Are you thinking about moving to Costilla either full or part
time? Costilla county and San Luis, Colorado is one of the most
beautiful places in the U.S., but it is good to know as much as
possible before purchasing property.
What type of weather should I expect?
Costilla county is located in high arid country of the San Luis
Valley nestled to the west of the some of the most beautiful
mountains including Culebra Peak and Trinchera Peak. The average
temperatures range from a comfortable 80 degrees F during midsummer
to chilly single digit averages with wind in the winter. Rain is not
abundant with an average of 10 inches per year and winter brings
around 36 inches of snow per year.
How do I cover the essentials?
1. Shelter - Become familiar with the Costilla County zoning
rules! The rules are easily accessible here.
Please read the zoning website first.
But can I park my RV on the property?
Use of a recreational vehicle or other camping shelter for
longer than a total of 14 days during any consecutive three
months on the parcel shall require a Long-Term Camping Permit
A Long-Term R.V. Camping Permit may be obtained if all of the
following conditions are met.
• The RV will be hooked to an approved On-Site Wastewater
Treatment System.
• A well has been permitted or cistern installed.
• There are no violations on the property of any County Code or
State Statute or Regulation.
• The placement of the RV conforms to any covenants of the
property. It is the applicant’s responsibility to research
subdivision covenants. The Costilla County Planning and Zoning
Department will not be held responsible for any permits issued which
may violate HOA or LOA rules.
• The applicant has proven ownership of the property.
In addition to these requirements, The Costilla County Planning
and Zoning Department will review all applications prior to
approval. Long-Term R.V. Camping Permits are valid for 60 Days and a
new application must be filed before the expiration date of the
permit. Long-Term camping SHALL NOT EXCEED 180 DAYS per RV,
Person, or Parcel in any 12 month period. RV’s must be inspected by
the Planning and Zoning office to ensure all plumbing and electrical
is in working order prior to application approval. Sites will be
inspected prior to approval. ONLY ONE (1) RV SHALL BE PERMITTED
PER PARCEL. NO STRUCTURES SHALL BE ATTACHED TO RV’S. And, UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES IS AN RV TO BE USED AS A PERMANENT DWELLING.
..From the 2020 Costilla County zoning regulations
How will I find water?
In most locations in Costilla, the options are to use a cistern or
drill a well.
Wells - Drilling for water can be expensive and
require a permit. Contact a local driller for more information about
your lot and how deep the well would need to be drilled. Another
good resource on whether you can drill can be found at
http://water.state.co.us/.
Cisterns - A cistern is a cheaper alternative to
drilling a well. A cistern can be filled for as little as 25$ / 500
gallons of water at the San Luis water department. Purchasing a
cistern can vary in cost depending on whether you store your water
above or below ground, but typically the cost is much less than the
upfront costs of drilling a well.
Where can I restock food and supplies?
San Luis is a central location and has a Family Dollar, but a
drive over to Alamosa provides considerably more options including
groceries, WalMart, hardware, and lumber centers. Alamosa is in
neighboring Alamosa county, so advanced plans should be made since
Alamosa can be 50-60 miles from certain parts of Costilla county.
Life in Costilla can truly be a self-reliant experience. For those
who enjoy hunting and fishing, the Sanchez Reservoir is a 1462 acre
reservoir on the eastern part of the county. The reservoir offers
fishing for catfish, perch, walleye, and northern pike. For the
hunters, Costilla offers some of the best big game in the state.
Antelope, bear, mountain lions, and elk all live in Costilla county.
A 5000 acre "Greenbelt" has been set aside for hunters in the Sangre
De Cristo Ranches. Also, the Trinchera Elk Herd in Game Management
Unit 83 is one of the largest herds in Colorado at 16,000 elk.
Where can I find electricity?
There are a few options for electricity in the San Luis Valley.
Energy Providers:
XCel Energy serves electricity to the local Costilla County area.
The cost of installing new electric lines to your property will be
determined by the distance to the local feeder lines. For more
information about XCel Energy call (800)895-4999.
Alternative Energy:
Solar is a great option in Costilla. Since the region is dry and
arid, it also has plenty of sunlight. The average amount of
clear/sunny days in Costilla county is 285 days per year which is
ideal for constructing your own solar power system. Wind is also an
option, since Costilla County can be windy and averages almost 18
mph. A wind turbine can also generate a significant amount of
electricity, and many types can be purchased at a home improvement
store.
How will I heat my home?
Heating will be relatively important in Costilla, since the
winters are cold and can reach subzero temperatures with strong
gusts of wind. Propane tanks are popular and can also be used for
cooking. There are several companies that will refill a propane tank
and this option is fairly common. Wood heat is also a viable
option. There are local "Woodfests" on private land where residents
can go collect wood from dead trees on private land and be charged
10$ a truckload to haul out the dead wood.
Will I have internet or phone service?
Blanca Networks
provides phone and internet to Costilla county. A lot of the
available service and cost depends on where in the county your
property is located and if Blanca has setup equipment to service
your neighborhood. Cell phone coverage is unfortunately not quite as
straight-forward. Costilla is a large expanse of mountainous
terrain, so cell coverage can vary. This
website provides good feedback on which services worked best
in SLV and where the service was best.
What type of local services should I expect?
Expectations should be set especially if you are visiting Costilla
from a larger city. Costilla county is the 9th least populated
county in Colorado and the total population is just under 4000
people spread across 1230 square miles. Many of the amenities
in medium to larger cities will be nonexistant due to the size of
the population. However, you will find that the attitude in the
county is to do more with less and resourcefulness is crucial to all
its residents. If you can make the adjustment you will find Costilla
to be one of the most amazing places on earth.
What is there to do in Costilla? If you are visiting Costilla for
the first time, please check into many of the local events. There
are so many interesting and cultural events outside of the beautiful
natural wonders all over the county. This
website provides a wonderful overview of many local events.
- The LandSideKick
Interested in seeing properties in Costilla County? Join
the LandSideKicks to see new lots before they become available
to the public.
