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El Paso County, CO Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
LDC § 5.2.56(E)(4)(a)
Backyard composting
Explicitly exempted
Facility rules apply to
Commercial/industrial composting only
Scope
Unincorporated El Paso County

Summary

El Paso County's Land Development Code regulates commercial and industrial composting facilities but expressly exempts backyard composting from those standards, leaving residential composting unregulated countywide.

City-specific rules exist: Colorado Springs has its own composting rules that differ from El Paso County's county-level regulations. If you live in Colorado Springs, check the city-specific page instead.

The regulations of this Section do not apply to:

· Backyard composting, processing yard or landscaping waste into mulch, or a business that accepts finished compost for bagging or handling;

· Agricultural composting if: (1) compost materials are derived from onsite agricul- tural activities by the generator only; and (2) the facility only imports other compat- ible materials in quantities necessary for effective composting as part of a standard agriculture practice; and (3) composting activities that occur at the site of genera- tion or contiguous property owned or leased by the generator; and

· The composting of biosolids with other materials under regulations promulgated pursuant to C.R.S. § 25-8- 205 (1)(e).

(b) Regulatory Applicability. All composting facilities shall comply with the minimum standards as defined herein, and shall be in compliance with all applicable federal, State or local statutes, regulations, requirements or ordinances.

(c) Minimum Standards of Operation for Composting Facilities. All composting facilities shall operate in a manner to:

· Control surface water flowing onto the site and prevent surface water from leaving the site;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 3 | Drainage Criteria Manual: Publication | Engineering Criteria Manual: Supplement 3 | Ordinances: Reformat).

Full Breakdown

Section 5.2.56(E)(4) sets minimum standards of operation for composting facilities that process organic solid waste like food and green waste, manure, sawdust and paper. But subsection (a) carves out backyard composting entirely, along with processing yard or landscaping waste into mulch and businesses that only bag or handle finished compost. No bin, setback or size standard applies to a homeowner composting on their own unincorporated-county property.

Violations & Fines

None: backyard composting is exempt from Section 5.2.56's facility regulations; no county permit, inspection or standard applies to residential compost piles or bins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to compost in my backyard in El Paso County?
No. LDC § 5.2.56(E)(4)(a) exempts backyard composting from the county's composting facility regulations, so no permit or standard applies.
What composting activity IS regulated?
Only larger-scale composting and yard-waste recycling facilities that receive outside organic waste for processing are subject to the operating standards in § 5.2.56(E)(4).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in El Paso County

All El Paso County rules

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