Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-15
63 of Colorado's 64 counties — 98% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 23rd-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Routt County (69/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 2952 counties nationwide → Colorado: no building codes → Colorado: no zoning → Colorado: no codes, no zoning → Colorado: tiny homes → Colorado: no minimum home size → Full Colorado profile →
63 of 64 Colorado counties · sorted by Index score
Owner-performed work on primary residential dwellings, secondary dwellings, and accessory buildings under the IRC. Owner must be listed in the Routt County Assessor database. Pr…
Property Owner Permit Application and Agreement Form ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Unincorporated Montezuma County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, …
montezumacounty.gov ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Owner-build permits in unincorporated Huerfano County. Property owners submitting owner-build permits must sign a letter of understanding from the Huerfano County Building Autho…
Land Use and Building - Huerfano County Government ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗County-administered building projects in Ouray County, including projects where the owner performs electrical or plumbing work under the Colorado homeowner qualified-applicant p…
Ouray County Building Permit Application ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Owner-builders and general contractors building in unincorporated Eagle County. Plumbers must be licensed and registered as active plumbing contractors with Colorado. Electricia…
eaglecounty.us ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗A record owner constructing a dwelling under the Teller County Homeowner Builder provisions. All owners of record must sign the building-permit application. Only one new dwellin…
Teller County Building Code ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Owner-performed construction, remodel, or repair activities in unincorporated Conejos County that fall within the County Land Use Code's exemptions from the Construction Permit …
2005 Conejos County Land Use Code ↗PPRBD issues homeowner permits allowing an owner to do permitted work on the primary residence they own and occupy (not on rentals); a permit is still required.
PPRBD - Homeowner Permits ↗A qualifying homeowner builder performing work on a detached single-family residence, exterior decks, or detached accessory buildings associated with a detached single-family re…
Homeowner Builders ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Home-owner builders in Park County. The structure cannot be offered for sale until after the Certificate of Occupancy is issued. A homeowner may build only one dwelling as owner…
Park County Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Property owners applying to build under Grand County's owner-as-builder process. Grand County publishes an Owner as Builder Form described as a property-owner acknowledgement of…
Permit Forms & Guidelines ↗Owner-builders personally constructing a single-family residence or accessory building for their own use. No more than one building permit for new-home construction may be issue…
Title 11: Buildings and Construction ↗An owner installing an approved onsite wastewater treatment system in Saguache County. The owner may install only after the permit application is approved. Installation must fol…
Saguache County OWTS Application and Instructions ↗A homeowner may act as their own general contractor for construction administered by the Larimer County Building Department, including construction of a new residential dwelling…
Building Permit Applications ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Homeowner-generated residential permit work. A signed Certificate for Home Owner-Generated Permits is required when work is done directly by the homeowner instead of a licensed …
Residential Permitting Requirements ↗A bona fide owner performing work personally in a single-family dwelling, including accessory buildings and quarters connected to the dwelling, where a City of Craig or Moffat C…
Permits & Inspections ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Record owners performing construction on a single-family dwelling or manufactured home intended as the owner's principal residence. The owner must occupy the dwelling or manufac…
Chapter 15.03 - Building Permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗An owner acting as contractor for a new residential dwelling or work on the owner's residential dwelling or accessory structure The new residential dwelling may be constructed o…
Ordinance 23-01 Contractor Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗A homeowner acting as the general contractor for a building permit. The homeowner agreement states that the homeowner is acting as the general contractor and understands project…
Homeowner Agreement Form ↗Property owners performing labor or repair work on their own property in unincorporated Boulder County. The exemption concerns county contractor licensing; it does not eliminate…
Contractor Licensing in Unincorporated Boulder County ↗A property owner acting as the contractor for permitted work in unincorporated Clear Creek County. The work must meet the applicable IRC code and other county requirements. This…
clearcreekcounty.us ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗A property owner acting as contractor for a residential dwelling or accessory building for the owner's own personal use and occupancy The owner may secure a building permit on o…
Contractor Licensing ↗Residential construction performed by the property owner personally at the owner's residence in unincorporated Weld County, subject to the county permit and inspection process. …
Homeowner Affidavit ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗An owner acting as the applicant for a building permit for a structure on the owner's property in unincorporated Adams County. A building permit remains required for covered con…
Adams County Development Standards and Regulations, Chapter 2—Application and Permitting Procedures ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗A homeowner performing construction work on the homeowner's own primary residence. The homeowner does not need a contractor license for work on the homeowner's own primary resid…
broomfield.org ↗Owner-occupier permits for a primary one-family dwelling in Denver. The owner must own and occupy the dwelling, or agree to do so upon completion, and continue to own and occupy…
ADMIN 131.4 - Homeowner permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner performing repair or maintenance work on the owner's property in a Colorado county that has adopted a building-contractor licensing program u…
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 30, § 30-11-125 ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Colorado state page for all 64 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Colorado counties? The kit we'd start with:
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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.
