Commerce City, CO Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- City Engineer (Public Works)
- Re-vegetation
- 70% of disturbed land within 12 months
- Exposure limit
- 60 consecutive days without stabilization
- Enforcement
- stop work order within 24 hours of notice
- Governing section
- LDC Sec. 21-3214
Summary
In Commerce City, no one may grade or disturb land without a grading permit from the city engineer, who will only approve it once an erosion and sediment control plan is submitted and approved. At least 70 percent of disturbed ground must be re-vegetated within 12 months, and exposed soil cannot sit unstabilized for more than 60 consecutive days.
(1)Requirement. ... Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this section, no person shall modify the elevation or grade of any property by depositing or removing any materials without first obtaining a grading permit. ... (4)Approval Criteria. A grading permit may be approved if the city engineer finds that: ... (c)Erosion and sediment control plans have been submitted and implemented by the applicant and approved by the city engineer; ... (e)If required by the city engineer, the applicant has provided a re-seeding, erosion, and sediment control bond. ... (b)At least 70 percent of the land must be re-vegetated within 12 months of the date of completion of grading or clearing activities; ... (e)The area of land disturbance must not be exposed for more than 60 consecutive days without temporary or permanent stabilization, unless the city engineer approves a time extension.(6)Stop Work Orders. If the site is not in compliance with the approved erosion and sediment control plan or the city's requirements for erosion and sediment control, the city shall have the authority to issue a stop work order within 24 hours of notification to the owner or developer of noncompliance.
Full Breakdown
Before any grading, filling, or excavation begins in Commerce City, the applicant must obtain a grading permit under Land Development Code Sec. 21-3214, reviewed by the city engineer. The permit will not issue unless the erosion and sediment control plan has been submitted and implemented, and approved by the city engineer alongside a drainage report where one is required. The city engineer can also require a re-seeding, erosion, and sediment control bond as a condition of approval. Exceptions exist for emergency work needed to protect life or property, for existing licensed nursery and agricultural operations, and for stockpiling tied to a state-licensed open pit mining operation.
Once a permit issues, the grading activity must preserve the city's aesthetic character, re-vegetate at least 70 percent of the disturbed land within 12 months of completing grading or clearing, and never leave disturbed ground exposed for more than 60 consecutive days without temporary or permanent stabilization, unless the city engineer grants a time extension. The same erosion and sediment control standards apply to early grading permits under Sec. 21-3219, which allow clearing, grubbing, and grading ahead of final development plan approval, but only where a Stormwater Management Plan including an erosion and sediment control plan meets the city's engineering and construction standards and specifications (ECSS).
If a site falls out of compliance with its approved erosion and sediment control plan, the city can issue a stop work order within 24 hours of notifying the owner or developer of the violation, halting all site work until compliance is restored.
Violations & Fines
Grading or land-disturbing work without an approved erosion and sediment control plan triggers a stop work order within 24 hours of notice under Sec. 21-3214(6), halting the site until compliance is restored. Because the land development code's general enforcement provision (Sec. 21-10060) ties penalties to chapter 1 of the municipal code, a violation is also punishable as a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-3003, with a fine up to the maximum permitted by C.R.S. Section 13-10-113 or up to 364 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade my Commerce City lot?
How long can soil sit disturbed without stabilization?
What happens if my site is out of compliance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Commerce City
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Adams County handle erosion control.