Well and Septic on Colorado Mountain Homes: What Buyers Check

What kind of well permit does a mountain home have?

• Household use only. Water inside one home. No outdoor watering, no livestock. These permits cover parcels under 35 acres created before June 1, 1972 or approved by county exemption (DWR Beginner's Guide, Oct 2025).
• Domestic well. On 35 acres or more: up to 3 homes, 1 acre of lawn and garden, and animals.
• Why it matters. The permit type sets what you can water. A garden or horses on a household-use-only permit is outside the permit.
• Setbacks. Wells sit 100 feet from contamination sources and 50 feet from a septic tank.

How do I look up and transfer a well permit?

• Search the file. Use the Colorado Division of Water Resources well permit search by address, permit number or owner name.
• Read the permit. Match the permit type, the allowed uses and the well location to the house you are buying.
• Change of owner. File the DWR change-of-owner eForm after closing. There is no fee (C.R.S. 37-90-143).
• Daily use. DWR plans on 75 gallons per person per day.

How much water does a mountain well produce?

• Jefferson County overlay. The Mountain Ground Water Overlay (Section 41) requires a four-hour well yield test for building permits. The test is valid for 3 years.
• Low-yield wells. A well under 1 gallon per minute needs 300 gallons of storage in Jefferson County.
• Local benchmark. USGS measured a median yield of 4 gallons per minute across 131 wells in the Turkey Creek basin.
• Ask for records. Request the seller's yield test, storage tank size and any well repair records.

What water tests should a buyer order?

• Yearly. Coliform bacteria, nitrate/nitrite, total dissolved solids and pH (CDPHE).
• Every 3-5 years. Arsenic, uranium, lead and other metals.
• State lab. CDPHE's state lab paused chemistry testing; bacteria tests still run. Use a certified private lab for chemistry.
• No state oversight. Private wells are not regulated by the state. About 7% of Coloradans drink private well water.

How does drought affect mountain wells?

• Statewide. 85.72% of Colorado was in drought on Sept. 22, 2026 (US Drought Monitor).
• Mountain counties. Jefferson, Boulder, Park, Larimer, Gilpin, Clear Creek and Teller were 100% in severe drought (D2) or worse.
• What to check. A recent yield test, storage capacity and the seller's history of any dry periods.

Which mountain counties require a septic inspection at sale?

• Jefferson. Use Permit for systems over 5 years old; $100; valid 6 months or through closing.
• Clear Creek and Gilpin. Clear Creek Use Permit, $100, valid 12 months. Gilpin Use Permit, $110 on the 2026 fee schedule, valid 6 months.
• Park and Pitkin. Park: Transfer of Title inspection by a NAWT inspector. Pitkin: Use Permit with an inspection less than 1 year old.
• Boulder and Larimer. Boulder: Property Transfer Certificate, $500. Larimer: Acceptance Document valid 12 months; snow or frozen ground gets conditional acceptance with 180 days after closing.
• Summit, Grand, Routt, Eagle, Teller. Summit: Use Permit at sale, $230 (fee schedule of April 1, 2026). Grand and Routt: no inspection at sale. Eagle starts January 1, 2027. Teller: check with Teller County Public Health.

Fees and validity periods come from each county's published program page. Confirm the current fee with the county before ordering.

How do I maintain a septic system after closing?

• Inspect. Every 3 years (US EPA).
• Pump. Every 3-5 years (US EPA).
• Records. Ask the seller for pumping receipts, the county permit and the system diagram.