Manitou Springs, CO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Temporary encroachment
- Up to 90 days, city administrator approval
- Minor encroachment
- Revocable license or easement agreement
- Major encroachment
- $1M insurance, 115% performance bond
- Easements
- Require City Council approval
- Max penalty
- $2,650 fine or 90 days jail
- Repeat violators
- Barred 1 year after 2 convictions in 5 yrs
Summary
Placing anything in a Manitou Springs street, sidewalk or other public right-of-way, from a temporary sign stand to a permanent utility line, requires a city encroachment permit under Municipal Code §§ 12.04.040 and 12.04.060. The city administrator approves most permits; City Council must approve any permit that grants an easement.
A.Temporary encroachments may be placed on public streets or on public sidewalks. Placement that obstructs a public sidewalk shall require submission of plans for the provision of safe pedestrian movements. In no instance shall placement of a temporary encroachment cause the public street to become impassable for emergency or other vehicles. Sandwich board signs, as provided for in Chapter 15.16 of this code, shall not be considered temporary encroachments for purposes of this chapter.B.A permit for a temporary encroachment may be issued following submission and review of an application and payment of the fee as indicated in the following section to the city. ... No person except the city, or a person exempted by contract with the city, shall undertake or permit to be undertaken any major encroachment involving the construction, excavation, work and/or encroachment in the public right-of-way or public property, or operate and maintain any utility within the right-of-way without first obtaining a permit from the city as set forth in this section.
Full Breakdown
04, rewritten by Ordinance No. 3917 in 2017 and amended by Ordinance No. 0226 in 2025, splits right-of-way use into three tracks. 040 after the city reviews the application with input from police, fire and the streets department and the applicant pays the council-set fee; the city administrator or a designee issues it. 050, approved administratively unless an easement is involved, in which case City Council must approve it. 060 with general liability insurance of at least one million dollars combined single limit, a performance bond equal to 115 percent of the estimated restoration cost, and City Council sign-off if an easement is granted. or on Sundays without written permission. 080.
Violations & Fines
Working or encroaching without a permit, or violating permit conditions, is a misdemeanor under § 12.04.070(O), punishable under the code's general penalty, § 1.01.100: a fine of up to $2,650, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense. After two convictions within five years, the city must refuse the violator a new encroachment permit for at least one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a planter or sign stand on the sidewalk in Manitou Springs?
Who approves an encroachment permit?
What happens if I encroach without a permit?
Can I appeal a denied encroachment permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manitou Springs
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Encroachment Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in El Paso County handle encroachment permits.