Jump to content

Wanting to buy land in Colorado, Water rights concern...


crash_davis

Recommended Posts

As topics says, I am thinking of buying land in CO to eventually build a house. I am looking at more remote areas from the non-major cities, like Fraser, Ridgway, Bayfield, etc. Want to be closer to a bigger city but still remote and in the mountains, sorta.

I see a few plots of land available with electricity and internet but no mention of water. I assume you have to dig for a well but I recently read you can't get well water rights unless you have >35 acres. Someone please learn me about buying new CO property as it relates to getting water. If you can't dig a well, how else can you get water to live? 

Much obliged.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Check this out.  It looks like it's pretty complicated in Colorado. The way I read it you can have a residential well on property less than 35 acres, but the water can only be used inside the house.  No lawn watering, garden irrigation, or livestock watering.

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/private-wells-for-home-use-6-700/

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@troph weren't you looking to build in colorado?

I've been looking into similar areas for the past couple of years, specifically in the Ridgway/Telluride/Ouray area.  Water has never been an issue with any of the properties I have viewed or visited, some more than 35 acres, some less.  Some are on municipal water, some have wells, and there was one in Ouray that actually had its own spring, which was cool.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

@troph weren't you looking to build in colorado?

I've been looking into similar areas for the past couple of years, specifically in the Ridgway/Telluride/Ouray area.  Water has never been an issue with any of the properties I have viewed or visited, some more than 35 acres, some less.  Some are on municipal water, some have wells, and there was one in Ouray that actually had its own spring, which was cool.

I’m all over the map. I’d love to buy a place up there in that area. I think I’m more focused on a mobile second home, one that floats on the water right now. That area is so beautiful though it’s very enticing.  I’m with you, 35-80 acres is what I think I could handle. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To the OP yeah Colorado water rights are tough. First in time even if down stream so you may not even have rights to the water running through your land, stuff life that. Definitely need to be really careful. Wells are allowed but they are restricted. Water is where you can really get bent over in CO so be really careful. If we kept pursuing it I would have had an agent and would have done due diligence with an attorney too just to double check. 

Edited by troph
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As topics says, I am thinking of buying land in CO to eventually build a house. I am looking at more remote areas from the non-major cities, like Fraser, Ridgway, Bayfield, etc. Want to be closer to a bigger city but still remote and in the mountains, sorta.
I see a few plots of land available with electricity and internet but no mention of water. I assume you have to dig for a well but I recently read you can't get well water rights unless you have >35 acres. Someone please learn me about buying new CO property as it relates to getting water. If you can't dig a well, how else can you get water to live? 
Much obliged.
Fraser is full with its Surly quota of assholes (me). Maybe try Tabernash.

We are on 2.5 acres and we have a well. If you're not on city water, you dig a well.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...