Water and Sewer Connection Permit in Aurora, Colorado (2026)
Your building plans will fail inspection and your construction cannot legally begin until you have an approved Water and Sewer Connection Permit from the City of Aurora's Development Center, also called a utility tap approval. This permit authorizes the physical connection of your new or remodeled building to the city's water and sewer mains. Key facts:
- 24 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 20
- $1–$3 government filing fees
- Timeline varies, typically 2–4 weeks for permit issuance pending inspection scheduling
Analyzed from Water and Sewer Connection Permit
83% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Water and Sewer Connection Permit
Your Aurora restaurant cannot receive utility service or legally discharge wastewater without a Water and Sewer Connection Permit from the city's Public Works Department. This requirement is mandated by the Aurora City Code, Title VII, Chapter 90 (Sewer Use Regulations) and related ordinances governing water connections and right-of-way work. The permit ensures your proposed plumbing and discharge systems comply with local standards for pipe sizing, backflow prevention, and grease interceptor capacity. Without this documented approval, Aurora Water will not authorize a final meter set or service activation, which halts all construction and final inspections.
Operating without this permit or violating its conditions triggers immediate enforcement. Common penalties include:
- Service Disconnection – Aurora Water can physically shut off your water supply, halting all business operations.
- Daily Fines – Monetary penalties accrue for each day of non-compliance or unauthorized discharge.
- Required Remediation – You may be forced to excavate and re-install non-compliant piping at your expense.
- Permit Revocation – The city can revoke your certificate of occupancy, preventing you from opening or remaining open.
Legal code: Local sewer use regulations, water connection requirements, road/sidewalk ordinances, grease discharge limits
Recent update: As of 2026, Aurora now requires pre-approval of grease interceptor sizing calculations by a Colorado-licensed engineer for all food service establishments before the connection permit application is accepted.
Who Needs a Water and Sewer Connection Permit?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required for connecting a new structure to the municipal water and sewer mains, as mandated by Aurora's Municipal Code, Chapter 100. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required; any establishment with plumbing fixtures (restrooms, bar sinks) requires a new connection permit per Aurora Water Department regulations. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Typically exempt; food trucks connect to existing service hookups at commissaries or event sites and do not require a permanent municipal connection permit. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required for new construction or a tenant finishing out a space that requires new plumbing runs to the main, per Aurora's building and utility codes. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (24 Fields)
20 of 24 auto-filledProperty Address
textEnter the full, physical street address of the restaurant property (e.g., '123 Main Street, Aurora, CO 80012'), which must match the address on your lease or deed exactly; do not use a P.O. Box.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a mailing address, a nearby cross street, or an incomplete address missing the zip code, which causes the permit to be issued to the wrong location.
Legal Property Description
textEnter the precise legal description from your property's deed or title report, which typically includes lot, block, subdivision, and sometimes metes-and-bounds details; find this on your closing documents or by contacting the Arapahoe County Assessor's office.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this blank, entering the street address again, or copying an incorrect description from an old document, which fails the city's property verification check.
Property Ownership Status
textSelect or write 'Owner' if you own the property, or 'Tenant/Lessee' if you are leasing the space; this determines which supporting documents (deed vs. lease) you must submit.
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly selecting 'Owner' when you are a tenant, which leads to a rejection for missing the required lease agreement and authorization letter from the landlord.
Proof of Ownership or Authorization Letter
checkboxCheck this box if you are a tenant/lessee, indicating you will attach a signed letter from the property owner authorizing you to apply for the water/sewer connection on their behalf.
COMMON MISTAKE: Providing a standard lease instead of a specific authorization letter, which lacks the required language granting permission for utility work and causes rejection.
Proof of Ownership or Authorization Letter
checkboxCheck this box if you are a tenant/lessee, indicating you will attach a signed letter from the property owner authorizing you to apply for the water/sewer connection on their behalf.
COMMON MISTAKE: Providing a standard lease instead of a specific authorization letter, which lacks the required language granting permission for utility work and causes rejection.
Site Plan Showing Building and Connection Points
checkboxCheck this box to confirm you will submit a scaled site plan (prepared by a designer or architect) that clearly shows the building footprint, property lines, and the proposed points of connection to the city water main and sewer line.
COMMON MISTAKE: Submitting a hand-drawn sketch or a plan without a professional seal, which Aurora Public Works requires for verification, leading to an immediate rejection.
Building Plans Showing Plumbing Layout
checkboxCheck this box to confirm you will submit detailed building/plumbing plans that illustrate the interior water supply and drain/waste/vent (DWV) systems, including fixture locations, pipe sizes, and routing to the connection points.
COMMON MISTAKE: Submitting generic plumbing schematics instead of plans specific to the Aurora address, which fails to show compliance with local codes and halts review.
Grease Trap/Interceptor Selected
checkboxCheck this box if your restaurant will have a commercial kitchen, confirming that a grease interceptor (trap) is part of the design, as required by Aurora Municipal Code § 26-136 for food service establishments.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this unchecked for a full-service restaurant, which signals a code violation and results in an automatic rejection until corrected.
Grease Trap/Interceptor Specifications and Installation Plans
checkboxCheck this box to confirm you will attach manufacturer specifications (capacity, model) and a detailed installation drawing showing the grease interceptor's location, piping, and access points for maintenance.
COMMON MISTAKE: Providing only product brochures without site-specific installation details, which the Wastewater Division cannot approve, adding 2-3 weeks for resubmission.
