Colorado Revised Statutes Title 30. Government County § 30-11-303. Oil and gas rights--leases--royalties

(1) Any county acting by its board of county commissioners may lease any real estate or any interest therein owned by the county for oil and gas exploration, development, and production purposes upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed and contracted by the board of county commissioners in the exercise of its best judgment, and as such board deems to be for the best interests of the county.

(2) Any such lease of oil and gas rights shall be for a term not to exceed five years and as long thereafter as oil or gas is produced and shall provide for a royalty of not less than twelve and one-half percent of all oil and gas produced, saved, and marketed, or the equivalent market value thereof, which royalty may be reduced proportionately under appropriate provision in such lease if the interest of the county is less than a full interest in the land or oil and gas rights in the land described in such lease.

(3) When, in the opinion of the board of county commissioners and because of the size, shape, or current use of any tract of county real estate, the public interest so requires, any lease of such tract may provide that no drilling shall be conducted on the land covered thereby, in which case such lease shall be for a term not to exceed ten years and so long thereafter as the county may share in royalties payable on account of production of oil or gas from lands adjacent to such tract of county land so leased.