FRANCHISES AND LICENSES

Colorado Springs City Charter art. X

in effect

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-10 Definitions.

10-10. Definitions. (a) Franchise: For the purpose of this Charter, and the ordinances of the City of Colorado Springs, the term "franchise" shall mean a special right or privilege granted by vote of the electorate of the City of Colorado Springs to any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, operate, carry on, or maintain an electric power plant, communication system, gas plant or system, rail or mass transit system, or any other business activity affective of the public interest which permanently occupies and obstructs the public streets, rights-of-way, alleys, or properties, together with such other uses as are determined by ordinance to be of such a public concern that want of regulation and control will injuriously affect the public in its general interest. (1977) (b) License: For the purposes of this Charter, and the ordinances of the City of Colorado Springs, the term "license" shall mean a temporary or revocable permission granted to all other activities not a franchise. (1977)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-20 General Powers.

10-20. General Powers. The City shall have and exercise with regard to all franchises, all municipal powers, including, without limitation, all powers now existing and which may hereafter be provided by the Constitution and Statutes. In every franchise the right of the City to construct, lease, purchase, acquire, condemn, or operate any public utility, work, or way, shall be expressly reserved. Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution or this Charter, all powers concerning the method of granting, amending, revoking, or otherwise dealing in franchises shall be exercised by the Council. (1977)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-30 Granting of Franchises.

10-30. Granting of Franchises. (a) No franchise shall be granted except upon approval by a majority of the electors voting thereon.11 (1977) (b) Except when the terms, fees, compensation, conditions, or any other matters relating to the granting of franchises are set by the vote of the electorate, the Council shall establish by ordinance the terms, fees, compensation, conditions, and any other matters relating to the granting of franchises. (1977)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-40 Tax.

10-40. Tax. The City shall have the right to license or tax the equipment of any franchise. The license or tax shall be exclusive of and in addition to all other lawful taxes upon the property of the holder thereof. (1909; 1977) (Ed. note: Formerly Section 68.)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-50 No Franchise Leased, Exception.

10-50. No Franchise Leased, Exception. No franchise granted by the City shall ever be leased, assigned, or otherwise alienated without express consent of the City, and no dealing with the lessee or assignee on the part of the City to require the performance of any act or payment of any compensation by the lessee or assignee shall be deemed to operate as such consent. (1909; 1977) (Ed. note: Formerly Section 74.)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-60 Term Not Longer Than Twenty-Five (25) Years.

10-60. Term Not Longer Than Twenty-Five (25) Years. No franchise, lease, or right to use the property of the City shall be granted by the City, except as in this Charter provided, for a longer term than twenty-five (25) years. For the purpose of economic development, the City may grant a lease or right to use the property of the City for up to ninety-nine (99) years. This shall not apply to City owned parklands for which the term of a franchise, lease, or right to use shall never exceed twenty-five (25) years. (1909; 1977; 1987) (Ed. note: Formerly Section 80.)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-70 No Exclusive Franchise--Renewal.

10-70. No Exclusive Franchise--Renewal. No exclusive franchise shall ever be granted, and no franchise shall be renewed before one (1) year prior to its expiration. (1909; 1977) (Ed. note: Formerly Section 73.)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-80 City May Purchase.

10-80. City May Purchase. Every grant of franchise shall provide that the City may purchase and take over the property of the holder in whole or in part. (1909; 1977) (Ed. note: Formerly Section 81.)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-90 Franchise Records.

10-90. Franchise Records. The City Clerk shall keep an indexed Franchise Record in which shall be transcribed copies of all franchises heretofore and hereafter granted. The index shall give the name of the grantee and any assignees. The Franchise Record shall include a comprehensive and convenient reference to all actions at law affecting the same, and copies of all annual reports and such other matters of information and public interest as the Council may, from time to time, require. (1909; 1977) (Ed. note: Formerly Section 78.)

Colorado Springs City Charter § 10-100 License or Temporary Permits.

10-100. License or Temporary Permits. The Council may grant a temporary permit, a license, or an easement at any time, in, on, above, through, or under any street, alley, or public place, provided such license, temporary permit, or easement shall be revocable at any time, and that such right to revoke shall be expressly reserved in every temporary permit, license, or easement which may be granted hereunder. (1909; 1977) (Ed. note: Formerly Section 83.)

Source: City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/coloradospringsco/latest/coloradosprings_co/0-0-0-25930Fetched: 11/1/2026