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Environmental Agriculture Program

The Environmental Agriculture Program administers Colorado’s air and water quality regulatory programs specific to animal feeding operations, including concentrated animal feeding operations and housed commercial swine feeding operations. Program activities include writing discharge and odor emissions permits; conducting site inspections; developing and implementing policies and regulations; providing compliance assistance; responding to complaints and when necessary, initiating enforcement actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What regulations apply to animal feeding operations in Colorado?

Animal feeding operations in Colorado may be subject to the following environmental regulations:

Colorado Water Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 81, a state control regulation that addresses surface and ground water protection requirements for animal feeding operations and non-permitted concentrated animal feeding operations
Section 61.17 of Colorado Water Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 61, which addresses discharge permits for concentrated animal feeding operations
Section 61.13 of Colorado Water Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 61, which addresses discharge permits for housed commercial swine feeding operations
Colorado Water Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 66, a state-only financial assurance regulation for housed commercial swine feeding operations
Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 2, Part B, which requires housed commercial swine feeding operations to obtain an operating permit and an Odor Management Plan that details how the facility will to minimize odor from all aspects of the operation to the greatest extent possible

What is a Animal Feeding Operation (AFO)

An Animal Feeding Operation (AFO) refers to a facility or lot where the following conditions are met:

Animals have been or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12 month period, and
Crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post-harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot or facility

All AFOs in Colorado are subject to the best management requirements as set forth in Regulation No. 81 (“Animal Feeding Operations Control Regulation”) for the purpose of protecting waters of the state.

How many animals does it take to be an AFO?

An AFO can consist of one or more animals where the following conditions are met:

An animal(s) have been, are, or will be stabled or confined, fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period, and
Crops, vegetation, forage growth or post-harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot or facility.

What is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)

A Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) means an animal feeding operation that is either defined as a large or medium CAFO or that is designated as a CAFO by the Environmental Agriculture Program pursuant to the Water Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 81.

How many animals does it take to be a CAFO?

A CAFO that stables or confines as many, or more, than the numbers of animals listed below:

Large CAFO - 700 mature dairy cows
1,000 cattle (cattle includes, but is not limited to heifers, steers, bulls and cow/calf pairs)
1,000 veal calves
2,500 swine each weighing 55 pounds or more
10,000 swine each weighing less than 55 pounds
500 horses
10,000 sheep or lambs
55,000 turkeys
30,000 laying hens or broilers using a liquid manure handling system
82,000 laying hens if using a manure handling system other than liquid
125,000 chickens (other than laying hens) if using a manure handling system other than liquid
30,000 ducks using a manure handling system other than liquid (5,000 if liquid)

Are CAFOs required to obtain a permit from the state?

Not necessarily. CAFOs are defined as point sources of pollution under the Colorado Water Quality Control Act. As such, CAFOs in Colorado are required to have a discharge permit prior to discharging pollutants to waters of the U.S (see section 61.17 of Regulation No. 61). A CAFO that decides not to apply for a permit is required to protect surface water by adhering to the surface water protection elements of Regulation No. 81. All CAFOs in Colorado, whether permitted or not, are required to adhere to the groundwater protection elements of Regulation No. 81.

What is a Housed Commercial Swine Feeding Operation (HCSFO)

Housed Commercial Swine Feeding Operations (HCSFOs) refer to a facility that is capable of housing 800,000 pounds or more of live animal weight of swine at any one time, or is deemed a commercial operation under local zoning or land use regulations.

All HCSFOs in Colorado are required to hold an individual discharge permit under section 61.13 of Regulation No. 61 (“Colorado Discharge Permit System Regulations”), and to hold an odor emissions permit under Colorado Regulation No. 2, Part B (“Odor Emissions”).

Links for Regulations, Guidance, Policies, Fact Sheets, and Forms are available at the top of the page.

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