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

At a glance

Zoning

Town of Gilcrest has its own zoning districts, from A-1 Agricultural to R-1, R-2, R-3, MH, commercial, industrial, parks and PUD¹⁵

Building code

International Residential Code adopted with Town amendments²

Building permit

Required for new accessory buildings; sheds of 120 sq ft or less are exempt⁶

Inspections

Town adds an insulation inspection to the IRC inspections⁷

RV living

Storage only in residential zones; incidental sleeping up to 7 consecutive nights and 21 nights a year³⁸

Septic

Weld County Environmental Health Services handles septic permits in the county; confirm with the Town for lots on town sewer⁴

Long driveways

Driveways over 200 feet must be at least 15 feet wide with a gravel base⁹

Who to call

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

Does Gilcrest, Colorado have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and lot rules?

Yes. The Town of Gilcrest divides its land into zoning districts: A-1 Agricultural, R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential, R-3 High Density Residential, MH Manufactured (Mobile) Home, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, P Parks and Open Spaces, and PUD¹⁵.

In residential districts, Gilcrest allows an RV, boat or trailer to be parked only for storage. Only one may sit outside an enclosed structure, on a hard-surfaced or gravel area behind the required front setback, and it cannot be permanently hooked to sewer, water or electric service³. Incidental overnight sleeping is allowed for up to 7 consecutive nights and no more than 21 nights in a calendar year⁸. Living in an RV while you build is therefore not something the town code offers in residential zones.

We could not confirm the minimum lot size, setbacks, minimum home size or accessory dwelling rules for each district. Ask Town Planning & Zoning at (970) 737-2426 for the district your parcel is in¹⁰.

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

Yes, for most work. Gilcrest adopts the International Residential Code with Town amendments, including a 180-day permit expiration, an investigation fee and an insulation inspection, and the Town Board serves as the Board of Appeals². All new accessory buildings inside Gilcrest need building permits, though one-story detached tool and storage sheds of 120 square feet or less are exempt⁶. Starting work before getting a permit can bring an investigation fee of up to the permit fee⁶.

The Town's Planning & Zoning page says the office helps residents with permitting and zoning questions for residential, commercial and public property¹⁰. Weld County's Building Division issues building permits only for unincorporated land, so it is the wrong counter for a lot inside town limits¹¹.

How do septic permits work inside Gilcrest?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside Gilcrest town limits or whether the Town requires its lots to connect to sewer. Colorado law has the local public health agency issue septic permits under local board-of-health rules¹², and in Weld County that agency is Environmental Health Services, which handles septic permits, site evaluations, design reviews and inspections⁴.

Weld County's policy is to require public sewer where and whenever feasible and to limit septic systems to areas where sewers are not feasible¹³. So before you plan a septic system on a Gilcrest lot, ask the Town whether sewer is available, then call Environmental Health Services at (970) 400-6415¹⁴. Wells need a state permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources¹⁵.

Building a home in Gilcrest: the steps, in order

1. Call Town Planning & Zoning at (970) 737-2426 and confirm your parcel's zoning district and what it allows¹⁰⁵.
2. Ask the Town about sewer and water availability. If sewer is not available, contact Weld County Environmental Health Services at (970) 400-6415 about a septic permit¹⁴.
3. Apply for a building permit from the Town under its adopted International Residential Code².
4. Request inspections as work proceeds, including the Town's added insulation inspection before wall coverings go up⁷.
5. If your driveway will exceed 200 feet, plan for a gravel surface at least 15 feet wide with drainage⁹.

We could not confirm the Town's fee schedule or its certificate of occupancy process; ask the Town office.

What stays with Weld County, and what to check before you buy near Gilcrest

Weld County's own rules apply to unincorporated land, not to lots inside the town. Outside town limits, the county requires building permits from its Building Division and enforces its own zoning¹¹¹⁶. For the county's full answer, see the Weld County page.

Septic permits and wells stay with county and state offices⁴¹⁵. Weld County's effective property tax rate is about 0.5%¹⁷, and the median property tax bill is about $2,242 a year¹⁸. Confirm whether a parcel is inside Gilcrest town limits before you buy, since that decides which office issues your building permit.

Watch-outs

• Weld County's building and zoning rules do not apply inside Gilcrest; the Town's code does¹.
• Living in an RV during construction is not offered by the Town code in residential zones; only incidental sleeping up to 21 nights a year is⁸.
• We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside town limits or the Town's fees; call Town Planning & Zoning at (970) 737-2426¹⁰.

Sources

1. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 16-23 Establishment of zoning districts (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
2. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 18-24 IRC Amendments (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
3. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 16-52 Storage and parking of recreational vehicles, boats and trailers (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
4. Environmental Health Services, quoted and re-checked
5. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 16-23 Establishment of zoning districts (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
6. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 16-13 Definitions (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
7. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 18-24 IRC Amendments (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
8. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 16-52 Storage and parking of recreational vehicles, boats and trailers (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
9. Gilcrest Municipal Code Sec. 8-61 Parking required (Town of Gilcrest), quoted and re-checked
10. Town of Gilcrest Planning & Zoning (townofgilcrest.org)
11. Building Permit Applications and Inspections, quoted and re-checked
12. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
13. Septic Systems (On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems), quoted and re-checked
14. Weld County Environmental Health Services (On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems / Septic) (weld.gov)
15. Well Permitting | Division of Water Resources, quoted and re-checked
16. Weld County Commissioners approve updates to zoning code, quoted and re-checked
17. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
18. Median property tax bill: 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.