Bolthole Index

Custer County, Colorado

Zoning, building permits and RV rules in the Town of Silver Cliff, Colorado

The Town of Silver Cliff, Custer County, Colorado requires a building permit before any building is erected, moved or structurally altered, issued by the town's Zoning Enforcement Officer1. The town sets its own zoning, including RV, tiny-home and manufactured-home rules by district2. We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside town limits, so ask Custer County Planning & Zoning and the town before you buy.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the Town of Silver Cliff before building, moving or structurally altering1
Building code
2006 International Residential Code, with town exceptions3
RV as a residence
Only in a legally established RV park or campground; owner may live in an RV while building under a permit2
Tiny homes
Permitted only in R-4 zoning, with a building permit4
Minimum dwelling size
700 square feet in R-3 and in A-156
Septic permits
A local public health agency permit is required statewide; the issuer inside town limits is not confirmed7
Wells
A state well permit is required for every new well8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Silver Cliff Building & Zoning Department

Building permits and zoning for land inside Silver Cliff town limits; the page also lists an online building permit process

719-783-3034

612 E Main Street, Silver Cliff, CO 81252

Septic permits

Custer County Planning & Zoning Department

Septic (OWTS) permits in unincorporated Custer County; ask here whether the office also serves a lot inside Silver Cliff

719-783-2669

pz@custercounty-co.gov

Custer County Courthouse, 205 S 6th Street, Westcliffe, CO 81252

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Silver Cliff, Colorado have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Silver Cliff zones its own land in districts, and the rules differ sharply between the farm district and the town lots.

In the A-1 Agriculture District, the minimum lot area is 10 acres, except in the Silver Cliff Ranch Subdivision9. A-1 setbacks are 50 feet front, 25 feet rear and 25 feet side10. The minimum dwelling size is 700 square feet6.

In the R-3 Urban Residential District, setbacks are 10 feet in front, 5 feet on each side, and 5 feet at the rear on an alley or 10 feet without one11. The R-3 district also allows buildings up to 35 feet tall and requires at least 700 square feet of floor area12.

The R-4 district for manufactured homes and tiny homes has a 30-foot front setback, 5-foot rear and 6-foot side setbacks13. Check your parcel's district with the Building & Zoning Department before you rely on any of these numbers14.

Do you need a building permit in Silver Cliff, and who issues it?

Yes. Inside the Town of Silver Cliff, no building may be erected, occupied, moved or structurally altered until the Zoning Enforcement Officer has issued a building permit1. The permit is issued only if the proposal complies with the town's zoning title or a variance is granted1.

The town adopts the 2006 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, with exceptions in its own code3. The town's Building & Zoning Department lists an online building permit process on its page14.

We could not confirm the town's building inspection steps, certificate of occupancy rules or permit fees; call the department at 719-783-303414.

Who do you call for building and zoning in Silver Cliff?

The Town of Silver Cliff Building & Zoning Department at 612 E Main Street handles building permits and zoning for land inside town limits14. The Planning Commission meets at Silver Cliff Town Hall on the third Wednesday of each month at 5 PM, and the department asks applicants to contact the building/zoning official by the Monday one week before a meeting to be put on the agenda14.

Land outside town limits belongs to Custer County instead; see the Custer County page.

How do septic permits work inside Silver Cliff?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits for a lot inside Silver Cliff town limits, so ask before you buy. Colorado law requires a local public health agency permit for an on-site wastewater system when a building is not served by a sewage treatment works7. Custer County Planning & Zoning reviews and approves septic systems and permits in unincorporated Custer County15.

If a town lot may connect to a public sewer, ask the Town of Silver Cliff whether it is available, because the town's code requires planned unit developments to connect to public water and sewer systems when those exist or will be available16. We found no single-lot connection rule.

A new well needs a permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources8. Soils matter too: only about 3.4% of Custer County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so plan for a site evaluation or an engineered system17.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Silver Cliff?

RV: Silver Cliff does not allow an RV as a residence in any town zoning district unless it sits in a legally established RV park or campground2. The exceptions are narrow: an owner may live in an RV while building a dwelling under a building permit, and that permission expires after one year2. An owner may use an RV as a guesthouse on non-vacant property for up to 30 days per calendar year2. An owner may also camp in an RV on vacant land for a maximum stay of 90 days, and guest RVs are not permitted on vacant property18.

