Our first County Leadership panel brought together Grand County officials for a conversation about the systems, services, and decisions that affect property owners, housing, businesses, and our communities.
The discussion covered everything from assessments and building permits to wells, septic systems, wildfire preparedness, tourism, public safety, and future growth. For REALTORS®, one theme came through clearly: we don't need to be the expert in every County rule, but we do need to recognize when there's a question and know where to help our clients find the right answer.
Property Assessments
Residential values for the 2027 and 2028 property tax years will be based on the property's value as of June 30, 2026.
The Assessor's Office uses market data and mass-appraisal methods established under Colorado law. The County's COMPER tool is another resource REALTORS® and property owners can use to explore comparable improved residential sales.
For property owners who disagree with a valuation, the Assessor also emphasized the importance of understanding the protest and appeal process rather than waiting until the tax bill arrives.
Wells, Septic & Future Property Use
One of the most important Community Development reminders was simple:
Acreage alone does not determine what can be built on a property.
Purchasing 35 acres does not automatically allow an owner to drill additional household wells or construct additional homes. Household-use and domestic well permits can allow different uses, so the important question is what the actual well permit allows.
The same principle applies to septic systems. Existing OWTS capacity is tied to the approved system design and bedroom count. An addition, ADU, or another residence may require an expanded or redesigned system.
For REALTORS®, the lesson is not to interpret well or septic requirements for a client — it is to recognize when future use depends on those systems and help the client verify capacity before relying on an assumption.
Permits & Building Codes
Community Development also noted that one recurring problem is discovering that improvements were completed without the proper permits.
An improvement may physically exist without necessarily having been approved by the County.
Grand County is currently operating under the 2021 International Codes along with the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code and applicable local amendments.
When additions, remodels, accessory structures, or other improvements matter to a transaction, checking permit history can prevent surprises later.
Zoning & the Master Plan
Zoning can determine whether a specific land use is allowed outright or requires additional review.
One example discussed during the panel was commercial outdoor storage. In designated Tourist Districts, that use requires special review, while different zoning districts may treat storage differently.
The discussion also highlighted Grand County's ongoing Master Plan update, which will help guide decisions about growth, conservation, infrastructure, housing, transportation, recreation, and community character for years to come.
Wildfire & Emergency Preparedness
Grand County property owners have two especially useful resources:
GCEmergency.com provides emergency alerts, evacuation information, active incident information, and preparedness resources.
BeWildfireReady.org, operated by the Grand County Wildfire Council, helps property owners prepare before an emergency through wildfire-risk assessments, defensible-space guidance, chipping programs, cost-share opportunities, and other mitigation resources.
Both are worth bookmarking — and sharing with clients.
Public Safety & Technology
The Grand County Sheriff's Office is also using technology in new ways.
The department currently has four drones assisting with law-enforcement and traffic incidents, search-and-rescue operations, and wildfire response. During fire incidents, drones can help identify access routes more quickly so responders can reach the scene faster.
Traffic safety remains another priority. Following 11 traffic fatalities and 24 serious injuries in Grand County in 2025, the Sheriff's Office supported Colorado SB26-035, which strengthened consequences for dangerous passing and repeat or excessive speeding.
The Sheriff's Office hopes to establish a dedicated traffic unit in 2027.
Tourism by the Numbers
Grand County has approximately 16,000 year-round residents, compared with approximately 8 million visitors in 2025.
At the time of the panel, tourism activity was running approximately 12% below 2025 levels year-to-date.
That comparison helps put many countywide conversations into perspective. Tourism affects much more than lodging: it influences transportation, roads, workforce needs, business development, recreation, infrastructure, and land-use decisions.
The REALTOR® Takeaway
County government touches property ownership in more ways than most consumers realize.
A REALTOR® does not need to become the Assessor, Building Official, water expert, septic engineer, zoning administrator, or Sheriff.
Good REALTORS® don't guess. We recognize the question and help clients find the right answer.
