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Colorado · Front Range · Rocky Mountains · #89 Most Populous County in the US
El Paso County, Colorado
Colorado's second-largest county - Colorado Springs, the US Air Force Academy, NORAD, Fort Carson, and Pikes Peak. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for El Paso County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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El Paso County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; El Paso County Fairgrounds (Calhan); Colorado Springs city facilities; PPACG coordination
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Colorado’s second most populous county; Colorado Springs is county seat and Colorado’s second-largest city; wildfire risk (EXTREME – 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire destroyed 346 homes in northwest Colorado Springs – the most destructive fire in Colorado history at the time; 2013 Black Forest Fire destroyed 511 homes – the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history at that time; ongoing catastrophic risk in the wildland-urban interface communities of the Front Range; Colorado Springs consistently appears on national lists of most fire-threatened large cities); tornado risk (eastern plains portion); hailstorms (devastating); flooding (Fountain Creek, Monument Creek); major military installations: Fort Carson (US Army – 137,000 acres; one of the largest Army installations in the US), Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station (NORAD/USNORTHCOM headquarters – the iconic underground mountain facility)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: El Paso County Public Services – (719) 520-6460
Transit: Mountain Metro Transit – (719) 385-7433 | coloradosprings.gov/transit; limited but expanding; Bustang (Denver-Colorado Springs intercity service – (719) 385-6272); Amtrak very limited
Airport: Colorado Springs Airport (COS – American, Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest, United service; one of Colorado’s busiest airports)
Notes: I-25 (the Front Range’s main north-south highway – heavy traffic between Denver and Colorado Springs); US-24 (east toward Falcon, Peyton; west toward Manitou Springs, Woodland Park); US-85 north; SR-21 (Powers Boulevard – major north-south commercial corridor); Nevada Avenue (US-85A – historic main street of Colorado Springs); Tejon Street downtown corridor; El Paso County’s geographic range from downtown Colorado Springs (elevation 6,035 ft) to the Pikes Peak summit (14,115 ft) is extraordinary; Pikes Peak Highway (private toll road to the summit)
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: El Paso County Development Services – (719) 520-6300 | elpasoco.com/development-services
Services: Unincorporated county permits; Colorado Springs (Colorado’s second-largest city – very active separate permits), Fountain, Monument, Palmer Lake, Manitou Springs, Calhan, Ramah have separate permits
Notes: El Paso County is one of Colorado’s most active building counties; Colorado Springs is growing significantly with residential and commercial development; Powers Corridor commercial development; Banning Lewis Ranch development (major planned community on Colorado Springs’ east side – thousands of homes); military-adjacent housing development (Fort Carson, Peterson, Schriever); wildfire-resistant construction requirements are strictly enforced in Interface areas after the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: El Paso County Veterans Services – (719) 520-6390
VA Medical: Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC (Aurora – accessible via I-25, about 75 miles); Colorado Springs VA CBOC – (719) 327-5000 (significant local outpatient facility); Pueblo CBOC accessible; Fort Carson Tricare for active duty; Evans Army Community Hospital (Fort Carson – military hospital)
Services: Full range; Colorado Springs CBOC is a major local VA outpatient facility; Evans ACH provides military healthcare; Fort Logan National Cemetery (Denver) for veterans; Pikes Peak National Cemetery (Colorado Springs area – Veterans Memorial Cemetery)
Notes: Colorado Springs has one of the largest veteran and active-duty military communities in the US; the concentration of four major military installations (Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, Cheyenne Mountain SFCS) makes El Paso County one of the most military-significant counties in the nation; the Colorado Springs CBOC is among the busiest in the Colorado VA system; many military retirees choose Colorado Springs for permanent residence creating a large veteran community; active VSO chapter network; veteran homelessness in Colorado Springs is a significant challenge
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) – (719) 531-6333 | ppld.org; 14 branches serving Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, Manitou Springs, and unincorporated areas; one of Colorado’s finest public library systems
Branches: East Library, Penrose Library (downtown), Monument Library, Fountain Library, Manitou Springs Library, Rockrimmon, Cheyenne Mountain, Palmer Lake, and others