Tiny homes: Silver Cliff permits tiny homes only in R-4 zoning, they must follow Appendix AQ of the 2021 International Residential Code, and a building permit is required before one is located4.

Manufactured homes: in R-4, a single-wide up to 16 feet wide qualifies, and no home may be older than 15 years when set up19.

Building a home in Silver Cliff: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Building & Zoning Department which district your parcel is in and what it allows14.
  2. Confirm septic or sewer service for the lot with Custer County Planning & Zoning and the Town of Silver Cliff, since we could not confirm the town's septic rule15.
  3. Get a Colorado well permit if the lot needs a new well8.
  4. Apply for a building permit; the application must include a drawing showing improvements in relation to the lot and structure heights1.
  5. Build to the town's adopted residential code, and do not use an accessory structure as a dwelling, since accessory structures must be non-habitable20.

What stays with Custer County, and what to check before you buy in Silver Cliff?

The county's building and zoning rules apply to unincorporated Custer County, not to land inside Silver Cliff21. For land outside town limits, the county requires a zoning permit for dwellings and additions22, and a driveway onto a state highway needs a CDOT access permit23.

County figures: Custer County's effective property tax rate is 0.4% and the median bill is about $1,300 a year2425. Annual precipitation is about 19.6 inches, so water supply deserves a close look26.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm who issues septic permits, or whether building inspections, a certificate of occupancy or permit fees apply, inside Silver Cliff town limits; call the Building & Zoning Department at 719-783-3034 and Custer County Planning & Zoning14.
  • Silver Cliff's RV rule is strict: an RV may not be a residence outside a legally established RV park or campground, with an exception for living in one while building under a permit for up to one year2.
  • Silver Cliff's zoning minimum lot size in A-1 is 10 acres, and a dwelling there is tied to a larger acreage, so confirm your parcel's district before buying9.

Sources

  1. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-1-110 Building permit (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  2. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-30 Recreational vehicles restricted (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  3. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 18-2-10 Adoption (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  4. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-70 Tiny home/house standards (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  5. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-20 R-3 Urban Residential District (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  6. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-10 A-1 Agriculture District (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  7. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-10 A-1 Agriculture District (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  10. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-10 A-1 Agriculture District (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  11. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-20 R-3 Urban Residential District (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  12. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-20 R-3 Urban Residential District (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  13. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-30 R-4 district (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  14. Town of Silver Cliff Building & Zoning Department (silvercliffco.com)
  15. Custer County Planning & Zoning Department (custercounty-co.gov)
  16. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-150 PUD site requirements (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-5-30 Recreational vehicles restricted (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  19. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 16-4-30 R-4 district (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  20. Silver Cliff Municipal Code Sec. 18-8-20 Accessory structures (Town of Silver Cliff), quoted and re-checked
  21. Custer County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  22. Building Permits & Applications | Custer County CO, quoted and re-checked
  23. Access Permits | Frequently Asked Questions (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 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 Silver Cliff

Town of Silver Cliff’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erecting, occupying, moving or structurally altering any building inside Silver Cliff town

    • Application must include a drawing showing improvements in relation to the lot and structure heights
    • Permit issued only if proposal complies with Title 16 or a variance is granted
    “No building shall be erected, occupied, moved or structurally altered until a building permit therefor has been issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses inside Silver Cliff town

    • Adopts the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code, except as set forth in Sec. 18-2-30 (not reviewed)
    • Other sections reference the 2021 IRC Appendix AQ for tiny homes

    IRC edition: 2006 (except as set forth in Sec. 18-2-30)

    “there is adopted as the building code of the town, by reference thereto, the international residential code, 2006 edition, except as set forth in section 18-2-30 below”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    A-1 Agriculture District inside Silver Cliff town

    • Front facade at least 22 feet wide
    • One dwelling unit on not less than 35 acres is the permitted dwelling use

    minimum floor area: >= 700 sq ft

    “Minimum Dwelling Size (Floor area): 700 square feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A-1 Agriculture District inside Silver Cliff town

    • Silver Cliff Ranch Subdivision is exempt from the ten acre minimum
    • Dwelling permitted on not less than 35 acres
    • R-3/R-5 lot size not stated in the provided sections; minor subdivisions need at least 50 ft by 100 ft lots

    minimum lot area: >= 10 acres (Silver Cliff Ranch Subdivision)

