HEALTH NUISANCES

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 37, art. I

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-1 Definition.

Sec. 37-1. - Definition. In all cases where no provision is made in article I of this chapter defining what are health nuisances, those offenses which are known to the common law as it exists in this state shall, in case the same exist within the city, be treated as such, and proceeded against as provided in this article. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-2 Prohibition.

Sec. 37-2. - Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or allow any health nuisance to exist or remain within the city. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-3 Enforcement by health authorities.

Sec. 37-3. - Enforcement by health authorities. (a) It shall be the duty of the manager of public health and environment to ascertain and cause all health nuisances to be abated. (b) The manager shall have authority at any reasonable time to enter upon any premises, or any building, in order to make a thorough examination of cellars, vaults, sinks or drains; to enter upon all lots or grounds; to cause all stagnant water to be drained off, and pools, sinks, vaults, holes or low grounds to be cleansed, filled up or otherwise purified, and so cause all harmful substances or conditions which may be detrimental to health, to be abated or removed as provided by article I of this chapter and the ordinances of the city. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97; Ord. No. 427-18, § 23, 6-11-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-4 Police to observe and report to public health and environment any health nuisance or insanitary condition.

Sec. 37-4. - Police to observe and report to public health and environment any health nuisance or insanitary condition. It shall be the duty of all police officers to observe the sanitary conditions of the city and to report promptly to the manager of public health and environment any health nuisance or accumulated filth found in any portion of the city. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97; Ord. No. 427-18, § 23, 6-11-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-5 Notice to abate; failure to comply.

Sec. 37-5. - Notice to abate; failure to comply. (a) Except as provided in section 37-6, whenever a health nuisance shall be found in any building, or upon any ground or other premises within the jurisdiction of the city, a twenty-four (24) hours' notice shall be given in writing, or other reasonable amounts of time not to exceed five (5) days, signed by the manager of public health and environment, to the owner or occupant or persons in possession or in charge or in control of any vehicle, or of such building or other premises to remove and abate such health nuisance. (b) Before the filing of any charge relative to any health nuisance in the county court, it shall first be the duty of the manager to investigate the condition of such ground, lot, lots or premises. (c) Failure to comply with the order of the manager shall constitute a violation of this article. (d) If any person shall neglect or refuse to abate the health nuisance in accordance with such notice as provided in subsection (a), the manager may summarily abate the health nuisance and assess costs of such abatement against the property or the owner thereof, to be collected by suit or otherwise, in addition to the penalties for violation hereof. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97; Ord. No. 427-18, § 23, 6-11-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-6 Summary abatement of imminent hazards.

Sec. 37-6. - Summary abatement of imminent hazards. Whenever any health nuisance shall be found on any premises within the city constituting an imminent hazard, the manager of public health and environment is hereby empowered to cause the same to be summarily abated in such manner as the manager may direct. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97; Ord. No. 427-18, § 23, 6-11-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-7 Unclean, etc., receptacles, drains, etc.

Sec. 37-7. - Unclean, etc., receptacles, drains, etc. Any unclean, leaking, foul, unsafe or dangerous, defective or filthy drain, ditch, tank or gutter, or any leaking or broken slop, garbage or manure box or receptacle of like character, whenever and wherever found in the city, shall be deemed a health nuisance. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-8 Damp cellar or basement.

Sec. 37-8. - Damp cellar or basement. (a) Any cellar, basement or part thereof, or any house or building within the limits of the city, which is found to be damp or moist by reason of leaking or defective hydrants, water pipes, sewer pipes, cisterns or wells, gutters, drains, rain spouts, or seepage from the surrounding earth, or from a deposit of any kind or nature, or from any cause whatever, shall be deemed a health nuisance. (b) Cellars or basements deemed a health nuisance according to this section shall be coated on the walls and bottom with cement or other waterproof material. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-9 Manure or other organic fertilizer.

Sec. 37-9. - Manure or other organic fertilizer. Manure or any other organic material used on premises for fertilizing purposes may be designated a health nuisance and forbidden if it emits offensive odors, is an attractant to insects or rodents, creates an insanitary condition, or otherwise affects the public health. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-10 Dirt or offensive matter in cleaning yards, factories, etc.

