Town of Silverton

Building in San Juan County

San Juan County requires either a land use permit or improvement permit permit for nearly any activity that involves turning over dirt, and some activities that don't.    The first type of permit, a land use permit, is issued administratively by the land use administrator.  A land use permit is available for the construction of a road only or for certain activities related to lumbering, mining, or special events.  A land use permit typically does not allow for the construction of a structure of any type.  To obtain a land use permit, one must submit an application form, site plans and maps, visual depiction of proposed road (if applicable), surveyed plat, proof of ownership, and other documents as needing.

For any development involving a significant change of use (e.g. from undeveloped to seasonal residential property), an improvement permit is required.  An improvement permit is also issued by the land use administrator, but only after approval by both the Regional Planning Commission and the San Juan County Board of County Commissioners.  Once a property owner obtains an improvement permit, s/he has a three year window to obtain a building permit and begin construction.  An application for an improvement permit is more detailed than an application for a land use permit and must include the information specified in the document, “Improvement Permit Process for Individual Building Sites not in Approved Subdivisions,” which is attached.  The fee for an improvement permit is $350.

The design of any development site is of utmost importance to the county.  San Juan County is defined by a rugged, natural backcountry, and any development in the county should strive to preserve this natural setting insofar as possible.  To this end, the county has adopted a series of design standards (see document below) for all development within San Juan County.  The application for an improvement permit should address these issues where possible and staff will follow-up after the issuance of an improvement permit to verify compliance with these standards.

Finally, county standards require all cabins to have a septic system, form of potable water, access from a public road or via easements, a minimum of five acres for development, and be setback 20 feet from the property line when adjacent to public lands (e.g. Forest Service, BLM) and 30 feet from the property line when adjacent to private property.

After obtaining an improvement permit (typically a two-to-three month process after submitting a complete application), one must set up an appointment with the building inspector before beginning construction.