Clear Creek County, Colorado: septic system inspection at sale
Checked on November 9, 2026 against the official rule. Rule set by Clear Creek County.
General information, not legal advice. This is our summary of the official rule as we read it. The ordinance or code and the health department decide: confirm with them before you list, sign or close.
The rule
Use Permit needed at transfer only when a system component is over 5 years old, or the dwelling has a limited-occupancy or limited-bedroom restriction.
| Question | What the official text says |
|---|---|
| What is required | Septic Use Permit before closing, supported by a Transfer of Title Inspection form, pumping receipt and MLS listing/sale publication Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
| Triggered by | transfer of land/sale where an OWTS is used (only if a system component is >5 years old, or limited-occupancy / limited-bedroom dwelling) Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
| Deadline | prior to close of the transaction Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
| How long a report is valid | 12 months or until closing; not renewable Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
| Exemptions |
Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
| Fee | $100 Use Permit fee (2026 fee schedule) Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
| Official forms | clearcreekcounty.us Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
| In force since | July 25, 2014 Source: co.clear-creek.co.us |
This is our summary of the official rule as we read it. The ordinance or code and the health department decide: confirm with them before you list, sign or close. Rule set by: Clear Creek County.
Checked on November 9, 2026: read on the official site.
Published costs
What the official fee schedule or guide for Clear Creek County says, with the year it applies to. The other 7 items published in Colorado are listed for comparison; they are different items, so we do not average them.
| Jurisdiction | Item | Amount | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek County (this rule) | Use Permit fee | $100 | 2026 | co.clear-creek.co.us |
| Archuleta County | transfer acceptance fee | $115 | 2024 | archuletacounty.gov |
| La Plata County | Continued Use Permit fee | $120 | 2026 | cms9files.revize.com |
| Gunnison County | Transfer of Title application fee | $60 | 2026 | gunnisoncounty.org |
| Boulder County | Property Transfer Certificate fee | $500 | 2026 | bouldercounty.gov |
| Pueblo County | health-department inspection incl. pumping coordination | $385 | 2026 | pueblocounty.gov |
| Pueblo County | review fee when certified inspector's report submitted | $140 | 2026 | pueblocounty.gov |
Inspectors, pumpers and labs set their own prices on top of these; the official source is the one that counts.
Private wells in Clear Creek County
In 2015 about 3,253 of Clear Creek County’s 9,303 residents (35%) got their drinking water from a private well, by the USGS estimate. That is the 17th highest share of the 64 Colorado counties in the USGS table, and the 28th highest number of private-well users.
As we read it, this rule covers the septic system, not the well.
Source: USGS county water use 2015 (Dieter et al., 2018). Ranks count the Colorado counties in the USGS table (1 = highest).
Certified labs nearest to Clear Creek County for a well water test
Labs on the Colorado certified drinking-water list that the list marks as taking samples from homeowners or outside clients, certified for coliform bacteria, nearest first. All of them are outside Clear Creek County.
| Lab | Town | Distance | Certified on the list for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilpin County Public Health Agency | Black Hawk, CO | 13 miles (approx.) | coliform bacteria |
| Colorado Analytical Laboratory - Lakewood | Lakewood, CO | 30 miles (approx.) | coliform bacteria |
| Eurofins Reservoirs Environmental, Inc. | Arvada, CO | 31 miles (approx.) | coliform bacteria |
Source: CDPHE Drinking Water Lab Certifications (Looker Studio report on cdphe.colorado.gov/dwlabs) (Live report, no edit date shown; data read by the report at 2026-11-02 20:39 UTC (Looker Studio dataTimestamp); read November 2, 2026). Straight-line distance from the centre of Clear Creek County (the average of its Census ZIP-area points); “approx.” = lab placed at its ZIP centre. Call the lab first: lists do not say which household tests each lab takes or what it charges.
Nearest other sale-time rules
Buying or selling near a county line? These are the closest other local rules in our census to Clear Creek County.
| Rule | State | Distance | Covers | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County | Colorado | about 24 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Boulder County | Colorado | about 31 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Teller County | Colorado | about 64 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Larimer County | Colorado | about 65 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Elbert County | Colorado | about 87 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
Straight-line distance between county centres (the average of each county’s Census ZIP-area points). Townships, villages and health districts are placed at the centre of their county.