Water
Colorado follows prior appropriation, administered by the Division of Water Resources. Exempt wells are limited to 15 gallons a minute, and parcel size matters. On smaller parcels (typically under 35 acres), household-use-only wells allow indoor use only. On parcels of 35 acres or more, a domestic and livestock well can serve up to three single-family homes and irrigate up to one acre. Designated groundwater basins and the Denver Basin follow different rules.
Rainwater is tightly limited: without a permit, a home may collect up to 110 gallons in two barrels for outdoor use on the same property. Owners of qualifying exempt wells can apply for a rooftop collection permit that allows more.
Building codes
Colorado has no statewide building code. Codes are adopted and enforced by counties and municipalities, with state oversight of certain building types where no local code exists. We confirm the local code and its edition for every Colorado site.
Climate and growing season
Colorado spans zones 3b to 7b. Colorado State University figures show frost-free seasons of about 183 days in Grand Junction, 155 in Denver and 152 in Colorado Springs, while mountain towns may see fewer than 50. Elevation, not latitude, drives the food plan here.
Hazards
Hail and severe storms account for most of Colorado's billion-dollar disaster costs in NOAA's records, followed by drought and wildfire, with flood and winter storms also present. Roofs, greenhouses and solar arrays are specified for hail.
Our view
In Colorado, the 35-acre line is a design decision: it decides what an exempt well can serve. We look for parcels at or above it, with water rights that support irrigation, and design hail-resistant roofs, glazing and panels.
This guide is general information, current to October 2026, and not legal, tax or water-rights advice. Water and building rules change and vary by county and basin. We verify every requirement for a specific parcel with the responsible agency before purchase.