LICENSING OF AVIATION FIELDS AND HELIPORTS

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 5, art. III

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 5-31 Required.

Sec. 5-31. - Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to establish, maintain or operate any aviation field, flying field or airport of any nature whatsoever (hereinafter in this article referred to by the single term "aviation field") or any heliport, except as provided in and authorized by this article and without first having obtained a license to do so from the manager of licensing and consumer protection. (Code 1950, § 948.1; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 2, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 5-32 Application.

Sec. 5-32. - Application. (a) Every license application submitted under this article shall set forth the proposed location and general arrangement of the aviation field or heliport, and the nature of operations proposed to be conducted thereupon. (b) Each application for a heliport license shall contain the following: (1) If the proposed heliport is a rooftop, a report by a professional engineer, registered in the state, approved by the building department of the city, indicating that the roof structure is designed to support concentrated loads, on any one (1) square foot, equivalent to three-fourths gross weight of the largest helicopter to be accommodated; (2) A statement, approved by the building department that where roofs lack the complete protection of a parapet wall of adequate height (minimum of four (4) feet), an approved wire mesh fence which provides a minimum of four (4) feet in height, shall be provided; (3) A statement of the type of helicopter operations, i.e., IFR, VFR, or both; types of helicopters to be used, and their maximum gross weight as set by the federal aviation administration; (4) A plan of the proposed heliport site, indicating dimensions of the entire usable areas, dimensions of the actual landing and take-off areas; all obstructions and emergency landing areas within one thousand (1,000) feet of the heliport, with scale drawings of the same, indicating their heights in proportion to the heliport landing area. If the heliport is to be located on a rooftop, its distance above ground level shall be given. (Code 1950, §§ 948.2, 948.4-3)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 5-33 Fees.

Sec. 5-33. - Fees. License fees under this article shall be as prescribed in section 32-50. (Code 1950, § 948.3)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 5-34 Approval or disapproval of manager of aviation.

Sec. 5-34. - Approval or disapproval of manager of aviation. The manager of licensing and consumer protection shall forward every license application submitted pursuant to this article to the manager of aviation, who shall investigate the premises and surroundings and determine whether or not such proposed aviation field or heliport will jeopardize the public welfare and safety because of its location, arrangement or proposed method of operation. The manager of aviation shall return to the manager of licensing and consumer protection the application with an endorsement of approval, or with an endorsement recommending disapproval, in which latter case there shall accompany the recommendation a written explanation of reasons therefor. (Code 1950, § 948.4-1; Ord. No. 490-94 § 2, 6-27-94; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 2, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 5-35 Issuance.

Sec. 5-35. - Issuance. If the manager of licensing and consumer protection shall determine after investigation that the requirements of chapter 32 have been met, and that the financial responsibility, experience, character and general fitness of the applicant, or the members thereof if the applicant be a firm, or of the officers and directors thereof if the applicant be a corporation, are such as to command the confidence of the public and to warrant belief that the aviation field or heliport will be operated safely and efficiently, the manager shall thereon issue and deliver to the applicant a license to operate an aviation field or heliport at the premises specified in the application. (Code 1950, § 948.4-2; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 2, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 5-36 Contents of heliport license.

Sec. 5-36. - Contents of heliport license. Each heliport license shall contain the following: (1) A provision that no refueling of helicopters will be permitted on rooftops, and no fuels will be permitted to be stored on rooftops; (2) A provision that the city shall have the right to cancel the heliport license for reasonable cause; (3) A provision that all applicable rules and regulations of the federal aviation administration shall be observed by the licensee and pilots of all helicopters using such heliports. (Code 1950, § 948.4-4)

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_CH5AIAI_ARTIIILIAVFIHEFetched: 10/27/2026