Mountains
Park County
Property taxes, marriage licenses, vehicle services, and many public records run through Park County. Permits and local rules may sit with a town or city instead, so match the office to the exact address.
Official county shortcuts
Take the task to the office that handles it
These links go straight to the official county or regional office shown. Check that page for current documents, hours, appointments, fees, and address-specific instructions. A city may run its own permit office.
Property tax snapshot
Typical property tax in Park County
The average total mill levy across Park County was about 56.1 mills for tax year 2023 — below the statewide average of about 81 mills. On a $500,000 home, that comes to roughly $1,812 a year, using Colorado's 2026 residential rules: 7.05% on school mills, and 6.8% on the rest after the local actual-value adjustment.
This is the county average across all tax areas. Your parcel's actual mill levy depends on its exact tax area — a metro or special district can add many mills on top — so confirm the real number with the county assessor.
Sales tax: the state charges 2.9% and Park County adds 1%, for 3.9% before any city or special district. See Colorado sales tax rates ->
Source: Colorado Division of Property Taxation, 53rd Annual Report (2023) — Average Levies by County.
Incorporated places in this county
These cities and towns touch Park County. Some cross a county line. Every name opens a direct place page, and selected places include a fuller local guide.
Get to know Park County
The history, land, and character behind the place.
History and culture
Much of Park County sits inside the South Park National Heritage Area
Congress designated the South Park National Heritage Area to recognize and help interpret the mining, ranching, and railroad history spread across much of Park County.
Read note ->Water and land
Park County is headwaters country, and much of its water serves cities far away
The South Platte River takes shape in Park County's South Park basin, and large reservoirs here store water that is delivered to the Denver metro area downstream.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire
A lot of Park County is national forest, and the rules vary by ranger district
Much of Park County's public land falls under the Pike-San Isabel National Forest's South Park Ranger District, where camping and access rules are set locally rather than statewide.
Read note ->History and culture
Every July, Fairplay races burros over a 13,000-foot pass
Fairplay's Burro Days festival each July features the World Championship Pack Burro Race, where runners and their burros climb over Mosquito Pass on a course of more than 29 miles.
Read note ->Money and taxes (6)
Money and taxes
A Park County tax lien certificate does not give you the property
A Park County tax lien certificate is a claim securing unpaid taxes, not ownership of the land behind it.
Read note ->Money and taxes
The Park County Assessor values property, but does not set the tax rate
The Park County Assessor values and classifies property; the tax rate comes from the taxing authorities tied to that specific parcel.
Read note ->Home and property (7)
Home and property
A Park County mountain home sits in fire country, so defensible space comes first
Many Park County homes sit in the wildland-urban interface, where creating defensible space around the house is the kind of preparation done before there is ever smoke.
Read note ->Home and property
Park County says the septic permit comes before the building permit
In Park County the septic permit must come before the building permit, so the system design can decide where the house sits.
Read note ->Water and land (2)
Browse 1 more water and land notesOutdoors and wildfire (8)
Outdoors and wildfire
South Park's reservoirs draw anglers, and fishing rules change by water
Park County's South Park reservoirs in the South Platte basin are a well-known fishing destination, and both the rules and access can differ from one water to the next.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire
The DeCaLiBron 14ers above Alma share one trailhead at Kite Lake
Four high peaks above Alma — Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross — are reached from the Kite Lake trailhead, but the Mount Bross summit has been on private land with restricted access.
Read note ->Cars and driving (2)
Cars and driving
Getting in and out of Park County means driving mountain passes
Major routes into Park County climb over high passes like Kenosha and Hoosier, where winter weather, traction and chain laws, and temporary closures are part of normal travel.
Read note ->Cars and driving
Mosquito Pass is a seasonal 4WD road, not a year-round route to Leadville
Mosquito Pass connects Alma and Leadville over a very high, rocky road that is usually open only for a short stretch of summer and needs a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.
Read note ->Local rules (3)
Local rules
In Park County, most land is unincorporated, so the county makes many of the rules
Park County has only two incorporated towns, Fairplay and Alma, so most of the county — including well-known communities like Bailey — is unincorporated and falls under county rather than town rules.
Read note ->Local rules
Short-term rental rules in Park County depend on whether you're in the county or a town
Unincorporated Park County requires a county short-term rental license, while homes inside incorporated towns like Fairplay and Alma fall under the town's own authority instead.
Read note ->History and culture (8)
History and culture
Como exists because of a narrow-gauge railroad, and its stone roundhouse still stands
Como was a junction town on the Denver, South Park and Pacific narrow-gauge railroad, and its 1880s stone roundhouse, depot, and hotel complex are listed on the National Register.
Read note ->History and culture
Fairplay was born in the gold rush, and Alma grew with the mines that followed
Fairplay began as a gold-rush camp, Alma grew later as a supply and smelting town for nearby mines, and the mining era still shapes the towns, place names, and disturbed ground around South Park.
Read note ->Nearby counties
Other Mountains counties — rules, rates, and districts shift across county lines.