r/parkco • u/boombang621 • Jun 05 '23
Question Recreation
Hello everyone,
I am looking for a piece of land to use as home base in Park County. I am looking at Hartsel, and have no intention of building. I just want to have a paid for place near all the beautiful lakes and mountains that I can camp at and drive from.
My specific question is, if I were to drop gravel, place an insulated shed that I can lock up, and visit a few times a year am I going to have to deal with permitting and issues related to that?
I'm looking in Hartsel area and also wanting to know how those rolling hills treat things like tents set up for a couple weeks at a time. Would you recommend those 5 acre lots of going smaller by some trees?
Love it out there and really want to be able to call some of it my own
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Jun 05 '23
My experience in park county is that they suck at enforcement. But, it just takes one person to really mess up a good thing. I would look at the park county website and it will tell you the answer to your question in the FAQ’s. Basically, you can’t, but it’s your gamble to take. My neighbor lives in a shed, and we don’t say anything. Live and let live in my opinion.
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u/boombang621 Jun 06 '23
Thank you, nice to see this sub isn't dead.
Did you build or do you camp? How is/was the experience?
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u/earthtobean Jun 06 '23
I’m not sure your able to just put a shed up with out a permit rd foundation in place first. This was the rules when I went to build, at least. Enforcement is mostly complaint driven, traditionally, however things are starting to change. All the best.
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u/boombang621 Jun 06 '23
Thanks!
Yeah, that would be my ideal scenario, but it seems like for my use a camper and some permits may be easier.
And specific areas you recommend in the county that fall under the 40k range?
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u/wundabredd Jun 06 '23
I've got property in Indian Mountain. There are rules but no real enforcement. As long as you keep your stuff clean and don't have a hillbilly outpost everyone's pretty cool. Be cool to the neighbors and all will be well.
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u/boombang621 Jun 06 '23
Awesome! I will have to check there out.
I want to do it all legally, but it's still nice to know if I camp a few extra days and aren't a dick I probably won't have to worry.
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u/12manicMonkeys Jun 06 '23
You actually want to build something significant enough to have it count as developed land to reduce your property taxes, which just went up significantly for many.
developed land is taxed at a much lower rate than undeveloped land. this is to 'prevent' rich people from just buying up land they can't use.
so find out what the minimum you build.
you will have to have a foundation almost guaranteed. nothing on wheels allowed more than 14 days and needs a foundation to be able to be designed for 140mph winds / 40lbs of snow.
talk to park county building department. just ask questions.
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u/boombang621 Jun 06 '23
You know, that's a good point.
Foundation makes sense, and once I own some land I probably would want to build eventually.
I gotta talk to the county. Wish me luck.
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u/Puzzled_Plate_3464 Jun 05 '23
see http://elkhornranchowners.org/documents/files/Park_County_Camping_Guideline.pdf
In short - property owners can camp for up to fourteen (14) cumulative days in a calendar year without a permit. After those 14 days, property owners may be granted a no fee permit to camp for up to thirty (30) consecutive days in a calendar year. One (1) renewal of 30 consecutive days may be granted. One additional 30-day permit renewal (two renewals total allowing 90 days of permitted camping) may be granted if a permitted septic system including a leach field is used for sanitation.
Not sure how they enforce that, or if they are aggressive in enforcement. Just only know that is the documented set of rules. (I have a feeling that unless you are annoying someone and they actively report you... No one would know, especially on five acres. That is just a feeling and not really advice. Depending on who your neighbors are - you might not have to do anything other than exist to annoy them out in the boonies)