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy (outstanding – Western Heritage Room at Penrose Library), maker spaces, recording studios, digital labs, seed library, children’s programs; military community resources; multilingual materials
Notes: Pikes Peak Library District is consistently rated among Colorado’s finest library systems; the Penrose Library (downtown Colorado Springs – a historic Carnegie Library building) houses the Western Heritage Room with outstanding regional history and genealogy collections; maker spaces at multiple branches serve the tech and creative community; military community resources (resources for families of deployed service members, transition assistance materials) are exceptional; the library’s programming for military families reflects the community’s character
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
County Parks: El Paso County Parks – (719) 520-7529 | elpasoco.com/parks; Falcon Regional Park; Palmer Lake Recreational Area; Chico Basin Ranch (working ranch conservation); Fox Run Regional Park
State Parks: Cheyenne Mountain State Park (Colorado Springs – foothills park; excellent hiking and mountain biking trails with views of Colorado Springs and the plains; adjacent to NORAD’s Cheyenne Mountain facility); Mueller State Park (west of Colorado Springs – excellent wildlife viewing; elk herds; coyotes; mountain views; one of the finest state parks for wildlife in Colorado)
Federal: Pike National Forest (surrounding the county); Garden of the Gods (City of Colorado Springs – National Natural Landmark; extraordinary red sandstone formations rising from the plains and backed by Pikes Peak – one of Colorado’s most photographed and most visited natural attractions; FREE admission); Pikes Peak (14,115 ft – “America’s Mountain”; the inspiration for “America the Beautiful” (Katherine Lee Bates wrote the song after seeing the view from Pikes Peak in 1893); America’s most-visited 14er by far; accessible via the Cog Railway or Pikes Peak Highway; the Manitou Incline is a famous extreme fitness challenge); Palmer Park; Ute Valley Park; North Cheyenne Cañon Park (Colorado Springs – Bear Creek; Helen Hunt Falls; scenic canyon); Red Rock Canyon Open Space
City: US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center and Museum (Colorado Springs – the national training center for Olympic and Paralympic athletes; public tours available; athletes training can sometimes be observed; one of Colorado’s most unique attractions); ProRodeo Hall of Fame (Colorado Springs – one of the finest rodeo museums in the US; comprehensive history of professional rodeo); Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (Taylor Museum – excellent art museum and performing arts venue on the Colorado College campus); National Museum of World War II Aviation (Colorado Springs – extraordinary collection of WWII aircraft); Old Colorado City Historic District (Colorado Avenue – preserved Victorian commercial district; galleries, restaurants, unique shops); Manitou Springs (a Victorian spa town at the base of Pikes Peak; historic mineral springs; Manitou Cliff Dwellings – Ancestral Puebloan structures; the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak terminus; unique arts community)
Notes: El Paso County’s combination of natural assets (Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, red rock formations, mountain parks) and military/cultural institutions makes it one of Colorado’s most diverse destinations; Garden of the Gods is extraordinary – the 300-foot sandstone spires rising from the plains against the backdrop of Pikes Peak are one of Colorado’s signature images; the garden is simultaneously a geological wonder, a free public park, and a city-owned National Natural Landmark; Pikes Peak’s role in inspiring “America the Beautiful” gives it a cultural significance beyond its geological status; the US Olympic Training Center is unique – watching world-class athletes train in person is a genuinely special experience; the ProRodeo Hall of Fame is a surprisingly excellent museum; Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is a Colorado cultural gem
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: El Paso County GIS – elpasoco.com/gis; Pikes Peak Regional Building Department GIS; USGS earthquake and geological mapping; Colorado Springs fire hazard maps; Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fire damage maps; military installation boundary maps (restricted)
Notes: Active GIS; Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fire damage and rebuilding tracking; wildfire hazard severity zone maps critical; Fountain Creek flood plain mapping; Powers Corridor development GIS; military installation boundary maps; Cheyenne Mountain SFCS facility mapping (restricted)
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: El Paso County Animal Services – (719) 473-1741; Colorado Springs Animal Law Enforcement (CSPD Animal Unit); Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR – (719) 473-1741 | hsppr.org – major regional humane society)
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter, microchipping; wildlife management (mountain lions – very active in the ponderosa pine communities; black bears; coyotes throughout; pronghorn in eastern plains portion; mule deer everywhere)
