Bolthole Index

Custer County, Colorado

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Westcliffe, Colorado

The Town of Westcliffe, Colorado requires a written building permit from the town building official before you build, alter or move a building inside town limits1. Westcliffe also runs its own zoning, with published districts and a use schedule2. Septic permits are a separate question: we could not confirm who issues them inside town limits, so ask Custer County Planning & Zoning and the town.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the town building official1
Zoning
Town zoning applies inside Westcliffe, with zone districts A, R-SF, R-MF, MH, CC, HC, HI, PUD and TN2
Inspections
Electrical and plumbing inspections are done by Colorado State inspectors3
Minimum home size (R-SF)
550 square feet for a single-family residence4
Mobile homes
Only in approved mobile home parks in the MH district5
Accessory dwelling
Allowed in some districts, at least 300 square feet, on a fixed foundation6
Septic
Not confirmed inside town limits; ask Custer County Planning & Zoning7
Wells
State well permit required for a new groundwater well8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Westcliffe Building Department

Building permits and permit applications for fences, signs and excavation inside the Town of Westcliffe

719-783-2282

deputyclerk@townofwestcliffe.com

1000 Main Street P.O. Box 406 Westcliffe, CO 81252

Septic permits

Custer County Planning & Zoning Department

Septic (OWTS) permits for Custer County; confirm whether it covers addresses inside Westcliffe

719-783-2669

pz@custercounty-co.gov

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

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 Westcliffe means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Westcliffe, Colorado have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Westcliffe zones land inside its limits and publishes a use schedule showing what is allowed by right, by Special Review, or prohibited in each district2. Any use not listed may be considered as a Use by Special Review9.

The rules differ by district. In the A-Agricultural district the minimum lot is 5 acres10, with 25-foot front, rear and side yards11 and a 35-foot height limit12. In the R-SF Single Family Residential district the minimum lot is 6,250 square feet13, with a 10-foot front yard, a 5-foot side yard and a rear yard of 5 feet on an alley or 10 feet without one14, and a 30-foot height limit15. A single-family home in R-SF must have at least 550 square feet of floor area4.

Mobile homes may be placed only within an approved mobile home park, and no mobile home more than 15 years old may enter one5. Accessory dwellings in the R-SF, Core Commercial and Multi-Family districts must be on a fixed foundation, be at least 300 square feet, and wait until the main house has a certificate of occupancy6. We could not confirm a rule for living in an RV or tiny home on a private lot inside Westcliffe; ask the Town Building Department before buying.

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

Yes. Westcliffe's code makes it a violation to erect, construct, alter, repair, move, demolish or occupy a building without first paying the permit fee and obtaining a written building permit from the town building official1. Electrical and plumbing work need separate permits, and fees follow the town fee schedule1.

The Town of Westcliffe Building Department takes the applications. Its office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 719-783-2282, ext. 1216. Electrical and plumbing inspections inside town are performed by Colorado State inspectors under the state's adopted code3. We did not confirm current fee amounts or an owner-builder exemption inside town limits.

How do septic permits work inside Westcliffe?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits for addresses inside Westcliffe town limits. Colorado law requires a permit for any new on-site wastewater system not served by a sewage treatment works, and that permit comes from the local public health agency under local board-of-health rules17. Custer County Planning & Zoning reviews and approves on-site wastewater systems and processes septic permits for the county7.

If the lot connects to town water and sewer, no septic system may be needed, but we did not confirm the town's utility connection rules. Ask the Town Building Department whether sewer is available16, and the county office who permits a septic system at that address7. Wells need a state permit from the Division of Water Resources8.

What stays with Custer County, and what should you check before buying in Westcliffe?

The county's own zoning and permit rules apply to unincorporated Custer County, not to land inside Westcliffe. For land outside town limits, see the Custer County page; the town's rules above do not apply there.

Before buying inside town limits, confirm the lot's zone district on the town zoning map and whether its setbacks and minimum lot size fit your plans2. Wells need a state permit8, and septic goes through the county or local health agency17. Driveway or access permits, floodplain development and subdivision rules inside town were not confirmed; ask the Town Building Department.

Watch-outs

  • Camping rules we found cover Westcliffe town parks only, where a permit from the Town Clerk, a designee or the Board of Trustees is required, and say nothing about living in an RV on a private lot18.
  • Townofwestcliffe.com is not the town's official site; the official site is townofwestcliffe.colorado.gov, and Custer County's offices at 205 S 6th Street serve unincorporated land and septic, not town building permits7.
  • We could not confirm septic authority, owner-builder rules, current permit fees or lot coverage limits inside Westcliffe; call the Town Building Department at 719-783-2282, ext. 12 before relying on any of them16.

