Bolthole Index

Saguache County, Colorado

Building permits, RVs and septic rules in the Town of Saguache, Colorado

The Town of Saguache, Colorado requires a town building site permit before new buildings, additions, fences, decks and driveways over town property1. RV parks are prohibited, and an RV may be placed for no more than 14 calendar days in a year2. Owners must connect to the town sewer when it lies within 400 feet3. Septic outside that range is not confirmed for the town; ask the Saguache County Land Use office.

At a glance

Building permit
Town building site permit required before new buildings, additions, fences, decks and driveways over town property1
RV living
RV parks prohibited; RV placement limited to 14 calendar days a year2
Sewer
Connection to town sewer required when it is within 400 feet of the property3
Manufactured homes
Allowed with conditions, including a maximum age of 20 years at placement4
Accessory dwelling
One per lot, with its own sewer and water tap5
Short-term rentals
Licensed per structure; the town cap is 8 licenses6
Floodplain
Floodplain development permit required in mapped flood hazard areas7

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Saguache, Town Hall

Town government contact for building site permits, the town code and town sewer and water questions inside Saguache town limits

(719) 655-2232

townclerk@townofsaguache.org

504 San Juan Ave Saguache, CO 81149

Septic permits

Saguache County Land Use Department

Septic (OWTS) permits and inspections, building permits and the Land Development Code for unincorporated Saguache County

719-655-2321

505 3rd Street, P.O. Box 326, Saguache, CO 81149

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Saguache?

Yes. The Town of Saguache requires a building site permit issued by the town before building new buildings, additions, fences, decks, demolition, lot grade changes, and driveways over town property1. Town Hall at 504 San Juan Ave is the place to ask how to apply8.

The site permit is a town permit and does not by itself establish a full building-code permit1. We could not confirm whether the town has adopted a building code or runs its own building inspections for ordinary houses; the only inspection rule we found covers manufactured and mobile homes, which a state-registered inspector must inspect before the town issues a certificate of occupancy910. Ask the town clerk before you design anything.

The county's permit rules apply to unincorporated land, not to lots inside town. For land outside the town, see the Saguache County page.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Saguache?

RV parks are prohibited inside the Town of Saguache, and an RV may be placed for no more than 14 calendar days in a year, provided town ordinances, state statutes and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment rules are followed2. The town limits camping trailers and RVs used as occupied structures on private land to the same 14 days11. Living in an RV while you build a house in town is therefore not an option under the rules we found.

The county's longer construction allowance for RVs applies only to unincorporated Saguache County, not to town lots12.

We found no tiny-home provision in the town code sections we reviewed, so ask the town clerk before buying a lot for a tiny home. Colorado Division of Housing tiny homes must satisfy local zoning requirements13.

What are the rules for manufactured homes and accessory dwellings in Saguache?

A manufactured or mobile home placed in the Town of Saguache must be no older than 20 years at placement, sit on an engineered perimeter foundation, have a pitched roof of at least 3:12 and brick- or wood-equivalent siding, and be the only single-family dwelling on its lot; mobile home parks are prohibited4. Setbacks from lot lines for these homes are a minimum of ten feet on each side14.

The town allows no more than one accessory dwelling on a lot in addition to the single unit dwelling, and it needs its own sewer and water tap5. Short-term rentals need a town license per structure, limited to permanent structures with a maximum of 8 licenses in the town6.

Does the Town of Saguache have zoning?

The town's code sets its own land-use rules for accessory dwellings and manufactured homes, so town lots follow town rules rather than the county's54. We could not confirm the town's zoning district list, minimum lot sizes or building height limits from the code sections we reviewed; ask the town clerk for the zoning map.

Unincorporated Saguache County, by contrast, states that it is not zoned but does require building permits15. That statement covers land outside town limits, so it does not tell you what the town allows on a lot16.

How do septic permits and wells work in the Town of Saguache?

Inside the Town of Saguache, owners must connect to the town sewer when a town sewer is available within 400 feet of the property3. We could not confirm a town water-connection requirement.

Where no town sewer is available, Colorado requires an on-site wastewater treatment system permit from the local public health agency before a structure not served by a sewage treatment works can be built or remodeled17. We could not confirm which office issues that permit for lots inside town. Saguache County's Land Use office issues septic permits for unincorporated land18, so call it at 719-655-2321 to ask whether it also handles a town lot16.

Every new well in Colorado needs a well permit from the state Division of Water Resources19.

Building a home in the Town of Saguache: the steps, in order

  1. Call Town Hall at (719) 655-2232 to confirm the zoning for the lot and whether a building code applies8.
  2. Ask the town clerk whether town sewer lies within 400 feet of the lot, because hookup is then required3.
  3. Get the town building site permit before building a new structure, addition, fence, deck or driveway over town property1.
  4. If the lot is in a mapped flood hazard area, obtain a floodplain development permit7.
  5. For a manufactured home, have the state inspector inspect it before the town issues a certificate of occupancy9.
  6. If the driveway meets a state highway, apply for a CDOT access permit20.

What stays with Saguache County, and what to check before you buy

The county's rules on building permits, RV permits and septic apply to unincorporated land, so confirm the lot is inside town limits before relying on this page. For land outside town, see the Saguache County page: the county requires building permits there and lists septic through its Land Use office2116.