Notes: HSPPR is one of the Mountain West’s major humane societies – well-funded and innovative; mountain lion activity in Colorado Springs’ western neighborhoods and Cheyenne Mountain area is significant and increasing – the ponderosa pine forest provides excellent cover and the suburban deer population feeds the lions; Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires displaced enormous wildlife populations; black bear management in foothill communities is ongoing; Fort Carson’s wildlife management (the post’s open land hosts pronghorn, mule deer, and burrowing owls)
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: El Paso County Recycling and Solid Waste – (719) 520-6460; Colorado Springs Utilities solid waste (city); Sunbird Landfill
Recycling: Colorado Springs has actively improved recycling programs; El Paso County recycling events; HHW programs; ColoradoRecycles compliance
Air Quality: Colorado Air Pollution Control Division; Colorado Springs has occasional air quality challenges from wildfires, dust events, and vehicle emissions; the mountain setting generally provides good air quality; wood smoke in winter
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; Fountain Creek watershed (Fountain Creek carries runoff from Colorado Springs through Pueblo into the Arkansas River – it is one of the most impaired streams in Colorado due to urban runoff; ongoing water quality improvement projects); Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority; Colorado Springs Utilities (owns and operates water, wastewater, electric, and natural gas – an unusually comprehensive city utility); US Forest Service (Pike NF); Fort Carson environmental compliance (extensive – the post has live fire training ranges and significant PFAS contamination from historical firefighting foam)
Notes: Waldo Canyon (2012) and Black Forest (2013) Fires were transformative events for Colorado Springs – they fundamentally changed the city’s approach to wildfire risk, building codes, evacuation planning, and land use in the wildland-urban interface; the Black Forest Fire’s destruction of 511 homes in a high-density suburban subdivision shocked Coloradans who had thought this level of destruction was only possible in rural areas; Fort Carson’s PFAS contamination from the Army’s use of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) firefighting foam has contaminated groundwater beneath and adjacent to the post; the Army is conducting remediation and providing alternative water supplies; Fountain Creek’s water quality is a long-running challenge – Colorado Springs has invested significantly in stormwater management but urban runoff continues to impair the creek; Pikes Peak’s watershed provides Colorado Springs with high-quality water that is treated by Colorado Springs Utilities; climate change is reducing the snowpack that feeds Pikes Peak’s streams
About El Paso County
El Paso County sits at the foot of Pikes Peak on Colorado’s Front Range – a 2,126-square-mile county containing Colorado Springs (the state’s second-largest city), Fountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, and the unincorporated communities spreading across the Palmer Divide. The county’s economic identity is defined by its extraordinary concentration of military installations and defense infrastructure: Fort Carson (home to the 4th Infantry Division), Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, NORAD/USNORTHCOM headquarters (inside Cheyenne Mountain), and the United States Air Force Academy north of the city. The combined military presence makes El Paso County one of the most defense-concentrated counties in the United States.
Colorado Springs has grown significantly as a technology and logistics destination – particularly in defense contracting, cybersecurity, and aerospace – layered on top of the military foundation. The county is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners with an elected County Assessor, Treasurer/Public Trustee, Clerk and Recorder, Sheriff, District Attorney, and Coroner.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Colorado property tax is assessed biennially – all properties are reappraised every two years in odd-numbered years (2023, 2025, etc.). For 2025 and 2026, values are based on an 18-month sales study period running January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. Even-numbered years (2024, 2026) keep the prior odd-year value unless the property has changed. This cycle means your 2025 Notice of Valuation (NOV) governs both tax years 2025 and 2026.
The El Paso County Assessor at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 2300, Colorado Springs (719-520-6610) mails NOVs shortly after May 1 of reappraisal years. The official appeal window is May 1 through June 9 – a narrow 40-day window. Appeals may be filed by telephone, mail, walk-in at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, fax, or online through the Assessor’s portal.
Colorado assessment mechanics: The state sets a residential assessment rate of 6.25% of actual (market) value for 2025 – this is the fraction of market value that millage rates are applied to. A home with an actual value of $500,000 has an assessed value of $31,250 for tax calculation purposes. This keeps effective rates low relative to the actual value.
