Teller County woman’s $150K greenhouse caught in zoning battle over local agriculture

By Tony Keith | KOAA News5

DIVIDE, Colo. (KOAA) — A Colorado woman was told she needs to take her nearly 3,000 square-foot greenhouse down, but she plans to fight to keep it up.

The woman goes by the name Virginia Loop and her home is along Moss Rock Court on the northwest side of Divide. In June of 2024, Loop explained she was excavating her property for a greenhouse kit when a new code enforcement officer paid her a visit. Loop said she had a conversation with that code enforcement officer and explained she didn’t need a permit because of a building code section exempting agricultural structures. Loop sent the code enforcement officer an email, which Loop shared with News5, and reads as follows:

“As discussed on the phone, here is the section of code for exemptions of permitting.

SECTION R105 PERMITS R105.2 Work exempt from permit.

12. Agricultural buildings that meet all the following: (a) are used solely for the agricultural uses that are the basis for the property being classified as agricultural land by the County Assessor, (b) are not used for residential purposes, such as storing household items, personal vehicles, etc., and (c) meet the setback requirements of the Land Use Regulations that would apply were a building permit required. Although no permit for such buildings is required, all construction is required to follow all current building codes in place. Permits and inspections will be required for any applicable electrical, mechanical, or plumbing installations.

Agricultural Land

Agricultural land is

-Located in an incorporated or unincorporated area (without regard to zoning)

-Used in the last two years and presently used as a farm or ranch (or is being restored through conservation practices through a conservation district approved plan)

Let me know if you have any thoughts on the above.”

Loop tells News5 that based on conversations she said she had with the code enforcement officer, she was under the impression she wouldn’t need a permit until electrical was added and she moved ahead with constructing the greenhouse.

In May of this year, Loop started the electrical work and obtained a permit, but soon after, she received a stop-work order for not having a permit for the greenhouse itself. Loop says she had put in more than $150,000 into the greenhouse.

“I went to the planning and building department to file an appeal and stating the reasons,” Loop said of trying to explain why she believed she didn’t need a permit for the original greenhouse. “I brought the email from the code enforcement and they said that I needed to talk to the director, but they pulled the first stop work order so I could finish the electricity in the building. We put $15,000 more electricity in the building. And then when that got inspected, they gave me another stop work order.”

Loop explained she planned to use the greenhouse to grow crops for her neighbors and so her sons could sell the produce at a local farmers market.

News5 reached out to the Teller County Administrator for clarification, and the administrator provided the letter issued to Virginia explaining why the county feels the greenhouse is illegal. The letter can be read by clicking here.

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