Lakewood's Environmental Rules: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles environmental rules a little differently. In Lakewood, Colorado, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
Erosion Control
Lakewood requires a grading permit from the Planning and Public Works Directors before any excavation, fill, or earthwork on private property, with narrow exemptions for small cuts, fills, and utility trenching.
Key details: Permit issuer: Planning & Public Works Directors. Plan validity: 6 months from approval. Small-fill exemption: Under 1 ft, on flat terrain. Small-cut exemption: Under 2 ft, gentle slope.
Grading without a required permit can trigger a stop-work order, denial of a certificate of occupancy for the project, and other enforcement action the Director deems necessary.
Stormwater Management
Lakewood, Colorado bans discharging polluting materials into its municipal storm sewer system and requires a Stormwater Discharge Permit for development or redevelopment sites that disturb an acre or more.
Key details: Permit trigger: 1+ acre of disturbance. Governing chapter: Ch. 13.14, Stormwater Quality. Enforcement officer: Environmental Manager. Violation period: each day is separate.
Discharging polluting material into the storm sewer or developing a qualifying site without a Stormwater Discharge Permit violates §§ 13.14.040 and 13.14.100, exposing the violator to a cease-and-desist order, a municipal court summons, or nuisance abatement, with each day a separate violation.
Flood Elevation Requirements
In Lakewood flood plain areas with known base flood elevations, new construction and substantial improvements must have their lowest floor, including basement, elevated one foot above the 100-year base flood elevation shown in the Official Flood Studies.
Key details: Freeboard required: 1 foot above BFE. Applies to: Lowest floor & mechanical equipment. Nonresidential alternative: Certified flood-proofing. Certifier: Registered engineer or architect.
Building below the required one-foot freeboard above base flood elevation without flood-proofing certification is a violation of the Flood Plain Management Ordinance, enforced by the Flood Plain Administrator.
Flood Zones
Lakewood regulates development in mapped flood hazard areas under its Flood Plain Management Ordinance, adopting the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map for Jefferson County effective August 2, 2022.
Key details: Governing map: FIRM effective Aug 2, 2022. Covers: Jefferson County & Lakewood. Administered by: Flood Plain Administrator. Applies to: Buildings, fences, fill, grading.
Development without a flood plain development permit, or noncompliance with the Ordinance's construction and anchoring requirements, is a violation subject to enforcement by the Flood Plain Administrator.
The Bottom Line
Lakewood's environmental rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lakewood is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Lakewood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.