    “Minimum Lot Area: 10 Acres (Exception: Silver Cliff Ranch Subdivision).”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-3 Urban Residential District inside Silver Cliff town

    • Rear yard 5 feet on alley, 10 feet without alley
    • Side yard 5 feet to lot line on each side
    • Accessory structures: 5 feet on sides and back

    front yard: >= 10 feet · rear yard with alley: >= 5 feet · rear yard without alley: >= 10 feet · side yard: >= 5 feet

    “Minimum Front Yard: 10 feet Minimum Rear Yard: On Alley 5 feet Without Alley 10 feet Minimum Side Yard: 5 feet to lot line on each side”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-3 Urban Residential District inside Silver Cliff town (R-5 also 35 feet)

    • A-1 and R-4 sections list no height limit

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “Maximum Building Height: 35 feet Minimum Dwelling Size (Floor area): 700 square feet (multi-family dwellings excluded)”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RV use as a residence inside Silver Cliff town

    • Allowed as residence only in a legally established RV park or campground
    • R-4(A) district: stays limited to six months with extensions after LP gas test; no rentals
    • Owner may use an RV on non-vacant property as a guesthouse up to 30 days per calendar year
    • Owner may live in an RV while building a dwelling under a building permit, expiring after one year
    • No RV on Town streets; no permanent placement or skirting; gray/black water dumping prohibited

    guest RV on non-vacant property: <= 30 days per calendar year

    “recreational vehicles shall not be used as a residence in any town zoning district unless such vehicle is utilized within a legally established recreational vehicle park or campground designed and designated for the temporary placement of recreational vehicles.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    RV camping or vacation use on owner's vacant land inside Silver Cliff town

    • Property owner only; guest RVs are not permitted on vacant property
    • An RV is not a full-time dwelling unit

    maximum stay: <= 90 days

    “a recreational vehicle may be used for camping and/or vacation purposes on vacant land by the property owner, for a maximum stay of 90 days. a recreational vehicle is not a full-time dwelling unit.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny homes/houses inside Silver Cliff town

    • Permitted only in R-4 zoning
    • Must follow Appendix AQ of the 2021 International Residential Code
    • Installation must follow 8 CCR 1302-14
    • Building permit required before locating one
    “Tiny homes/houses are permitted only in R-4 Zoning.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured and modular homes inside Silver Cliff town (R-3, R-4, R-5 districts)

    • R-4: single-wide up to 16 feet wide; double-wide if space and setbacks allow; no home older than 15 years at set-up
    • Building permit required; HUD or Colorado Division of Housing certification and state-certified installer required
    • Mobile homes and mobile offices excluded from A-1

    maximum home age at set-up (R-4): <= 15 years

    “(1) single-family manufactured home built as a single wide up to 16 feet wide.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Detached accessory structures inside Silver Cliff town; no separate ADU provision found

    • Accessory structures cannot be dwellings or principal structures
    • Two-family and three- to six-family dwellings are permitted in R-3 and R-5 as principal uses
    • One accessory structure per lot per owner without special use permit
    “an accessory structure shall be non-habitable (cannot be used as a dwelling).”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Planned unit developments inside Silver Cliff town only; no general single-lot connection rule found

    • Connection required if public systems exist or will be available when the PUD needs them
    • If net density is under one unit per half acre, a central water and sewage system is required
    “Such water and sewer systems shall be connected to appropriate public systems, if existing or to be available by the time the PUD reaches a stage where they will be required.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Minor subdivisions inside Silver Cliff town

    • Minor subdivision: four lots or less in R-3, R-5 or A-1
    • Min lot 50 ft by 100 ft in R-3/R-5; 10 acres in A-1; maximum lot size under 35 acres

    maximum lots in minor subdivision: <= 4 lots

    “A minor subdivision will consist of four lots or less and shall be located in the R-3 Zone, R-5 Zone or A-1 Zone.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder rules inside Silver Cliff town
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Silver Cliff town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Silver Cliff town
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Silver Cliff town
  • Who permits septic — Septic systems inside Silver Cliff town
9 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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

← All of Custer County: county rules, score and offices