under 35 acres, expect a well for indoor household use only.

What septic inspection is needed when I buy?

Since Oct 12, 2026, many sales of property with a septic system need a Transfer of Title septic inspection before closing. The application fee is $100.

Are Huerfano County roads plowed in winter?

Not every county road is plowed in winter. Ask which roads to the parcel are maintained.

Is the A-zone lot size changing?

A draft code change would raise the A-zone size for a home by right to 170 acres. As of Oct 26, 2026, Sierra found no record that it was adopted. Ask Land Use where it stands.