Elbert County, Colorado Real Estate: Elizabeth, Kiowa and Acreage
Giles Team helps people buy and sell homes and acreage in Elbert County, Colorado. We're McLean and Ginger Giles, a husband-and-wife team with Coldwell Banker Realty. Rural property is our specialty: wells, septic systems, larger lots and the county rules that come with them.
Where is Elbert County?
Elbert County is on Colorado's eastern plains, just east of Douglas County. It borders Arapahoe County to the north, El Paso County to the southwest and Lincoln County to the east. The county covers about 1,851 square miles. Kiowa is the county seat, and Elizabeth is the largest town.
What is Elbert County like?
Elbert County is mostly rural, with large tracts of farm and ranch land. Most residents live in rural subdivisions in the northwest part of the county, near Elizabeth. Parcels in those subdivisions are typically 10 to 35 acres. The eastern part of the county is largely working agricultural land.
The county has three incorporated towns, Elizabeth, Kiowa and Simla, plus smaller communities including Elbert, Agate, Matheson, Fondis and Ponderosa Park. Elizabeth began as a sawmill camp in the 1850s and incorporated as a town in 1890.
Public schools are run by several local districts, including the Elizabeth School District and Kiowa School District C-2. Which district serves a property depends on its address.
What areas in Elbert County does the Giles Team cover?
- Elizabeth: the largest town, with homes in town and acreage subdivisions around it.
- Ponderosa Park and the northwest county: rural subdivisions with larger lots, wells and septic systems.
- Kiowa and Elbert: the county seat and the small community to its south, surrounded by ranch and acreage land.
- Franktown (next door, in Douglas County): buyers often compare it with Elizabeth. Franktown is in Douglas County, so Douglas County rules apply there.
Get new Elbert County listings by email
Be the first to see new homes and land in Elbert County. Save this search and we'll email you new listings as they hit the market.
Living in and around Elizabeth
Elizabeth is Elbert County's largest town, on State Highway 86 east of Franktown. There are homes in town and acreage subdivisions around it, where wells and septic systems are common.
- Around town: rural subdivisions, typically 10 to 35 acres, many with room for horses. Zoning and covenants decide how many animals are allowed.
- Events: the Elizabeth Stampede rodeo is held each June.
- Getting there: Highway 86 runs west to Franktown, where Highway 83 heads north to Parker, and on to Castle Rock and I-25.
- Schools: much of the area is in Elizabeth School District C-1. Check the district boundary map for any address.
- Rules: Elbert County septic Use Permit at sale; state well permit. See our Acreage Guide.
In September 2026 the single-family median in Elizabeth was $630,900 on 35 sales, and homes took a median of 104 days to sell. Year to date the median was $645,000 (Colorado Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update, September 2026).
What should I know before buying acreage in Elbert County?
How do wells work on Elbert County property?
Most rural homes here use a private well. Every Colorado well has a permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the permit lists what the water can be used for.
A "household use only" permit generally allows water for ordinary household purposes inside a single-family home. It doesn't allow irrigating a lawn or garden, and it may not allow watering livestock. Many wells in the area draw from the Denver Basin aquifers, which have their own state rules. Always read the actual permit for the property before you fall for the land.
How do septic systems work when a home sells?
Homes outside town sewer service usually have an on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS), better known as a septic system. Elbert County requires a septic Use Permit before a home with a septic system is sold. See the seller section below. As a buyer, ask whether the seller has the Use Permit, and read the inspection report.
What else should acreage buyers check?
- Zoning and covenants: what you can build, and whether horses or other animals are allowed and how many.
- Access and roads: who maintains the road to the property.
- Outbuildings: barns, shops and sheds, and whether they were permitted.
- Commute: test-drive it at the time of day you'd make it.
McLean looks at the house, the outbuildings and the property with you. Ginger keeps the contract and its deadlines on track. Our Douglas & Elbert County Acreage Guide goes deeper.
What should I know before selling a home in Elbert County?
What is an Elbert County septic Use Permit?
Before a home on a septic system is sold in Elbert County, the system has to be inspected by a licensed septic inspector, and Elbert County Public Health issues a Use Permit. Here are the key points:
- The inspection report must be from within the past 12 months.
- The county fee is $100.
- The county can take up to two weeks to issue the permit, so start early.
- If repairs are needed, the county can issue a Provisional Use Permit. You can close with it, but the repairs must be finished within 30 days by a licensed installer.
- If the seller doesn't get the Use Permit, the buyer has to.
What other documents help an Elbert County sale?
- The well permit and any well test or service records.
- Septic inspection, pumping and repair records.
- Covenants, HOA documents (if any), surveys and outbuilding permits.
We market acreage listings with professional photography, video and drone footage, so buyers can see the land, the outbuildings and the views before they visit.
Elbert County questions we hear often
What is the county seat of Elbert County?
Kiowa is the county seat. Elizabeth is the largest town.
Is Franktown in Elbert County?
No. Franktown is in Douglas County, so Douglas County's septic and permit rules apply there, not Elbert County's.
Do I need a septic inspection to sell my home in Elbert County?
Yes, if the home has a septic system. Elbert County requires an inspection by a licensed inspector and a Use Permit before the sale.
Can I water a garden or animals from a household-use-only well?
Generally, a household-use-only permit covers water used inside the home only. Read the specific permit, because the allowed uses are listed on it.
How big are typical lots in Elbert County subdivisions?
Elbert County reports that typical rural subdivisions there have lots between 10 and 35 acres.
Who are the Giles Team?
Giles Team is McLean Giles (Colorado license FA.100052648) and Ginger Giles (Colorado license FA.100052642), Realtors with Coldwell Banker Realty South Metro in Englewood, Colorado. Call or text (720) 593-2378 or email team@gilesteam.com.
Ready to buy or sell in Elbert County?
Call or text (720) 593-2378, email team@gilesteam.com, or send us a message. Selling acreage? Ask for a home value.
Giles Team | Coldwell Banker Realty South Metro · 6501 E Belleview Ave, Suite 500, Englewood, CO 80111 · (720) 593-2378 · team@gilesteam.com
McLean Giles, Colorado license FA.100052648 · Ginger Giles, Colorado license FA.100052642
Also see: Castle Rock · Parker · Acreage Guide
Rules and fees change. Septic and well details here were checked against Elbert County and Colorado Division of Water Resources sources in October 2026. Confirm current requirements with the county and the state.
