Water and land - Foothills
On a Teller County mountain lot, your water often starts with a well permit
Many rural Teller County properties rely on a private well, and in Colorado a well needs a permit from the state with limits on how the water can be used.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 11, 2026
Outside the towns, a lot of Teller County is rural mountain land where the home is not on a city or district water line. That usually means a private well — and in Colorado, a well comes with rules.
A new well generally needs a permit from the state’s Division of Water Resources. The permit is not just paperwork. It says what the water can be used for. Some permits cover only inside-the-house use for a single home. Others may allow some outdoor watering or livestock. The point that surprises buyers most: a well permit is not a promise of unlimited water. Having a well does not mean you can irrigate a big lawn, fill a pond, or split the parcel and water several new homes.
So when a listing says “well on property,” that is a starting question, not an answer. What does the permit actually allow? Is the well already drilled and producing, or just permitted? Colorado keeps well records you can look up by permit number or address.
Why this matters: water is one of the easiest things to assume and one of the hardest to undo. On a rural Teller County lot, it deserves its own careful check.
Before you rely on a well, confirm the permit and its conditions with the Colorado Division of Water Resources.