303-955-4220
Green forest and peaks under summer clouds

Evergreen horse property

Horse Property in Evergreen and Kittredge, Colorado

Evergreen and Kittredge sit in Jefferson County, 42 to 44 minutes from downtown Denver. The zone and the well permit set how many horses a parcel holds. Call or text 303-955-4220 for current horse properties.

Call or text 303-955-4220Read the short answer

A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree. Updated September 2026.

Photos: Green forest and peaks under summer clouds, Jashan Kaleka (Unsplash).

The short answer

Jefferson County A-1 (5 acres), A-2 (10 acres) and A-35 (35 acres) zones allow horses with no numeric limit when the lot meets the minimum. Residential zones allow up to 4 per acre, with 9,000 sq ft of open land for the first animal. A household-use-only well allows no livestock watering.

Zone

A-1, A-2, A-35.

No animal limit when the lot meets the zone minimum.

Residential

Max 4 per acre.

9,000 sq ft of open land for the first animal, 6,000 for each additional.

Well

Check allowed uses.

Household-use-only = no horses. Domestic well on 35+ acres = livestock.

Snowfall

80.8 inches a year.

Evergreen NOAA 1991-2020 average.

The numbers
TownAreaTo downtown DenverElevationTypical home value
Evergreen
Jefferson County		Front Range foothills28.0 mi / 42 min7,056 ft$880,000
Kittredge
Jefferson County		Front Range foothills26.4 mi / 44 min6,907 ft$506,000

Drive: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap to downtown Denver, without traffic (2026-09-24). Elevation: USGS point elevation at the town point. Typical home value: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026 (a typical value, not a sale median; ZIP level for Kittredge, Black Hawk and Keystone). Population and sources for every town: in each town page.

The map

Where it is.

The highlighted towns are on this page. Tap any pin to open that town.

Colorado mountain towns near Denver: 34 mountain towns with drive times to downtown Denver.DenverConifer: 28.3 miles, 41 minutes to Denver without trafficGolden: 14.8 miles, 24 minutes to Denver without trafficLookout Mountain (Golden): 18.9 miles, 32 minutes to Denver without trafficGenesee: 18.3 miles, 29 minutes to Denver without trafficMorrison: 16.7 miles, 25 minutes to Denver without trafficIndian Hills: 25.6 miles, 46 minutes to Denver without trafficPine: 46.6 miles, 75 minutes to Denver without trafficBuffalo Creek: 44.2 miles, 69 minutes to Denver without trafficBailey: 44.0 miles, 65 minutes to Denver without trafficWoodland Park: 83.7 miles, 104 minutes to Denver without trafficIdaho Springs: 32.0 miles, 44 minutes to Denver without trafficGeorgetown: 44.8 miles, 60 minutes to Denver without trafficBlack Hawk: 37.2 miles, 56 minutes to Denver without trafficCentral City: 37.6 miles, 55 minutes to Denver without trafficNederland: 45.0 miles, 70 minutes to Denver without trafficAllenspark: 61.7 miles, 99 minutes to Denver without trafficLyons: 44.5 miles, 63 minutes to Denver without trafficEstes Park: 67.8 miles, 102 minutes to Denver without trafficBreckenridge: 79.3 miles, 106 minutes to Denver without trafficFrisco: 70.7 miles, 91 minutes to Denver without trafficSilverthorne: 67.1 miles, 86 minutes to Denver without trafficDillon: 67.9 miles, 88 minutes to Denver without trafficKeystone: 73.9 miles, 98 minutes to Denver without trafficWinter Park: 68.3 miles, 100 minutes to Denver without trafficFraser: 71.0 miles, 105 minutes to Denver without trafficVail: 97.3 miles, 122 minutes to Denver without trafficAvon: 105.8 miles, 131 minutes to Denver without trafficEdwards: 116.8 miles, 157 minutes to Denver without trafficAspen: 198.3 miles, 245 minutes to Denver without trafficSnowmass Village: 196.9 miles, 243 minutes to Denver without trafficSteamboat Springs: 155.6 miles, 205 minutes to Denver without trafficCrested Butte: 225.8 miles, 304 minutes to Denver without trafficEvergreen: 28.0 miles, 42 minutes to Denver without trafficKittredge: 26.4 miles, 44 minutes to Denver without trafficEvergreen · 42 minKittredge · 44 min
  • Front Range foothills
  • I-70 corridor
  • Peak to Peak
  • Summit County
  • Resort
  • Tap a town to open its page

Outline: U.S. Census Bureau. Roads from downtown Denver: OSRM on OpenStreetMap. Town points: OpenStreetMap and USGS. Drive times without traffic.

How far, how high and what price?

