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.
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.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Park County OEM – (719) 836-4133 | parkco.us
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Fairplay school facilities; South Park Community Center; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Central Colorado South Park basin county; Fairplay is county seat; wildfire risk (significant – South Park’s pine and spruce forests; 2021 Badger Creek Fire; ongoing high risk given mountain pine beetle deadfall); avalanche risk (Mosquito Range above Fairplay); flooding (South Platte River headwaters – the South Park basin is the headwaters of the South Fork of the South Platte); extreme cold winters (South Park is a high elevation intermontane basin at 9,900 ft – temperatures regularly -30°F or lower); South Park (the inspiration for the animated TV show “South Park” – the show’s creators are from nearby); Alma (one of the highest incorporated towns in the US at 10,578 ft); Mount Lincoln (14,286 ft – most accessible 14er complex in Colorado)
Notes: US-285 (the main corridor from Denver through Fairplay south to Alamosa and New Mexico; Kenosha Pass (9,990 ft) and Red Hill Pass cross the county); SR-9 (north to Breckenridge and I-70 via Hoosier Pass (11,542 ft); south to Canon City via Eleven Mile Reservoir); Fairplay is about 80 miles from Denver via US-285; the county is surrounded by mountain passes; Breckenridge (Summit County) is adjacent via SR-9; South Park encompasses thousands of acres of open high-altitude basin
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Park County Community Development – (719) 836-4280
Services: County permits; Fairplay (separate), Alma, Hartsel, Bailey (US-285 corridor)
Notes: Significant second-home and vacation property development (proximity to ski resorts); Bailey area growing as Denver exurb via US-285; wildfire-resistant construction requirements critical; very limited commercial development; solar development in South Park is increasing (high elevation, excellent solar resource)
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Park County Veterans Services – (719) 836-4133
VA Medical: VA Denver (accessible via US-285 – about 80 miles)
Services: Benefits claims; Denver VA accessible via US-285; small veteran community in mountain county
Notes: US-285 provides access to Denver VA; telehealth important given mountain weather that can disrupt travel; Park County’s outdoor recreation economy attracts some veterans
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Park County Public Libraries – (719) 836-4297 | parkcolibraries.org
Branches: Fairplay, Bailey
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; South Park heritage; Colorado high-altitude ranching; “South Park” TV show connection (gentle humor); mining history
Notes: Two-branch system; Fairplay branch serves the high-altitude county seat; Bailey branch serves the Denver-commuter community along US-285; South Park’s heritage (cattle ranching in the high basin since the 1860s; gold and silver mining in the Alma and Fairplay area) is documented in local collections
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Mount Lincoln, Mount Bross, Mount Democrat, Mount Cameron (the “Mosquito Range 14ers” above Alma and Fairplay – four 14ers accessible from a single trailhead at Kite Lake; one of the most productive 14er hiking areas in Colorado; Mount Lincoln at 14,286 ft is routinely climbed by hundreds on summer weekends); Eleven Mile State Park (Eleven Mile Reservoir – excellent trout fishing; ice fishing in winter; boating; camping; spectacular South Park views; one of the finest mountain reservoir parks in Colorado; Gold Medal fishery); Spinney Mountain State Park (adjacent to Eleven Mile – Gold Medal trout fishing; trophy pike; remote and less crowded; one of the finest Colorado fishing experiences); South Park Scenic Byway (US-285 through the basin – spectacular mountain scenery); Lost Creek Wilderness (western Park County – granite wilderness with remarkable rock formations; Lost Creek disappears underground and re-emerges downstream); Tarryall Reservoir; Boreas Pass (old railroad grade – excellent hiking and mountain biking; passes through the high tundra above Breckenridge)
Notes: South Park (the actual geographic feature – the largest high-altitude intermontane basin in Colorado, about 900 square miles at 9,000-10,000 ft elevation, surrounded by 14,000-ft peaks) is one of Colorado’s most spectacular landscapes; the Kite Lake 14er complex (Lincoln, Bross, Democrat, Cameron) allows ambitious hikers to summit four 14ers in a single day; Eleven Mile and Spinney Mountain reservoirs are two of the finest trout fishing destinations in Colorado – the South Platte River headwaters provide exceptional cold-water habitat; Lost Creek Wilderness’s granite rock formations and underground creek are geological curiosities; South Park’s vast open sky and mountain views are extraordinary
