Can you live off-grid in Jefferson County, Colorado?
59
of 100
Major concerns
Possible, but hard and costly. The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high across the county, so plan cleared ground around the house. Wells are shallow here, near 80 feet, which keeps drilling costs down. The ground is steep, with slopes averaging about 43%. That raises the cost of a driveway, septic, and foundation.
What the land says
Rain
Too dry to live on rain. Plan on a well, and on irrigating anything you grow.
About 21 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 80 feet deep; a well typically runs $5,000 to $11,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 140 frost-free days, USDA zone 6a; last frost about May 14, first about October 3
Sun
Strong sun. A modest solar array covers a household.
About 5.5 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones run along creeks and rivers here. Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps flood zones within a quarter mile in parts of the county
Wildfire
Wildfire risk is high across the county. Plan cleared ground around the house and fire-resistant materials.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: High to Very High here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; no strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado within 25 miles since 1990
Terrain
Steep. A flat house site and a driveway route will drive the cost.
Slopes average about 43%, about 7,470 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 12 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, well drained (USDA soil survey). A mound, sand filter, or treatment unit typically runs $10,000 to $20,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.9 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Colorado parcel, or plan the one you own
Get a free 0-100 off-grid score.
A step-by-step build plan, sizing your solar, water, garden, septic, heat, and buildings.
Is it legal here?
Zoning
Jefferson County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
No statewide residential building code: each county decides whether to adopt one, and some rural counties, such as Saguache, have none. State electrical and plumbing permits and inspections still apply wherever the county does not issue its own.
Rainwater
Allowed with limits. Check the state's rules before you size a tank.
Composting toilets
Allowed.
Water rights
Water belongs to whoever claimed it first. A new well or pond may need a state permit, and a creek may already be claimed.
Drilled to about 80 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$10,000 to $20,000
Mound, sand filter, or treatment unit
Solar and batteries
$18,000 to $34,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$3,000 to $8,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$37,000 to $76,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 12 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Wildfire
Ask an insurance agent whether they will write a policy.
The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high across the county.
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones run along creeks and rivers here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Nearby counties
576,366 people live in Jefferson County, about 754 per square mile. It ranks 63rd of the 64 Colorado counties we scored, and Colorado ranks 37th of 50 states.