  • Evergreen. 7,056 ft elevation. 42 minutes, 28.0 miles to downtown Denver without traffic. Typical home value $880,000 (Zillow Home Value Index, Aug. 2026).
  • Kittredge. 6,907 ft elevation. 44 minutes, 26.4 miles to downtown Denver without traffic. Typical home value $506,000 (Zillow Home Value Index, Aug. 2026).
  • Jefferson County median. $715,000 median house sale price, Jan.-Aug. 2026 (Colorado Association of REALTORS).
  • Evergreen water. Evergreen Metropolitan District supplies water to part of Evergreen. Outside the district, Jefferson County says mountain water is "generally supplied via wells."

Drive times are without traffic (OSRM router, 2026-09-24). Call or text 303-955-4220 for current horse properties.

How many horses does Jefferson County allow by acreage?

  • About 1 acre. Residential zones (R-1, MR-1, MR-2, SR-1, SR-2, SR-5) and undersized ag lots: 9,000 sq ft of open land for the first animal, 6,000 sq ft for each additional, max 4 per acre. Under 35 acres, check the well permit. A household-use-only well allows no livestock watering (C.R.S. 37-92-602).
  • About 5 acres. A-1 zone (5-acre minimum): no limit on animals when the lot meets the minimum. In a residential zone, the open-land rule and the 4-per-acre cap apply. Under 35 acres, check the well permit. A household-use-only well allows no livestock watering (C.R.S. 37-92-602).
  • About 10 acres. A-2 zone (10-acre minimum) or A-1: no limit on animals. Livestock buildings sit 75 ft from front and side lot lines in A zones. Under 35 acres, check the well permit. A household-use-only well allows no livestock watering (C.R.S. 37-92-602).
  • About 20 acres. A-1 or A-2 zone: no limit on animals. A residential zone keeps the 4-per-acre cap. Under 35 acres, check the well permit. A household-use-only well allows no livestock watering (C.R.S. 37-92-602). Under 35 acres, the parcel is not exempt from county subdivision review.
  • 35+ acres. A-35 zone (35-acre minimum): no limit on animals. A domestic well on 35+ acres serves up to 3 homes, 1 acre of lawn and garden, and domestic animals and livestock. 35+ acres is exempt from county subdivision review (C.R.S. 30-28-101(10)(b)).

Every number depends on the zoning district. Check the parcel's zone on the county parcel map and confirm with the county planning office before an offer.

Which wells allow horses in Colorado?

  • Household-use-only well. Serves the inside of one home. No outdoor watering, no livestock. Most wells on parcels under 35 acres drilled on or after May 8, 1972 carry this permit (C.R.S. 37-92-602; CSU Extension 6.700).
  • Domestic well on 35+ acres. Serves up to 3 homes, 1 acre of lawn and garden, and domestic animals and livestock.
  • Look up the permit. Search the permit number or address at dwr.state.co.us/Tools/WellPermits. Read the allowed uses.
  • Change of owner. File the change of owner eForm with the Division of Water Resources after closing. No fee (C.R.S. 37-90-143).
  • Drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor for Sept. 22, 2026 shows Jefferson, Boulder, Park and Clear Creek counties 100% in D2 drought or worse.

A household-use-only permit does not allow livestock watering. Confirm the permit's allowed uses with the Division of Water Resources or a water attorney.

What permits do barns and sheds need in Jefferson County?

  • Sheds 120 sq ft or less. Miscellaneous Permit.
  • Over 120 sq ft or 14 ft tall. Building Permit.
  • Barns. Building Permit for every barn.
  • Loafing sheds. Under 1,000 sq ft: Miscellaneous Permit. Over 1,000 sq ft: Building Permit.
  • Three-sided ag structures. Up to 1,000 sq ft and at least 50 ft from habitable structures: exempt from a building permit (2024 Jeffco Building Code Supplement).
  • Setbacks. Livestock buildings 75 ft from front and side lot lines in A zones; 100 ft from the front lot line in residential zones. Manure piles stay 100 ft from the front lot line.

Ask the seller for permits on every barn, shed and arena. Confirm with Jefferson County building and planning.

What fence does a horse property need in Colorado?

  • Colorado lawful fence. "A well-constructed three barbed wire fence with substantial posts set at a distance of approximately twenty feet apart" (C.R.S. 35-46-101).
  • Fence-out law. Only an owner with a lawful fence in good repair recovers damages when livestock trespass (C.R.S. 35-46-102).
  • Wildlife-friendly fence (CPW). Top wire 42 inches or lower, 12 inches between the top two wires, bottom wire at least 16 inches off the ground, smooth top and bottom wires.
  • Height for horses. Colorado Parks and Wildlife: 42 inches "really is adequate to keep in nearly all breeds of horse."
  • Jefferson County extras. Stallions need a 6-foot chain-link or equivalent fence. The wildfire code requires noncombustible fencing within 8 feet of the house for permits applied for on or after July 1, 2026.

Walk the fence line before the inspection deadline. Confirm boundary lines with a survey.

What do winter, snow and hay mean for horses here?