Sources

  1. Westcliffe Code 3-2-2 International Building Code Revised (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  2. Westcliffe Code 10-2-2 Zone District Use Schedule (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  3. Westcliffe Code 3-2-2 International Building Code Revised (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  4. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  5. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  6. Westcliffe Code 10-1-17 Accessory Dwelling Units (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  7. Custer County Planning & Zoning Department (custercounty-co.gov)
  8. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Westcliffe Code 10-2-2 Zone District Use Schedule (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  10. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  11. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  12. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  13. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  14. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  15. Westcliffe Code 10-2-3 Zone District Regulations (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked
  16. Town of Westcliffe Building Department (townofwestcliffe.colorado.gov)
  17. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Westcliffe Code 7-2-5 Unlawful Regulations (parks) (Town of Westcliffe), quoted and re-checked

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 Westcliffe

Town of Westcliffe’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction inside Westcliffe town

    • Separate electrical and plumbing permits
    • Fees per Town fee schedule
    “it shall be a violation for any person, firm, corporation or other entity to erect, construct, alter, repair, move, demolish or occupy any building [...] without first paying the current permit fee and obtaining a written building permit from the town building official”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Inspections inside Westcliffe town

    • Electrical and plumbing inspections are by Colorado State inspectors under the State's adopted code
    “Plumbing inspections are performed by Colorado State Plumbing Inspectors according to the State's adopted Code. A separate permit is required for plumbing work.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Westcliffe town limits

    • Districts: A, R-SF, R-MF, MH, CC, HC, HI, PUD, PUD B-1, PUD B-2, TN
    “The following table indicates which land uses are allowed by right, Special Review, and prohibited uses, in each of the zone districts listed in Section 10-2-1.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zone districts inside Westcliffe town

    • Any use not listed may be considered as a Use by Special Review.
    “The following table indicates which land uses are allowed by right, Special Review, and prohibited uses, in each of the zone districts listed in Section 10-2-1.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-SF Single Family Residential District inside Westcliffe town

    • Second detached single-family residence cannot be larger than the primary residence

    minimum floor area: >= 550 sq ft

    “Minimum floor area: Single-family residences: 550 square feet; and”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A-Agricultural District inside Westcliffe town

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres

    “Area and Height Standards: Minimum Lot Area: 5 acres Minimum Front Yard: 25 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-SF Single Family Residential District inside Westcliffe town

    • Rear yard 5 feet on alley, 10 feet without alley
    • Side yard 5 feet to lot line on each side of building

    front yard: >= 10 feet · rear yard without alley: >= 10 feet (5 feet on alley) · side yard: >= 5 feet

    “Minimum front yard: 10 feet Minimum rear yard: On alley: 5 feet Without alley: 10 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    A-Agricultural District inside Westcliffe town

    • Height measured per 10-1-6 definition from pre-development average grade to highest roof point, excluding chimneys, vents etc.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “Minimum Side Yard: 25 feet Maximum Building Height: 35 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in Westcliffe town parks only (private land not addressed)

    • Permit from Town Clerk, designee or Board of Trustees required
    “Camp within parks unless issued a permit by the Town Clerk, Town Clerks designee or Board of Trustees.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile homes inside Westcliffe town

    • Only in MH district parks; prohibited in other districts per use schedule
    • IRC Appendix E (manufactured housing used as dwellings) adopted

    maximum age of mobile home entering a park: <= 15 years

    “No mobile home more than fifteen (15) years old may be placed within a new mobile home park, or moved into an existing mobile home park. Mobile homes may be placed only within an approved mobile home park.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    ADUs in R-SF, Core Commercial and Multi-Family districts inside Westcliffe town

    • Fixed foundation, not on a chassis
    • Not built until primary residence has a certificate of occupancy
    • Follow zone setbacks
    • ADU under 500 sq ft must comply with Section 3-6-1

    minimum ADU size: >= 300 sq ft

    “The Dwelling shall be no larger than 2/3 of the conditioned area of the primary home and no less than 300 square feet.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Westcliffe town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Westcliffe town
  • Lot coverage — A and R-SF districts inside Westcliffe town
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Westcliffe town
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Westcliffe town
12 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Westcliffe 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