Sec. 37-10. - Dirt or offensive matter in cleaning yards, factories, etc. Whenever there shall be found in or upon any lot or piece of ground or premises within the limits of the city any dirt gathered in cleaning yards, mills, factories or commercial establishments, or any rags, damaged merchandise, wet, broken or leaking barrels, casks or boxes, or any materials which are offensive or tend by decay to become putrid or render the atmosphere impure or unwholesome, the same shall be deemed a health nuisance. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-11 Bone crushing, etc., fat boiling, etc., glue making, fertilizer making, etc.

Sec. 37-11. - Bone crushing, etc., fat boiling, etc., glue making, fertilizer making, etc. The business or any part thereof, or any of them, of bone crushing, bone boiling, bone rendering, bone burning, fat boiling, fat rendering, fat drying, gut cleaning or the making of glue, or the manufacture of fertilizing material of any kind or description from any dead animal or part thereof, or any boiling of offal, swill, fat or grease of any description which shall be done or carried on in an offensive, unclean or defective manner in any building, yard or lot of ground within the limits of the city, shall be deemed a health nuisance. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-12 Pond or pool.

Sec. 37-12. - Pond or pool. Any lot or piece of ground within the limits of the city on which there is a pond or pool of unwholesome, impure or offensive water or other material shall be deemed a health nuisance. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-13 Abandoned well, cistern or pit.

Sec. 37-13. - Abandoned well, cistern or pit. Any abandoned well, cistern or pit on any property or premises within the limits of the city, whenever the location of same or construction shows that the well, cistern or pit is a danger to life and limbs, shall be deemed a health nuisance. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-14 Public restrooms.

Sec. 37-14. - Public restrooms. Any restroom available for public use which is not maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and in good repair shall be deemed a health nuisance. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-15 Building, vehicle or anything else in condition detrimental to health.

Sec. 37-15. - Building, vehicle or anything else in condition detrimental to health. No building, vehicle, structure, receptacle or thing used, or to be used, for any purpose whatever, shall be made, used, kept, maintained or operated in or retained within the city if the use, keeping, maintaining or operation of the same shall be the occasion of any health nuisance, or dangerous or detrimental to the public health. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-16 Disposition of vehicle where owner is unknown.

Sec. 37-16. - Disposition of vehicle where owner is unknown. When the owner of a motor vehicle, or part or portion thereof, constituting a health nuisance cannot be located by a reasonable search, the notice specified in section 37-5(a) shall be attached to the vehicle. If such vehicle is not removed within ten (10) days from such notice, the motor vehicle is hereby declared to be abandoned property and may be removed to a suitable city storage area. Such motor vehicles shall be stored for a period of at least thirty (30) days and the owner thereof shall be entitled to redeem same by payment to the city of actual costs for removal and reasonable storage of such vehicle, and if such motor vehicle is unclaimed, the manager of general services may dispose of the vehicle in accordance with section 54-816(2)—(5). (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-17 Detrimental health conditions.

Sec. 37-17. - Detrimental health conditions. Whenever the pursuit of any trade, business or manufacture or the maintenance of any substance or condition of things shall result in a condition detrimental to the health of any of the inhabitants of the city, the same shall be deemed a health nuisance and shall be abated. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 37-18 Rules and regulations.

Sec. 37-18. - Rules and regulations. The board of public health and environment shall promulgate from time to time, rules and regulations pertaining to the requirements of sanitation, cleanliness and public health as they relate to the keeping and maintaining of domesticated pet animals, animal or fowl enclosures, buildings, premises and other areas so as to avoid the creation of a health nuisance. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate a rule or regulation adopted by the board pursuant to this section. (Ord. No. 41-97, § 3, 1-13-97; Ord. No. 516-15, § 17, 8-17-15; Ord. No. 427-18, § 23, 6-11-18)

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_CH37NU_ARTIHENUFetched: 10/27/2026