Complaints and investigation.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 58-3
in effectSec. 58-3. - Complaints and investigation.
Except as otherwise provided in this article, complaints, investigation, and enforcement of violations of any division in this article shall be conducted as follows:
(a) Complaints.
(1) Submission. Any person may submit a written complaint of a violation of this article to the auditor. A complaint submitted by a third-party shall only contain the items required in subsection (a)(1)c. and d. of this section, while a complaint submitted by a worker shall include:
a. The worker's name and/or the name of their duly authorized representative, if applicable;
b. The worker's contact information;
c. A detailed statement of the employer or other person's alleged violation, including readily available supporting documentation demonstrating a violation; and
d. Any additional information requested by the auditor or pursuant to rules issued by the auditor.
(2) Assistance. If a worker filing a complaint is unable to reasonably file her or his complaint in writing, that worker may request the auditor to assist him or her with documenting any allegations to satisfy the written complaint requirement.
(3) Determination of credibility. The burden of demonstrating to the auditor's satisfaction that a violation has occurred rests with the person making the complaint and shall be demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence. If a complaint is deemed credible by the auditor, the auditor shall notify the complained-of-party and shall provide a summary of findings regarding any such complaint to the complained-of-party, worker, and complainant, if applicable.
(b) Investigations in the absence of a complaint. The auditor may initiate an investigation into violations of this article absent a complaint if there is a reasonable basis to believe that a violation occurred. A reasonable basis exists if:
(1) The owner or partial owner of a legal entity has violated the terms of this article with respect to another entity with common ownership interests;
(2) A pattern and practice, including, but not limited to, receipt of multiple credible complaints filed against a particular industry, demonstrates an increased likelihood that certain workers within an industry are regularly not paid wages;
(3) The auditor receives credible information from a governmental agency that demonstrates an increased likelihood that a particular employer or industry has failed to comply with the terms of this article; or
(4) The auditor, relying upon data collected or received by the city, establishes a reasonable basis to conclude that a particular person or industry is likely to have failed to comply with the terms of this article.
(c) Limitation of actions. Any complaint must be submitted to the auditor within three (3) years of the date of an alleged violation of this article.
(Ord. No. 1614-22, § 1, 1-9-23)
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_CH58WAWOPR_ARTIWA_DIV1INGE_S58-3COINFetched: 10/27/2026