How to Get a Building Permit in Custer County, Colorado: 2026 Checklist Before You Build
- Valor Develops
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
If you’ve spent any time around the Wet Mountain Valley, you already know — building out here isn’t the same as building in the city.
Before a shovel hits the ground, the most important step is understanding how the Custer County permit process actually works. Not what you read on a generic website — but what applies to your land, your structure, and your timeline.
We walk this process with property owners every week. Some projects move smoothly. Others get delayed simply because the permit process wasn’t understood early enough.
This guide is a practical, local checklist to help you prepare before you build in Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, and surrounding Custer County properties.
Start Here: Custer County Planning & Zoning
Everything begins with Custer County Planning & Zoning.
Official resource:https://custercounty-co.gov/departments/planning-zoning/
Permit applications and forms:https://custercounty-co.gov/departments/planning-zoning/building-permits-applications/
Custer County administers:
land use and zoning regulations
building permits
development standards
Important note — and this matters:
Custer County states that requirements may change and documents may be under review, so applicants should always confirm current requirements directly with the
Planning & Zoning office before submitting.
That one step alone can save weeks of back-and-forth.
The Real-World Permit Checklist (What You’ll Likely Need)
Every property is different. Every structure is different.
But in most Custer County projects, you should expect to prepare the following.
1. Site Plan or Property Layout
This is where most projects either start strong — or get delayed.
Your site plan may need to show:
property boundaries
building location
setbacks from property lines
driveway and access
septic system location
well location if applicable
If your parcel is raw land, this step takes more work than most expect.
2. Zoning & Land Use Compliance
Before anything else, your structure has to match zoning.
This determines:
what you can build
where you can place it
how it can be used
Zoning is handled through Planning & Zoning, and it’s one of the first things reviewed.
Do not assume. Verify.
3. Structure Type & Intended Use
The county needs to know what you’re building.
Examples:
custom home
barndominium
steel building
barn or agricultural structure
garage or shop
Different structures may trigger different review requirements.
4. Septic & Wastewater Coordination
If you’re not on municipal sewer (most aren’t), you’ll need:
septic system design or approval
coordination with environmental health
This step can impact your site layout and building placement.
5. Driveway & Access Planning
Access is a bigger deal than most people realize.
Expect considerations like:
driveway location
slope and grade
emergency vehicle access
culvert or drainage requirements
If access isn’t thought through early, it can delay everything else.
6. Structural & Foundation Details (When Required)
Depending on your project, you may need:
engineered structural drawings
foundation design details
snow load considerations
wind exposure design
Mountain builds are not one-size-fits-all. Conditions in Custer County — elevation, soil, and weather — often influence structural design.
7. Utility Planning (Well, Power, Off-Grid)
Rural Colorado means planning ahead.
This may include:
well installation or existing water source
electrical service or off-grid systems
propane or alternative utilities
These decisions affect both design and permitting.
What Most People Miss (And What Causes Delays)
We see the same issues over and over.
Here’s what tends to slow projects down:
incomplete site plans
assuming zoning instead of confirming it
not coordinating septic early
underestimating driveway/access requirements
starting design before understanding the land
None of these are major problems — if they’re caught early.
Timeline Expectations (Real Talk)
Permit timelines vary based on:
how complete your application is
project complexity
site conditions
current county workload
Well-prepared projects move faster. Projects that need revisions can take significantly longer. Planning ahead is the difference.
Why This Matters Before You Buy Land
This is where this guide becomes even more valuable.
Many buyers purchase land before understanding:
buildable area constraints
septic placement limitations
access challenges
grading requirements• utility feasibility
That’s where problems start. A simple pre-purchase review can prevent expensive surprises later.
Building in Custer County: It’s About Planning First
Custer County is one of the most beautiful places to build in Colorado — but it rewards preparation.
If you understand:
your land
your access
your utilities
your permit path everything else gets easier.
Work With a Local Team Who Knows the Process
Whether you’re just looking at land or ready to build, having someone local who understands the process makes a difference.
Valor Development helps property owners with:
pre-purchase land evaluation
site planning and layout
excavation and access
custom home construction
steel buildings and shops
full project coordination
We work in these conditions every day.
If you have questions — even early-stage ones — we’re happy to talk through your project.
Valor Development
113 Mill Street, Silver Cliff, CO 81252
