How do well permits and septic rules work on Colorado mountain land?

What does a Colorado well permit allow?

• Under 35 acres: household use. CSU Extension: most private wells drilled on or after May 8, 1972 on properties under 35 acres are permitted for exempt household use only.
• 35 acres or more: more uses. One domestic and livestock well per parcel serves up to three homes and up to one acre of lawn and garden.
• Plan the water demand. CSU Extension plans on 75 gallons per person per day.
• Check the yield. CSU Extension sets a minimum well yield of 0.5 gallons per minute.

Read the well permit itself, not the listing. The Colorado Division of Water Resources confirms what a permit allows.

What does Jefferson County require for a mountain well?

• A mountain groundwater overlay. Section 41 of the county zoning resolution covers the fractured-rock mountain area.
• A four-hour yield test. Building permits in the overlay require a four-hour well yield test.
• Storage for weak wells. Homes with wells under 1 gallon per minute need at least 300 gallons of storage.
• Three-year shelf life. The yield test stays valid for 3 years.

What septic rules apply when you buy in a mountain county?

• Jefferson County: $100 Use Permit. Required before sale for systems installed more than 5 years earlier. Valid until closing or six months, whichever comes first.
• Clear Creek County: $100 Use Permit. Required when any part of the system is more than 5 years old. Valid for 12 months or until closing. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days.
• Boulder County: $500 certificate. A Property Transfer Certificate is required unless the whole system was approved less than 5 years before closing. The buyer can take on repairs, with 365 days after closing to finish.
• Larimer County: Acceptance Document. Required at sale, valid until closing or up to 12 months. Systems approved less than 3 years earlier are exempt, and a buyer repair agreement allows 180 days after closing.

Order the septic inspection early. The county permit has to land before the closing date.

What should a buyer check on a well-and-septic home?

• The well permit. Match the permit number, use type and location to the parcel you are buying.
• A water test. Order a lab test for bacteria and nitrates during the inspection period.
• The septic permit or certificate. Confirm who orders it, who pays and the county deadline in the contract.
• The yield. In Jefferson County's mountain overlay, ask for the four-hour yield test if it is under 3 years old.

Call the Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to set up the well and septic checks before your inspection deadline.