In General

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 56, art. III, div. 2, subpt. I

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-41 Purpose.

Sec. 56-41. - Purpose. This division is enacted to protect, preserve and promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city and is designed to protect the sanitary and storm sewerage systems of the city. It relates to materials and methods of construction for private and building sewers. (Code 1950, § 338.1-3; Ord. No. 78-87, § 1, 2-9-87)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-42 Reserved.

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-43 Cost of construction.

Sec. 56-43. - Cost of construction. All costs incident to the construction of private sewers shall be borne solely by the owners of such private sewers. (Code 1950, § 338.11)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-44 Title to vest in city.

Sec. 56-44. - Title to vest in city. No permit to construct a sanitary or storm sewer in any public way or place or any property or property interest owned by the city shall be granted except upon the express condition that all right, title and interest in the same will vest in the city upon completion of construction and acceptance by the city. This section shall not apply to that portion of a private or building sewer as extended into the public right-of-way to the point of connection with the public sewer. (Code 1950, § 338.10; Ord. No. 78-87, § 3, 2-9-87)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-45 Materials and service line separation.

Sec. 56-45. - Materials and service line separation. (a) Separate trenches. Except as permitted in subsection (b), the underground water service pipe and the building sewer shall be not less than ten (10) feet apart horizontally and shall be separated by undisturbed or compacted earth. Sewer pipe material shall be of a type approved for such use by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. Joints shall be tight and rootproof. (b) One (1) trench. Where approved by the board of water commissioners, the water service pipe may be placed in the same trench with the building sewer, provided the following conditions are met: (1) The bottom of the water service pipe shall be at least eighteen (18) inches from the top of the sewer line at all points. (2) The water service pipe shall be placed on a solid shelf excavated at one (1) side of the common trench. (3) The materials and joints of the sewer and water service pipes shall possess the strength and durability necessary to prevent the escape of solids, liquids and gases therefrom, under all known adverse conditions such as corrosion, strains due to settlement, temperature changes and vibration. When installed in the same trench with the water service pipe, the sewer shall be constructed using durable materials which are corrosion-resistant and shall be so installed as to remain watertight and be rootproof. Sewer pipe material shall be of a type approved for such use by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. (Code 1950, § 338.15; Ord. No. 78-87, § 4, 2-9-87; Ord. No. 39-20, § 226, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-46 Sewer pipe rate of fall.

Sec. 56-46. - Sewer pipe rate of fall. Building sewers shall be installed at a uniform slope not less than that permitted by the building code of the city. Private sewers shall be installed at uniform slopes as approved by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. (Code 1950, § 338.16; Ord. No. 78-87, § 5, 2-9-87; Ord. No. 39-20, § 227, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-47 Connections to the public sewer.

Sec. 56-47. - Connections to the public sewer. The junction pieces which have been built into the public sewer during its construction must be used for connecting all private and building sewers whenever practicable. The manner and point of connection shall in all cases be approved by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. In all cases the trench must be opened an ample width to the point of connection, and all rubbish removed so as to allow unhindered inspection. (Code 1950, § 338.17; Ord. No. 78-87, § 6, 2-9-87; Ord. No. 39-20, § 228, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-48 Reserved.

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-49 Joints.

Sec. 56-49. - Joints. Methods of constructing joints at pipe connections shall be specified and approved by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. (Code 1950, § 338.19; Ord. No. 78-87, § 8, 2-9-87; Ord. No. 39-20, § 229, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-50 Reserved.

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-51 Cleanness.

Sec. 56-51. - Cleanness. The inside of every sewer connecting with a public sewer must be left smooth and perfectly clean throughout its entire length. Ends of pipes not to be used immediately must be guarded securely against the introduction of sand or earth by bricks and cement or other impervious and imperishable material. (Code 1950, § 338.21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-52 Crossings.

Sec. 56-52. - Crossings. (a) Water service pipe on top. Where crossings are necessary, in such instances that the water service pipe can be placed above the building sewer or private sewer, a vertical distance of eighteen (18) inches, measured from the perimeters of the pipes, shall separate the two (2) pipes, and the crossings shall preferably be made at right angles. (b) Sewer on top. Where crossings are necessary and the water service pipe must pass below the building sewer or private sewer, the water service pipe shall be protected by one (1) of the following alternative methods: (1) The water service pipe shall be at least three (3) feet below the building sewer or private sewer, measured from the perimeters of the pipes, and an impermeable curved asphalt mat shall be laid over the water service pipe. Such mat shall be six (6) feet in width and shall protect every portion of the water service pipe within a horizontal distance of ten (10) feet of any point of the building sewer or private sewer. (2) The water service pipe shall be at least three (3) feet below the building sewer or private sewer, measured from the perimeters of the pipes, and every portion of the building sewer or private sewer within a horizontal distance of ten (10) feet from any point on the water service pipe shall be ductile iron or cast iron. (Code 1950, § 338.22; Ord. No. 78-87, §§ 10, 11, 2-9-87)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-53 Notice of connection.

Sec. 56-53. - Notice of connection. Any person holding a permit to lay a private or building sewer must, before making connection of such private or building sewer with any public sewer, give at least twenty-four (24) hours' notice, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, at the office of the manager of transportation and infrastructure, of the time when the person will be ready to begin, and must not proceed with the work of making such connection until the inspector, detailed by the manager for that purpose, is at the site. If prevented from working at the time set, the person holding the permit for the work must at once report the fact to the manager, or a duly authorized inspector, and appoint another time for doing the work. (Code 1950, § 338.13; Ord. No. 78-87, § 12, 2-9-87; Ord. No. 39-20, § 230, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-54 Failure to give proper notice.

Sec. 56-54. - Failure to give proper notice. Any work done without notice to the manager of transportation and infrastructure or an inspector shall be treated as defective work, and may be uncovered and, if need be, reconstructed by the manager at the expense of the person to whom the permit was granted for the work, such expense to be recovered in the proper action at law. (Code 1950, § 338.14; Ord. No. 39-20, § 231, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-55 Right of entry.

Sec. 56-55. - Right of entry. For purposes of ascertaining violations of this division and conducting routine inspections the right of entry into any premises drained into any public or private sewer is hereby granted to any authorized agent of the city to conduct a reasonable inspection or investigation. It shall be unlawful to refuse to permit any lawful inspection or investigation authorized in pursuance of this section. (Code 1950, § 338.12)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-56 Unlawful to obstruct sewers.

Sec. 56-56. - Unlawful to obstruct sewers. It shall be unlawful to cast or throw or cause to be cast or thrown into the drains or sewers any substance calculated to cause obstruction, or to dispose of any slop or waste water in such manner as to cause a nuisance, or to deposit or cause to be deposited any substance such as garbage, except garbage treated with garbage disposal unit approved by the manager of transportation and infrastructure, grease, oil rags, sand, earth, tar or such other substance as the manager may find necessary to exclude from the drains or sewers. (Code 1950, § 338.23; Ord. No. 39-20, § 232, 2-3-20)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 56-57 Unlawful to connect steam exhaust to sewer.

Sec. 56-57. - Unlawful to connect steam exhaust to sewer. It shall be unlawful for any person to connect, or cause or permit to be connected, with any of the public or district sewers, or with any soil or waste-pipe, or directly with any private sewer, any steam exhaust or blow-off pipe from a steam boiler or steam pipe. (Code 1950, § 338.24)

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_CH56UT_ARTIIISE_DIV2PRBUSE_SDIINGEFetched: 10/27/2026