Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit in Colorado Springs, Colorado (2026)
Your final building inspection will fail, halting your opening, if you don't have a Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit approved by the City of Colorado Springs Planning and Development Department. This permit, also called a refuse enclosure site plan approval, ensures your dumpster placement and screening comply with city code. Key facts:
- 13 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 11
- $0–$0 government filing fees (Note: while the plan review fee is waived, associated building permit or site development fees may apply)
- Varies processing time, depending on plan review complexity
Analyzed from Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit
85% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit
The City of Colorado Springs requires a Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit to enforce compliance with several local ordinances governing public health, safety, and infrastructure. Specifically, your enclosure plan must align with regulations on sewer use (to prevent illegal dumping), water connection requirements (for cleaning), road and sidewalk ordinances (to ensure unobstructed access), and strict limits on grease discharge into the municipal system. The permit ensures that your refuse handling area does not create nuisances, block public rights-of-way, or contribute to environmental violations. Issued by the city's Development Review Division, this permit is a mandatory checkpoint before you can receive a Certificate of Occupancy.
Operating without this permit or failing to construct the enclosure as approved exposes your business to significant penalties. The city can issue stop-work orders or cease-and-desist notices, halting your opening or daily operations. Practical consequences include:
- Service Disconnection: The city can disconnect water or sewer service to your property for non-compliance, effectively shutting you down.
- Fines: Daily fines can accumulate until the violation is corrected, creating an unpredictable financial liability.
- Required Remediation: You may be forced to tear down and rebuild a non-compliant structure at your own expense, on the city's timeline.
- Permit Revocation: Failure to comply can lead to the revocation of other related permits, jeopardizing your entire project.
Legal code: Local sewer use regulations, water connection requirements, road/sidewalk ordinances, grease discharge limits
Recent update: As of 2026, the City of Colorado Springs has integrated its Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit application into the online Pikes Peak Regional Building Department portal, requiring digital submission of site plans and enclosure details.
Who Needs a Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Generates over 4 cubic yards of waste weekly, triggering the Colorado Springs Land Development Code § 7.5.505 requirement for a permitted enclosure. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required due to high-volume glass and packaging waste exceeding the 4-cubic-yard weekly threshold defined in the Land Development Code. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Typically operates from commissary kitchens and uses shared or temporary refuse services; individual enclosure permits are handled at the commissary location. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Regular waste from cups, packaging, and food prep typically exceeds the 4-cubic-yard weekly volume requiring a permitted enclosure. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (13 Fields)
11 of 13 auto-filledAcknowledgement Form Completed
textMark this box 'X' only if you have downloaded, signed, and attached the separate 'Refuse Enclosure Acknowledgement' form from the city's website, confirming you understand maintenance and nuisance responsibilities.
COMMON MISTAKE: Applicants check this box assuming it refers to the main permit application, but the city requires a separate, specific signed form.
Complete Site Plan Prepared
textAdjacent Property Address Included
textApplicant Contact Information Included
textScale Indication Included
textNorth Arrow Included
textProperty Lines Shown
textRights-of-Way Names Shown
textRights-of-Way Widths Shown
textObstructions Shown
textApronPrep auto-fills 11 of 13 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit Mistakes
1. Inaccurate Enclosure Material Description
Applicants often write 'metal' or 'wooden fence,' but the City of Colorado Springs Planning and Community Development Department requires specific compliance with the International Building Code and Unified Development Code. An entry like 'chain link fence' will be rejected because it does not meet the required 'solid, non-combustible material' standard for side and rear panels. Using an unapproved material adds 3–4 weeks for resubmission, as you must submit new construction details.
2. Incorrect or Missing Site Plan Dimensions
Leaving the setback measurements blank or guessing distances from property lines is a top rejection reason. The site plan must show exact distances in feet from the enclosure to all property lines and building structures, as per UDC § 7.3.100. For example, entering '10 ft' from the rear lot line when the actual measurement is 8.5 feet will fail. This mistake triggers a formal review cycle delay, often adding 2–3 weeks to your timeline while you commission a corrected survey or plan.
3. Listing a Contractor Without a Valid City Business License
Entering the name of a contractor who does not hold a current, active Colorado Springs business license causes immediate application holds. The city verifies this against its database. For instance, if 'ABC Construction' is listed but their city license expired or was never obtained, your permit cannot be issued. This forces you to find and contract a new licensed contractor, delaying your project by at least 2–3 weeks and potentially incurring additional costs.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit
ApronPrep auto-fills 11 of 13 fields from one compliance interview.
No credit card required
Dumpster/Refuse Enclosure Permit by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | ||
| Colorado Springs | ||
| Denver |
Timeline: 2–6 Weeks
Prepare Site Plans & Calculations
Gather your approved building footprint site plan and design a compliant enclosure. You'll need to calculate exact enclosure dimensions based on your waste generation (typically 1 cubic yard of container capacity per 3,000 sq ft of building area, per city code). The plan must specify wall construction material (e.g., 6-foot high masonry walls), gate type, and the proposed location relative to property lines and other structures. Most initial rejections occur due to incorrect screening material specifications or insufficient setbacks from alleys.
Submit Application & Plans
File your completed application form (City form LDR-103 or equivalent) along with two sets of detailed site plans through the City of Colorado Springs Planning & Community Development online portal, or in person at the City Administration Building. You must include the **$127 government filing fee** (as of 2026). Applications are not accepted if the fee is incorrect or if plans are missing the required engineer's or architect's seal for structural walls.
City Plan Review & Corrections
A city planner reviews your submission for compliance with the Colorado Springs Zoning Code, particularly Article 7, and the International Fire Code. This review checks for adequate fire access, landscaping integration, and drainage. You will receive a formal comment letter if revisions are needed—common issues include gate swing interfering with pedestrian right-of-way or insufficient screening of recycling containers. Responding to these comments adds the most variable time to the process.
Where to Apply
Applications are handled by your local department of public works (dpw) in each city. Select your city below for authority details, fees, and processing timeline.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Colorado.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsProcessing time varies widely, per the Colorado Springs Planning & Community Development Department. It depends on application volume, completeness of your submission, and whether associated permits like a Building Permit are also required. Contact the Development Review Enterprise (DRE) at 719-385-5905 to confirm current timelines for your specific project.
Based on official fee data, the government filing fee range for this permit is $0–$0. However, other plan review or permit fees may apply if your enclosure requires new construction. Always verify the complete fee schedule with the Colorado Springs Planning Department, as costs for related requirements like a Certificate of Occupancy are separate.
No, these permits are site-specific and cannot be transferred. A new permit application is required for a different address, as posted on the Planning Department's application guide. This is standard for most site-specific approvals, similar to a City Business License/Registration, which also cannot be transferred between locations.
Typically, these permits do not require periodic renewal; they are valid as long as the enclosure remains compliant with city codes. However, any modification or relocation of the enclosure triggers a new permit review. Contact the Colorado Springs Planning & Community Development Division to confirm if your specific permit has an expiration date.
A city inspector will verify the enclosure meets specific dimensions, material, and screening requirements as per Colorado Springs Zoning Code § 9.4.1010. They check for proper gates, lids, and that the enclosure does not block required parking, fire lanes, or ADA access routes. The inspection cannot be scheduled until all associated permits, like a Building Permit, are approved.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Colorado specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 13 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- Local sewer use regulations, water connection requirements, road/sidewalk ordinances, grease discharge limits
- Denver — Department of Public Works (DPW)
This Form Is One of 60+ Requirements.
ApronPrep discovers every permit your city requires — including the ones generic checklists miss. Pick your city for the complete package.