Septic recordsBuying & selling

Buying or Selling a Septic Property in Colorado

We have not verified a statewide law in Colorado requiring a septic inspection at the time a property transfers. That does not mean no requirement applies where you're buying: county and municipal time-of-transfer ordinances exist in various places around the country outside the states with a statewide law. Check the county page below, and ask the local health department directly — that is the authoritative source for a local ordinance, and this page is not.

64
counties
35
with records we hold
33,409
records held statewide
Not identified
statewide transfer law

What we could verify

No statewide Colorado law requiring septic inspection at time of transfer. Three states do have a real, verified one — Massachusetts, Iowa, and a waterfront-only law in New Hampshire — for comparison; Colorado is not one of them, at least not at the state level. A county or municipality in Colorado could still have its own ordinance we have not audited; the local health department for the specific county is the authoritative source.

Who regulates septic in Colorado

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Water Quality Control Division — implementing rules adopted by the Water Quality Control Commission. See the full Colorado septic regulation page for the permit sequence and licensing.

Finding the record before you close

Wherever you're transacting in Colorado, the septic permit or as-built (where one exists) is almost always held by the county or district health office, not the state. How to find septic records before closing covers how to pull it; below is the county-by-county index of what we hold for Colorado.

CountyRecords held
Douglas14,690
Arapahoe13,964
Weld2,554
Jefferson1,224
Fremont328
Garfield248
Alamosa67
Mesa62
Washington34
Gilpin29
Conejos24
Las Animas23
Park20
Saguache17
Lake17
San Miguel15
Delta11
Logan10
Rio Grande10
Hinsdale9
Archuleta9
Dolores8
Ouray6
El Paso6
Montrose5
Otero5
Grand2
Montezuma2
Teller2
Phillips2
Elbert2
Denver1
Rio Blanco1
Pitkin1
Broomfield1

Full Colorado county index · Colorado regulations · Colorado septic companies · Open the parcel map

Common questions

Does Colorado require a septic inspection to sell a house?

We have not verified a statewide law requiring one in Colorado. A county or municipal ordinance could still apply; check with the local health department where the property is located.

Who regulates septic systems in Colorado?

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Water Quality Control Division — implementing rules adopted by the Water Quality Control Commission

Where do I find septic records for a Colorado property before closing?

At the county or district health office that issued the permit, in almost every case. See the county-by-county index on this page for Colorado, and our general guide to finding records before closing.

Reviewed 2026-08-31 against the official sources linked above (where a source is cited) or, where none is cited, left deliberately general. Laws, lender overlays and local ordinances change; confirm current requirements with the county or state agency, your lender, and a licensed inspector before you rely on this for a closing.