The appeal process:
Step 1: File your appeal with the El Paso County Assessor (address above) by June 9. Explain why the value is incorrect and provide comparable sales, condition documentation, or other evidence. The Assessor reviews and responds with a Notice of Determination (NOD) by August 15. There is no presumption in favor of the Assessor’s value – you and the Assessor are on equal footing.
Step 2: If unsatisfied with the NOD, appeal to the El Paso County Board of Equalization (CBOE) at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 2100, Colorado Springs. The NOD explains how to file this appeal.
Step 3: If unsatisfied with the CBOE decision, appeal to the Colorado Board of Assessment Appeals or to the District Court.
Tax payment: Bills are mailed in January for the prior tax year. Pay in full by April 30, or in two installments: first half by February 28, second half by June 16.
Senior and veteran exemptions: The Colorado Senior Homestead Exemption exempts 50% of the first $200,000 of actual value for qualifying homeowners age 65 or older who have owned and occupied their primary residence for at least 10 consecutive years. The state reimburses the county for the exempted taxes. Disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected disability qualify for a similar exemption. Gold Star spouses of service members who died in the line of duty also qualify. Apply through the El Paso County Assessor’s office.
Colorado has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax.
OWNWELL CTA: El Paso County’s 2025 reappraisal values govern both 2025 and 2026 taxes – one successful appeal protects two tax years. Appeal window May 1–June 9. No presumption in favor of the Assessor’s value. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
El Paso County's 2025 reappraisal values govern both 2025 and 2026 taxes - one successful appeal protects two tax years. Appeal window May 1–June 9. No presumption in favor of the Assessor's value. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The El Paso County District Court at 270 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs (719-452-5000) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs (719-520-6200) maintains all land records – deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents – and vital records. Colorado court records are accessible through Colorado’s courts online portal.
Colorado probate is governed by the Colorado Uniform Probate Code (CRS Title 15). Colorado has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax – only federal estate tax applies. Colorado recognizes Transfer on Death deeds for real property.
Military estate planning: El Paso County’s massive military population creates specific estate planning needs. SGLI (Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance), Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts pass by beneficiary designation outside of probate – keeping these designations current is essential. Fort Carson, Peterson, Schriever, and the Air Force Academy all have legal assistance offices providing free wills, powers of attorney, and estate planning for eligible service members and their dependents.
Senior Services: The El Paso County Department of Human Services – Senior Services (719-444-5700) and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging coordinate home-delivered meals, transportation, SHIP Medicare counseling, caregiver support, and connections to Colorado Medicaid long-term care programs. Colorado’s HCBS-EBD Waiver provides in-home care for qualifying seniors.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
1675 W. Garden of the Gods Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80907
(719) 520-6202
Genealogy
County-level record sources
El Paso County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Pikes Peak Genealogical Society, Colorado Springs, CO – serves El Paso County.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
El Paso County Judicial Building – District Court (Probate Division) 270 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 452-5000 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the El Paso County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
27 E. Vermijo Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 520-7100
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
1675 W. Garden of the Gods Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80907
(719) 520-6202
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(719) 578-3199
Human Services
(719) 444-5445
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: El Paso County Public Health – (719) 578-3199 | elpasocountyhealth.org
Services: Comprehensive county health department; immunizations; WIC; STI/HIV testing; behavioral health; environmental health; restaurant inspections; epidemiology; military family health coordination
Hospital: UCHealth Memorial Hospital (Colorado Springs – Level I trauma); Penrose-St. Francis (Centura Health – two major hospitals); Children’s Hospital Colorado (Colorado Springs campus); Peak Vista Community Health Centers (FQHCs serving uninsured and low-income); Evans Army Community Hospital (military – Fort Carson)
Notes: Colorado Springs has strong hospital infrastructure; UCHealth Memorial is the Level I trauma center; Penrose-St. Francis serves a large market; Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus is important for pediatric care; El Paso County has significant health disparities between affluent northern Colorado Springs and lower-income areas; behavioral health demand is significant and the county has invested in crisis response; the military community creates unique behavioral health needs (PTSD, TBI, suicide prevention – the military community’s mental health challenges are significant); opioid crisis is significant
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