Saguache County's population density is about 2.1 people per square mile, and the federal government owns about 74.3% of the county2223. Saguache County's effective property tax rate is 0.3%24.

Watch-outs

  • Inside the Town of Saguache, an RV may be placed for no more than 14 calendar days in a year, far shorter than the county's rules for unincorporated land2.
  • We could not confirm whether the town has adopted a building code or runs general building inspections; ask the town clerk at (719) 655-22328.
  • We could not confirm who issues septic permits for lots inside town limits; call Saguache County Land Use at 719-655-232116.

Sources

  1. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 6-4-10 Building site permit required (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  2. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 18-3-40 Mobile home parks and RV parks prohibited (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  3. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 13-2-100 Pollution and interference (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  4. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 18-3-20 Regulations (manufactured/mobile homes) (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  5. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 15-2-70 Accessory dwellings (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  6. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 15-3-20 Short-term rental limitations (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  7. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 18-2-60 Flood damage prevention general provisions (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Saguache, Town Hall (townofsaguache.org)
  9. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 18-3-20 Regulations (manufactured/mobile homes) (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  10. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 18-3-20 Regulations (manufactured/mobile homes) (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  11. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 18-3-40 Mobile home parks and RV parks prohibited (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  12. Land Use | Saguache County, quoted and re-checked
  13. Consumers of Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes - HUD (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Saguache Municipal Code Sec. 18-3-20 Regulations (manufactured/mobile homes) (Town of Saguache), quoted and re-checked
  15. Land Use, quoted and re-checked
  16. Saguache County Land Use Department (saguachecounty.colorado.gov)
  17. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Land Use | Saguache County, quoted and re-checked
  19. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Access Permits | Frequently Asked Questions (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. saguachecounty.colorado.gov, quoted and re-checked
  22. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Effective property tax rate: 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 Saguache

Town of Saguache’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building site permit inside Saguache town for new buildings, additions, fences, decks, demolition, lot grade changes, and driveways over Town property

    • Town building site permit; does not itself establish a full building-code permit
    “A building site permit issued by the Town is required to be obtained prior to:”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Manufactured and mobile homes placed inside Saguache town

    • Only manufactured/mobile home inspection found; general inspections not located.
    “All manufactured homes or mobile homes shall be inspected by a registered inspector for the State prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Manufactured and mobile homes inside Saguache town

    • Certificate issued by the Town acting through Town Clerk/Treasurer and/or Building Official after state inspection; general CO rule not located.
    “prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Town acting through its Town Clerk/Treasurer and/or Building Official.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Mobile and manufactured homes inside Saguache town; general setbacks in Sec. 15-6-30 not reviewed

    • Applies to mobile/manufactured home placement

    minimum setback from lot lines: >= 10 feet

    “The setbacks from lot lines for placement of mobile or manufactured homes shall be a minimum of ten feet on each side”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    RV occupancy inside Saguache town

    • RV parks prohibited
    • Temporary placement limited to 14 calendar days in a year
    • Town ordinances, state statutes and CDPHE rules must be followed

    temporary occupancy limit: <= 14 calendar days per year

    “for any period not exceeding 14 calendar days in a year, provided that all applicable Town ordinances, state statutes and rules and regulations of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are followed.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping trailers/RVs as occupied structures on private land inside Saguache town

    • Limited to 14 calendar days in a year
    • RV parks prohibited

    temporary placement limit: <= 14 calendar days per year

    “for any period not exceeding 14 calendar days in a year, provided that all applicable Town ordinances, state statutes and rules and regulations of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are followed.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured and mobile homes placed inside Saguache town

    • Home must be no older than 20 years at placement
    • Engineered perimeter foundation, pitched roof at least 3:12, brick/wood-equivalent siding
    • One single-family dwelling per lot
    • Mobile home parks prohibited

    maximum age at placement: <= 20 years

    “which is manufactured earlier than 20 years prior to its introduction or placement into the Town.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwellings inside Saguache town

    • Maximum one accessory dwelling per lot
    • Separate sewer and water tap required
    “There shall not be more than one accessory dwelling located on a lot in addition to the single unit dwelling, and it must have a separate sewer and water tap.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Owners inside Saguache town must connect to the Town sewer when available

    • Sewer connection required if Town sewer is available within 400 feet of the owner's property
    • Water connection requirement not located

    sewer availability distance: <= 400 feet

    “all owners within the Town shall be required to connect to the sewer system, provided that a Town sewer system is available within 400 feet of any owner's property.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways from the street over Town property inside Saguache town

    • Building site permit required for building driveways over Town property to private property
    “Building bridges, walkways or driveways from the street, over Town property to private property.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Saguache town

    • Based on FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Town of Saguache dated May 28, 1976 and revisions
    “A Floodplain Development Permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this Article.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside Saguache town

    • STR license required per structure
    • Maximum two STRs per person
    • Permanent structures only; no RVs, mobile homes, tents, yurts
    • Licenses non-transferable; 15-minute response
    • Life safety checklist required

    maximum STRs in Town: <= 8 licenses (may be changed by Board of Trustees resolution)

    “The maximum number of STR's allowed in the Town are eight.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Saguache town
  • Building code adopted — Saguache town
  • Zoning districts — Saguache town
  • Minimum lot size — Saguache town
  • Lot coverage — Saguache town
10 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Saguache publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Saguache County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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