Environmental Rules in Grand Junction, CO (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Grand Junction, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
In the City of Grand Junction, Municipal Code Chapter 13.28 bans releasing anything but uncontaminated storm water into the storm drainage system, lists common contaminants by name, and requires anyone responsible for a spill that could reach a storm drain to report it and clean it up.
Grand Junction Storm Drain Discharge Ban
Significant RestrictionsGrand Junction Municipal Code § 13.28.020
§ 13.28.020. Illicit discharges prohibited into storm drainage system. (a) Prohibitions. (1) No person shall release or cause to be released into the storm drainage system any discharge that is not composed entirely of uncontaminated storm water, except as allowed in subsection (b) of this section. Common storm water contaminants which cannot be released into the storm drainage system include h...
Erosion Control
In the City of Grand Junction, construction disturbing one acre or more of soil must follow a City-approved construction storm water management plan with erosion and sediment control BMPs before work starts, and any sediment tracked onto public streets must be removed immediately at the owner's expense.
Grand Junction Construction Erosion Control
Significant RestrictionsGrand Junction Municipal Code § 13.28.030
§ 13.28.030. Control of storm water discharges from construction and post-construction activities. (a) General Requirements for Construction Sites. (1) All proposed development as described in subsection (a)(2) of this section must provide for on-site erosion and sediment control, control of illegal discharges, and runoff collection and conveyance in accordance with the Stormwater Management Ma...
Flood Zones
In the City of Grand Junction, no one may build, fill, or alter land in the floodway or a FEMA-mapped area of special flood hazard without a Floodplain Development Permit from the Community Development Director under GJMC § 21.02.040(c)(2)(ii). New residential construction must also elevate its lowest floor at least one foot above the base flood elevation shown on the City's Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Grand Junction Floodplain Development Permit
Some RestrictionsGrand Junction Municipal Code §§ 21.02.040(c)(2)(ii), 21.06.020
Floodplain Development Permit. ... Applicability.No person shall construct or maintain any use or structure nor make any development or topographically alter land for any purpose including agriculture that may adversely impact the floodplain or floodway or within any area of special flood hazard (GJMC § 21.06.020) unless the Director has issued a floodplain permit. ... No structure shall be con...
Defensible Space
New residential development in the City of Grand Junction on or near woods, brush or grassland must manage vegetation in a two-area defensible space system under GJMC § 21.06.010(d). Area 1 covers 30 feet around the dwelling, split into a five-foot bare zone and a thinned 25-foot zone, with Area 2 extending to 75 feet.
Grand Junction Wildfire Defensible Space
Significant RestrictionsGrand Junction Municipal Code § 21.06.010(d)
Defensible Space.Any new residential development on or adjacent to land that is predominantly woods, brush or grasslands, shall be developed to minimize the potential for the buildings to be ignited by wildfire and for a building fire to ignite surrounding woods, brush or grasslands. ... Area 1 shall consist of a thirty-foot area immediately surrounding the dwelling unit, not to extend beyond t...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In the City of Grand Junction, new construction in a special flood hazard area must have its lowest floor elevated at least one foot above the base flood elevation, per GJMC § 21.06.020(d)(2). Nonresidential buildings can flood-proof instead, with a Colorado-licensed engineer certifying the design.
Grand Junction Base Flood Elevation Rules
Some RestrictionsGrand Junction Municipal Code § 21.06.020(c), (d)(2), (d)(6)
Compliance.No structure shall be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the terms of this section and other applicable regulations. ... New construction and substantial improvement ... of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated at least one foot above the BFE. ... New construction and substantial improvement...
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