Chaffee in brief ...
Chaffee County is on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in central Colorado. Bordered on the west by the Sawatch Range, including the 14,000 foot Continental Divide, the eastern boundary of the county follows the Mosquito Range, descending toward the south. Located high in the Upper Arkansas Valley, the Arkansas River flows toward the southeast, between the two mountain ranges.
The area is the crossroads for the three highways: U.S. 24, 50 and 285. Driving distance from Denver is approximately 144 miles, 102 miles from Colorado Springs and Pueblo, and 65 miles from Gunnison.
The elevation of the area ranges from just under 7,000 to over 14,000 feet on its highest peaks, providing some of the most spectacular views to be seen anywhere in the world. In fact, Chaffee County has more mountain peaks of 14,000-foot or more than any other county in Colorado and is often referred to as the ”Fourteener” Region.
Request for Proposal: Chaffee County is soliciting a qualified consulting firm to submit a proposal for the development of a renewable energy plan for Chaffee County and its municipalities of Buena Vista, Poncha Springs and Salida. Please click here to view the RFP.
New: Nestle Waters Application:
Nestle Waters has submitted an application for a Special Land Use Permit and 1041 Permit. Please click here for additional information and the Nestle Waters review process.
Right to Ranch: On March 4, 2008 the Chaffee County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 2008-02 "Right to Ranch. The policy contains important information for all land-owners in rural Chaffee County regarding rights, responsibilities and obligations relating to agricultural activities and owning land in Chaffee County. It contains information about the importance of the County's agricultural operations and activities and provides a forum for dispute resolution. You can find additional information on living in a rural area in the "Code of the West". Chaffee County initially published it's Code of the West in the mid-1990's. Most of the original wording was created by John Clark, a Commissioner from Larimer County, Colorado.
Chaffee County ENERGY STAR Program
Snow Removal & Other Winter Tips
Chaffee County/Salida Joint Planning Area
Trails Master Plan
Click here to view the Community Wildfire Protection Plan
To view the proposed Chaffee County Zoning Changes please click on the following link: Land Use Focus Groups and Roundtable information