Administrative overview · FIPS 08023
Costilla County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Costilla County Planning and Zoning Department
For a project in or near Costilla County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
(719) 937-7668; Planning and Zoning contact extension 4 is listed in the County's current procedures document
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
400 Gasper Street, San Luis, CO 81152; mailing P.O. Box 130
Operating hours
Monday-Thursday, 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. for Planning and Zoning questions; the County states offices are open to the public.
Review expectation
The County's current Planning and Zoning procedures document states that permit applications are generally reviewed and approved or denied within 10-15 working days, subject to completeness, required referrals, and the type of review.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Costilla County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Costilla County Planning and Zoning Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact (719) 937-7668; Planning and Zoning contact extension 4 is listed in the County's current procedures document.
How long might review take?
The County's current Planning and Zoning procedures document states that permit applications are generally reviewed and approved or denied within 10-15 working days, subject to completeness, required referrals, and the type of review.
How are inspections scheduled?
Contact Planning and Zoning at (719) 937-7668 to coordinate inspections. The County's resources page lists independent inspectors serving Costilla County, including Carl Hogue (719) 547-7464, Daniel R. Ogden (719) 942-3045, Gregory A. Kimsey (719) 836-4263, and Jeffery E. Rilling (719) 589-6631. An occupancy permit/inspection is required before occupancy, and the fee schedule lists reinspection at $100.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
N/A for a specific 2026 technical code edition. Costilla County's current planning materials encourage construction in accordance with the International Residential Code and publish countywide design loads of 30 pounds per square foot snow load and 115 mph wind load, but the reviewed official materials do not identify a specific adopted 2026 IRC/IBC edition. The County Land Use Code and applicable state permits remain controlling. The Costilla County Land Use Code exempts, in Agricultural zoning districts, qualifying agricultural operations; excavations under 100 cubic yards outside the Watershed Protection Overlay District; accessory structures under 120 sq. ft. associated with exempt uses; and solar panels for single-family homes in all zoning districts. The Code also identifies rural land-use and subdivision exemptions in other contexts. These exemptions do not remove separate requirements such as OWTS, road-access, floodplain, grading, or state permits. All new structures otherwise require county permits, and the County's current procedures state that permits are required regardless of location or zoning.