Colorado Springs City Code ch. 6, art. 12, pt. 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS | City Code of Colorado Springs, Colorado (2026 S-22: current through Ord. 26-47, passed August 25, 2026) — City of Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.12.101 TITLE

6.12.101: TITLE: This article shall be known and may be cited as the HOUSING CODE. (Ord. 3875; 1968 Code §16-3; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.12.102 DECLARATION OF POLICY

6.12.102: DECLARATION OF POLICY: The Council declares that the purpose of this article is to protect, preserve and promote the physical and mental health of the people; to discover, investigate and control communicable diseases; to regulate privately and publicly owned dwellings for the purpose of sanitation and public health; and to protect the safety of the people and promote the general welfare by legislation which shall be applicable to all existing dwellings and future residential construction by: A. Establishing minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities for light, ventilation and heating, for safety from fire, for the use and location and amount of space for human occupancy and for safe and sanitary maintenance; B. Determining the responsibilities of owners, operators and occupants of dwellings; and C. Providing for administration and enforcement. (Ord. 3875; 1968 Code §16-1; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.12.103 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS

6.12.103: LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS: The City Council finds that there exists in the City numerous dwellings which are substandard in one or more important features of structure, equipment, sanitation, maintenance or occupancy. These conditions adversely affect the physical and mental health, the control of communicable diseases, the safety and general welfare of the people and therefore require the establishment and enforcement of minimum housing standards. (Ord. 3875; 1968 Code §16-2; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.12.104 ENFORCING AUTHORITY

6.12.104: ENFORCING AUTHORITY: The Administrator is hereby designated as the official enforcement officer of the Housing Code. In exercising all power and authority delegated by this article, the Administrator shall apply sound principles of public health, consistent with national standards, and these national standards shall also be applied in related rules, regulations, determinations and orders authorized by this article. (Ord. 3875; 1968 Code §§16-4, 16-32; Ord. 82-224; Ord. 96-110; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.12.105 APPLICATION; INTERPRETATION OF PROVISIONS

6.12.105: APPLICATION; INTERPRETATION OF PROVISIONS: A. The provisions of this article shall apply to all buildings or portions used, designed or intended to be used for human habitation. B. In any case where a provision of this article is found to be in conflict with any provision of this Code, or any adopted secondary code, the provision which establishes the higher or more restrictive standard for the promotion and protection of the health, safety and welfare of the people shall prevail. (Ord. 3875; 1968 Code §16-32; Ord. 96-110; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.12.106 DEFINITIONS

6.12.106: DEFINITIONS: The following terms, as used in this article, shall have the meanings designated, unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, or unless the meaning is excluded by express provision: APPROVED: Constructed, installed and maintained in accord with this article or other pertinent ordinances, rules and regulations of the City. BASEMENT: That portion of a dwelling so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is less than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling. CELLAR: That portion of a dwelling so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is more than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling. DETERIORATED: A lowering in quality of the condition or appearance of a building, structure or premises characterized by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling, rusting or any other evidence of physical decay, neglect, damage or lack of maintenance. DWELLING: Any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating by human occupants. DWELLING UNIT: Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating. EXTERMINATION: The control and elimination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping; or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the Administrator. FAMILY: An individual, two (2) or more persons related by blood 1 , marriage, adoption, or similar legal relationship plus domestic staff employed for services on the premises, or a group of not more than five (5) persons, who need not be related, living together as a single housekeeping unit in one dwelling unit. GARBAGE: The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food. HABITABLE ROOM: A room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers or communicating corridors, closets and storage spaces. INFESTATION: The presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insects, rodents or other pests. MULTIPLE DWELLING: Any building containing two (2) or more dwelling units. OCCUPANT: Any person, over two (2) years of age, living, sleeping, cooking, eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit. OPERATOR: Any person who has charge, care or control of a building or any portion, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let. OWNER: Any person who, alone, jointly or severally with others: A. Shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession; or B. Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit as owner or agent of the owner, or as executor, administrator, conservator, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any person representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this article, and with related rules and regulations, to the same extent as if that person were the owner. PLUMBING: Includes all of the following supplied facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer or gas lines. This definition shall be applicable only to this article and shall not be construed to apply elsewhere in this Code. RECREATIONAL VEHICLE: A vehicle used for transient living quarters which can be towed, hauled or driven and is designed for recreational, camping or travel use and including, but not limited to, travel trailers, camper trailers, motor homes, pickup campers, watercraft or snowmobiles. ROOMING HOUSE: Any dwelling or part of any dwelling containing one or more rooming units in which space is let by the owner or operator to three (3) or more persons who are not husband or wife, son or daughter, mother or father, or sister or brother of the owner or operator, and shall include hotels, motels, lodging houses, rooming and boarding houses, nursing homes, convalescent homes and all similar establishments. ROOMING UNIT: Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes. RUBBISH: Combustible and noncombustible waste materials excluding garbage. Includes, but is not limited to, the residue from burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible materials, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust. SANITARY: A condition in which an area is free of rubbish, garbage, debris, vermin and rodents, and in which all interior and exterior surfaces and premises are clean and capable of being cleaned to promote and establish conditions for the betterment of community health, safety and welfare. SUMMER MONTHS: June 1 through August 31. SUPPLIED: Paid for, furnished, provided by or under the control of the owner or operator. TRAILER: A wheeled vehicle designed to transport passengers and/or freight under its own power or by being towed by a motor vehicle. TRANSIENT HOUSING: Any tent, trailer, recreational vehicle or other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to the ground, to another structure or to any utility system on the same premises for more than thirty (30) consecutive days. Transient housing shall not include a child's playhouse or play area. VEHICLE: Any device which is designed for or capable of self- propulsion or being otherwise moved from place to place upon wheels or endless tracks. WINTER MONTHS: September 1 through May 31. WORKMANLIKE REPAIRS: Repairs executed in a skilled, workmanlike manner: generally plumb, level, square, in line, undamaged, without marring adjacent work and completed in conformance with generally accepted construction and maintenance practices and current building codes. Whenever the words "dwelling" or "dwelling unit", "rooming house" or "rooming unit", or "premises" are used in this article, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part". (Ord. 3875; 1968 Code §16-5; Ord. 82-224; Ord. 96-110; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-121) Notes 1 | 1. CRS §27-10-102(4.7).

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.12.107 VIOLATIONS

6.12.107: VIOLATIONS: It shall be unlawful for any person to do any act, erect, construct, alter, repair, move, improve, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building or structure in the City, or cause or permit similar activities, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this article. (Ord. 3875; 1968 Code §16-8; Ord. 82-224; Ord. 96-110; Ord. 01-42)