GENERALLY

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 19, art. II, div. 1

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 19-16 Safety requirements and methods.

Sec. 19-16. - Safety requirements and methods. Every person who owns, operates or maintains any clay, sand or gravel pit or hole, or other similar excavations, shall cause each such excavation to conform with the following basic requirements in respect to safety and method of excavation: (1) No such excavation shall be made within twenty (20) feet of any street, alley or other public way or place without there first having been constructed a good sufficient retaining wall approved by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. (2) No such excavation beyond twenty (20) feet of any street, alley or other public way or place shall be made at an angle greater than thirty (30) degrees from horizontal, provided that as to clay pits existing on July 28, 1950, the manager of licensing and consumer protection may, at the request of the manager of transportation and infrastructure, waive the whole or part of the requirements of this section when in the manager of licensing and consumer protection's opinion such waiver will not result in hazard to health and safety. (3) No such excavation shall be made within twenty (20) feet of any stream bank. (4) All such excavations which are not below the existing water level shall be maintained thoroughly drained. The water in those excavations which fall below the existing water level shall be properly oiled to prevent the propagation of mosquitoes. (5) All such excavations shall be safely guarded by a sturdy fence not less than five (5) feet in height of design approved by the director of building inspection and of such construction and in such location as approved by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. Each day's continuance of a violation hereunder shall be deemed a separate offense. (6) All such excavations when no longer in use shall be filled insofar as is practical; provided, however, that no manure, offal, paper, rags, garbage, or other animal or vegetable matter may be used in such refilling. (Code 1950, § 985.5; Ord. No. 39-20, § 26, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 11, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 19-17 Right of entry.

Sec. 19-17. - Right of entry. (a) For purposes of ascertaining violations of this article and for conducting routine inspection, the right of entry onto any premises where any clay, sand or gravel pit or hole, pits or holes, or other similar excavation exists during business hours and other times in which activity is in evidence is hereby granted to the manager of transportation and infrastructure, the manager of licensing and consumer protection, and their authorized representatives and all law enforcement officers to conduct a reasonable inspection or investigation. (b) It shall be unlawful to hinder, prevent or refuse to permit any lawful inspection or investigation authorized in pursuance of this article. (Code 1950, § 985.6; Ord. No. 39-20, § 27, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 11, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 19-18 Erection of safety appliances by manager of transportation and infrastructure.

Sec. 19-18. - Erection of safety appliances by manager of transportation and infrastructure. If any clay, sand or gravel pit or hole, or other similar excavation is not properly protected in accordance with the requirements of section 19-16, the particular instance of violation is hereby declared to be a nuisance and may be summarily abated by the manager of transportation and infrastructure who shall cause such excavation to conform with such requirements. The costs of such abatement may be collected by an action at law. (Code 1950, § 985.7; Ord. No. 39-20, § 28, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 19-19 Trespassing unlawful.

Sec. 19-19. - Trespassing unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person to fish in, boat on, or otherwise enter upon any premises on which is located any clay, sand or gravel pit or hole, or other similar excavations without the consent of the owner of such premises. (Code 1950, § 985.8)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH19EX_ARTIICLGRPI_DIV1GEFetched: 10/27/2026