  • Plowing. Jefferson County plows by 4 priorities and does no mountain plowing 9 pm to 3 am. It does not plow private roads or roads the commissioners have not accepted. Owners clear driveway berms.
  • Snow load. Jefferson County roof snow load: 30 psf under 6,500 ft, 38 psf at 7,000 ft, 57 psf at 8,000 ft. Barn roofs follow the same table.
  • Driveways. 10% max grade on straight sections. Over 150 ft needs a hammerhead turnaround; over 500 ft needs pullouts every 200 ft. Stock trailers and hay trucks need that room.
  • Hay cost. USDA Colorado Hay Report, Sept. 24, 2026: Mountains and Northwest grass hay, fair grade, medium square bales, $300.00 per ton picked up.
  • Snowfall. Evergreen averages 80.8 inches a year (NOAA 1991-2020).

Budget hay for the whole winter and store it 30 feet from the house (CSFS).

What do I check before an offer on horse property?

  • Well permit allowed uses. Pull the permit at dwr.state.co.us/Tools/WellPermits. Household-use-only means no horses on that well.
  • Zoning district. Look up the parcel on the Jefferson County parcel map. The zone sets the horse count, not the acreage alone.
  • Fence. Walk the line. A lawful fence in good repair decides who recovers damages when livestock get out.
  • Water rights. Ask the seller for any water right decrees, ditch shares or pond permits. A well permit is not a water right. Confirm with a water attorney.
  • Septic at sale. Jefferson County requires a septic Use Permit at sale for systems over 5 years old: $100, valid 6 months or through closing.
  • Horses in the deal. A brand inspection is required at any change of ownership: $5.00 per head (fees effective Oct. 1, 2025).

Put the well, zoning and septic checks inside your inspection and due diligence deadlines.

Questions

Quick answers.

How many horses per acre does Jefferson County allow?

A-1, A-2 and A-35 zones: no limit when the lot meets the zone minimum. Residential zones and undersized ag lots: 9,000 sq ft of open land for the first animal, 6,000 for each additional, max 4 per acre.

Does a barn need a permit in Jefferson County?

Yes. Every barn needs a Building Permit. Loafing sheds under 1,000 sq ft need a Miscellaneous Permit.

Can horses drink from a household-use-only well?

No. A household-use-only well allows no livestock watering. Check the permit at dwr.state.co.us/Tools/WellPermits.

Does Jefferson County plow my driveway?

No. The county does not plow private roads or roads the commissioners have not accepted.

How much snow does Evergreen get?

80.8 inches a year on average (NOAA 1991-2020).

How many acres do you need per horse in Colorado?

On the Front Range it takes 25 to 40 acres of dryland pasture to support one horse with no supplemental feed, per CSU Extension. Irrigated pasture carries a horse on 0.7 to 1.2 acres. On smaller mountain acreage, plan to feed hay; the legal number of horses comes from county zoning, not grass. Confirm the count for a specific parcel with the county planning office.

Can I keep horses on 5 acres in Jefferson County?

Yes, in most cases. In the A-1 zone (5-acre minimum), A-2 (10 acres) and A-35 (35 acres), Jefferson County sets no limit on animals when the lot meets the zone minimum. In residential zones and undersized agricultural lots the county requires 9,000 square feet of open land for the first animal and 6,000 square feet for each additional one, with a cap of 4 per acre. Confirm the parcel's zone with Jefferson County Planning and Zoning before you buy.

How many horses can I keep on 1 acre in Jefferson County?

Up to 4, and only when the acre is open land. Residential zones in unincorporated Jefferson County require 9,000 square feet of open land for the first animal and 6,000 square feet for each additional animal, capped at 4 per acre. Inside Golden or Morrison town limits, the city or town code applies instead.

Why do horse buyers look for 35 acres in Colorado?

Two reasons. Parcels of 35 acres or more are exempt from county subdivision review under C.R.S. 30-28-101. And a 35-acre-plus parcel qualifies for a domestic well that waters livestock, while most smaller parcels get a household-use-only well that does not. Confirm the actual well permit with the Division of Water Resources.

Can I water horses from a household-use-only well in Colorado?

No. A household-use-only well serves inside one home only, with no outdoor watering and no livestock. Most wells drilled on or after May 8, 1972 on parcels under 35 acres carry this permit. Pull the permit on the DWR Well Permit Search before you write an offer on horse property.

What well permit do I need to keep horses in Colorado?

A domestic and livestock well. On parcels of 35 acres or more, one such well per parcel serves up to three single-family homes, irrigates one acre or less of lawn and garden, and waters domestic animals and livestock. Confirm the permit's listed uses with the Colorado Division of Water Resources.

Sources

Figures carry their source and date. Rules and prices change: the county, town or state office named above has the current version.

Go deeper

Where to go next.

Colorado Mountain Horse Property: Questions Buyers AskRead nextHorse Property in the Colorado Mountains Near DenverRead nextWell and Septic on Colorado Mountain Homes: What Buyers CheckRead nextColorado 35 acre ruleRead next

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