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Park County GIS – parkco.us; South Platte headwaters watershed maps; Lost Creek Wilderness maps; USFS Pike NF maps; 14er trail maps; wildfire hazard zone maps
Notes: County GIS; South Platte headwaters hydrological mapping; wildfire hazard mapping (mountain pine beetle deadfall creates extreme fuel loads); Eleven Mile Reservoir water level monitoring; avalanche zone maps for Mosquito Range
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Park County Animal Control – (719) 836-4133; Bailey area animal services
Notes: Mountain county; cattle and horse ranching; elk (significant herds in South Park – the basin’s open meadows are important elk habitat); mule deer; black bears (active in communities adjacent to forests); pronghorn antelope (small populations in South Park); coyotes active against cattle; mountain lion management
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Park County – (719) 836-4133; transfer station in Fairplay
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; South Platte River headwaters management; USFS (Pike NF – encompasses most of the surrounding mountains); Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Eleven Mile and Spinney – Gold Medal fisheries); South Park Land Trust; CWCB
Notes: The South Platte River’s headwaters in South Park are critically important – the river supplies Denver’s water (through the South Platte’s connection to Eleven Mile Reservoir and Cheesman Reservoir downstream); the headwaters’ water quality is protected by the pristine high-altitude basin environment; Eleven Mile and Spinney Mountain Reservoirs’ Gold Medal trout fisheries depend on maintaining excellent water quality and flow; the mountain pine beetle epidemic killed enormous numbers of trees in Park County’s surrounding forests – creating fuel loads that significantly increase wildfire risk; prescribed burns and fuel management are active in the Pike National Forest; South Park’s open basin is increasingly studied for renewable energy development (solar, wind) – the high elevation and open terrain are ideal resources; the South Park Land Trust works to preserve the basin’s ranching landscape and open space from subdivision
About Park County County
Park County is Colorado’s South Park – the vast high-altitude grassland basin that gives the county its name and the animated show its setting, where elk outnumber people across a sweeping mountain landscape anchored by Fairplay’s gold rush heritage and the county’s role as a year-round outdoor recreation destination within easy reach of Denver and Breckenridge.
Fairplay (the county seat, population ~900) is Park County’s governmental hub, a high-altitude South Park community on US 285 whose South Park City Museum, burro racing heritage, and Breckenridge proximity define its character.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Park County Assessor at 856 Castello Avenue, Fairplay, CO 80440, phone 719-836-4240. CO assessed at percentage of actual value.
Courts & Legal
Park County District Court at 300 4th Street, Fairplay, CO 80440, phone 719-836-2940, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
300 4th St., Fairplay, CO 80440
(719) 836-4342
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Park County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Foothills Genealogical Society of Colorado, P.O. Box 150382, Lakewood, CO 80215-0382, (303) 935-9192 – covers Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park Counties as one regional resource.
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
Park Combined Court – District Court (Probate Division) 300 Fourth Street, P.O. Box 190, Fairplay, CO 80440 (719) 836-2940 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 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 Park 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
400 Castello Ave., Fairplay, CO 80440
(719) 836-2494
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
300 4th St., Fairplay, CO 80440
(719) 836-4342
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(719) 836-4260
Human Services
(719) 836-4210
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Park County Public Health – (719) 836-4133
Hospital: No local hospital; St. Anthony Summit Medical Center (Frisco, Summit County – accessible via SR-9 over Hoosier Pass); Colorado Springs and Denver for major care
Notes: No local hospital; Summit County hospital accessible via SR-9; altitude illness (South Park’s 9,900+ ft elevation creates altitude sickness for visitors from lower elevations); behavioral health in isolated mountain community; seasonal worker behavioral health; mental health challenges in remote high-altitude communities
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Fairplay
Population: 18,500
Area: 2,210 sq mi
Established: 1861
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Park County County residents.
