Battery storage rules: Colorado
Colorado has no state siting permit for battery storage. Counties (outside cities and towns) and cities and towns decide through their own zoning, and the rules and permit type differ from county to county. Since SB24-212, a local government can ask the state for optional technical help writing codes or reviewing projects; the act sets no state standard. There is no statewide fire code edition for ordinary sites: the state fire division's adoption of the 2021 IFC covers only the buildings it oversees, and a fire protection district's code applies in a county or city only if that county or city adopts it. Logan, Delta and Phillips counties paused battery storage applications in 2025, and Washington County from December 27, 2023; Logan, Washington and Delta have since adopted rules.
No statewide pause; some counties paused, and some have adopted rules
There is no statewide moratorium. Logan, Delta and Phillips counties paused battery storage applications in 2025, and Washington County from December 27, 2023; Logan, Washington and Delta counties have since adopted battery storage regulations, and Phillips County's pause runs through December 31, 2026. Ask your county what applies now. Logan Res. 2026-4; Washington Co. Res. 16-2026; Delta Co. Res. 2026-R-23; Phillips Co. Res. 2025-09-30-01 (as amended) and Board minutes Aug. 20, 2026
Fire and building codes in force
- No statewide fire code edition for ordinary sites: ask your county or city building department and your fire protection district which edition applies
- The state Division of Fire Prevention and Control adopts the 2021 IFC only for buildings it oversees, such as public schools and health facilities (8 CCR 1507-101)
- A fire protection district's fire code applies in a county or city only if that county or city adopts it by resolution (C.R.S. 32-1-1002(1)(d))
How a project is permitted
Local: the county's zoning (in unincorporated areas, C.R.S. 30-28-113) or the city's or town's, with the permit type set locally (often a special use or conditional use permit). A local government may ask the Energy and Carbon Management Commission for technical support (SB24-212). Ask your county or city: is battery storage an allowed use in your zone, by what permit, is it paused, and which fire code applies?
Legislation
- SB24-212: local government technical assistance for renewable energy and storage (enacted): Signed May 21, 2024. Optional state help, at a local government's request, for writing codes or reviewing projects; it sets no state standard. leg.colorado.gov, SB24-212 (signed act)
- HB26-1268: renewable energy reinvestment areas (enacted): Signed May 27, 2026. Lets a local government with land-use permitting authority designate renewable energy reinvestment areas for siting renewable energy and energy storage projects; an incentive, not a safety rule. leg.colorado.gov, HB26-1268
Storage in this place
- EIA Form 860M (September 2026): about 670 MW of battery storage operating in Colorado and about 1,950 MW planned (EIA covers plants of 1 MW or more).
Places within
- Logan County, CO — battery storage rules adopted February 2026; the moratorium was rescinded
- Washington County, CO — battery storage rules adopted April 2026; the pause ended
- Phillips County, CO — solar and battery storage applications paused through December 31, 2026
- Delta County, CO — battery storage rules adopted September 2026; the pause ended
Sources
- SB24-212 — signed act (local government technical assistance) Colorado General Assembly
- HB26-1268 — bill page Colorado General Assembly
Check a specific system
For a proposal or a system you're evaluating, answer a few questions in BESScheck: you get the rules that apply here, a checklist of what to ask, and the sources behind each line.