Commerce City, CO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Sec. 10-1100 of the Commerce City Revised Municipal Code sets the purpose of Chapter 10, Article I: to govern the placement of structures and facilities, construction, excavation, encroachments and work activity within any public right-of-way, and to protect the road system by requiring permits, setting permit procedures, and fixing permit fees and charges. Sec. 10-1200(a) then states the operative rule: no person other than a city employee or official, or someone expressly exempted by contract with the city, may undertake or permit construction, excavation or work in the public rights-of-way without first obtaining a permit, and the permit and its associated documents must be kept on the job site and available for inspection by any city officer or employee on request.

Sec. 10-1200(b) ties the permit to a defined scope: a permittee may not work in a larger or different area, or for longer than the permit specifies, and if more area or time becomes necessary the permittee must notify the director within twenty-four hours and obtain a revised or new permit with the associated fees. Sec. 10-1200(d) makes clear that a developer, not the city, is responsible for the physical construction of public infrastructure in new developments, with ownership staying with the developer until the city accepts it, and any work on that infrastructure still needs its own right-of-way permit.

Sec. 10-1200(e) addresses unpermitted work directly: anyone found excavating in a right-of-way without a permit must immediately stop all activity, other than what is needed to stabilize the area, obtain a permit before resuming, and pay a surcharge set by city council resolution in addition to the regular permit fees. Applications, per Sec. 10-1201, go through the director of Public Works and must include the work location, type of work, dates, a cost itemization for restoration, proof of any required insurance or bonding, and a traffic control plan.