Lakewood, CO Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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.
No person shall do any grading without first having obtained a grading permit from the Planning Director, and Public Works Director except for the following:1.An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall or other structure authorized by a valid building permit... 7.An excavation which is (a) less than two feet in depth, or (b) which does not create a cut slope greater than two feet in height and steeper than three horizontal to one vertical.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 14 | Zoning Ordinance: ?).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 14.21 of the Lakewood Municipal Code requires anyone doing grading, cuts, fills, or earthwork construction, to first obtain a grading permit from the Planning Director and Public Works Director. Limited exemptions apply, including shallow excavations authorized under a valid building permit, small cuts under two feet with a slope no steeper than three-to-one, minor fills under one foot on flat terrain, and well or utility excavations. A grading plan must be accompanied by a final site plan and is valid for six months from approval. The Director can require an approved haul route and dump site for excess material.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade my Lakewood property?
How long is a Lakewood grading permit good for?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle erosion control.