Legal Business Name
textEnter the exact legal name of your business entity as registered with the Colorado Secretary of State (e.g., 'XYZ Restaurant, LLC'), which will be printed on the permit; do not use a DBA/trade name here unless it is your official registered name.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a trading name ('Joe's Diner') instead of the legal entity name, causing a mismatch with state records and requiring a corrected application.
ApronPrep auto-fills 20 of 24 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Water and Sewer Connection Permit Mistakes
1. Incorrectly Specifying Pipe Material and Diameter
Entering generic or assumed pipe sizes (like 'standard' or '6-inch') causes immediate review rejection. Based on ApronPrep's analysis of Aurora applications, this mistake requires a back-and-forth with an engineer and can add 2–3 weeks. Avoid by using the as-built site plans from the property's original construction or a recent professional survey — the exact specifications (e.g., '8-inch ductile iron, Class 52') must match the existing city main and proposed tap.
2. Using the Restaurant's Proposed Address Instead of Parcel/Tax ID
The permit is tied to the legal property identifier, not a future business name or address. Applications filed with just '123 Main St, Suite A' are flagged for manual lookup, delaying intake by 5-10 business days. Always provide the official 11-digit Parcel Number (APN) from the Arapahoe or Adams County Assessor's office and the legal site address before any unit/suite designations.
3. Submitting Incomplete Site Plan Details
Omitting the precise location measurements for the proposed tap point relative to property lines and existing utilities is a top reason for a 'more information needed' hold. This typically adds 1-2 weeks for plan revisions. Your site plan must show the tap point's distance in feet from the nearest property corner and the centerline of the adjacent street, as verified by a stamped civil drawing.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Water and Sewer Connection Permit
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Water and Sewer Connection Permit by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | Contact authority for current fees - refer to Fee Schedule 1, 2, or 3 available on aurora.gov Development Center | 2-4 weeks for permit issuance pending inspection scheduling and approval (timelines vary based on application completeness) |
| Colorado Springs | Water Development Charge (WDC) ranges from $5,297 to $889,224 depending on property type, lot size, and meter size. Water Resource Fee (WRF) ranges from $3,847 to $645,790. Wastewater Permit Fees (2025): Single-family residential new construction $160, multi-family per service line $200, non-residential without interceptor $200, non-residential with interceptor $350. Additional Install/Repair/Alteration: Single-family $200, multi-family $240, non-residential without interceptor $240, non-residential with interceptor $390. Wastewater Development Charges range from $1,868 to $460,049 depending on property type and meter size. Return trip fees (2025): Single-family $100, multi-family $140, non-residential without interceptor $140, non-residential with interceptor $290. Outside-city limit charges are 50% higher than inside city. | |
| Denver | Contact authority for current fees. Denver Water charges connection fees; sewer permit fees vary by local authority | 4-8 weeks from application to final approval, depending on site complexity and inspection availability. May extend if modifications required. |
Government Filing Fees
Contact authority for current fees - refer to Fee Schedule 1, 2, or 3 available on aurora.gov Development Center
Timeline: Typically 4–8 weeks
Step 1: Contact City of Aurora Development Services or Water Department to confirm water/sewer connection requirements for your restaurant location
Call the City of Aurora Development Services Division (303-739-7260) or Aurora Water (303-326-8645) to confirm the precise connection requirements, including pipe size, material specs, and any flow restrictions for your specific address. Have your parcel number and a preliminary site plan ready. Missing this step is the top reason for submitting incomplete plans that get rejected, adding 2–3 weeks to your timeline.
Step 2: Obtain the Water and Sewer Connection Permit application form from aurora.gov or Development Services office
Download the “Water & Sewer Connection Permit” application form (often Form PWD-101) directly from the Aurora Permits & Licenses portal or pick up a physical copy at the Development Services counter at 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. Ensure you have the latest 2026 version—using an outdated form triggers an immediate return. Most applicants locate and download the form within 30 minutes.
Step 3: Prepare site plans showing proposed connection points to municipal water and sewer lines
Hire a licensed civil engineer or surveyor to draft stamped site plans at a scale of 1"=20' or 1"=30', detailing the exact tie-in points to the city's main lines, depths, slopes, and all proposed fixtures. The City of Aurora requires two full-size sets and one 11"x17" reduced set. Plans missing the engineer's seal or precise invert elevations are rejected, causing a 1–2 week delay for revisions.
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 RequirementsThe processing timeline varies significantly based on project complexity and department workload. According to the Aurora Water Department's application guide, review can range from a few days for simple residential taps to several weeks for commercial projects requiring plan reviews. Always contact the Aurora Public Works Department to confirm the current estimated timeline before scheduling construction.
Official government filing fees range from $1 to $3, as posted on the Aurora Public Works fee schedule. However, this fee is typically for the permit application itself; major connection projects involve significant additional costs for system development charges, tap fees, and contractor work. Not legal advice — verify all current charges with the Aurora Water Department.
No, permits are site-specific and non-transferable. A new permit application is required for any new location, as the approval is based on the specific property's infrastructure and zoning. This process often requires a new site plan and may trigger the need for a separate Building Permit if structural work is involved.
The physical connection permit itself does not require renewal; it is a one-time authorization for installation. However, you must maintain the system. This includes annual testing and certification of any Backflow Prevention Device, as required by Aurora Water to protect the public supply. Failure to submit annual certifications can result in service discontinuation.
A city inspector verifies the installation matches approved plans, checks for proper pipe materials, joint seals, depth, and slope. They also ensure the connection point to the main line is correct and that proper backflow prevention is installed if required. The inspection must be passed before the trench is backfilled and is a prerequisite for receiving a Certificate of Occupancy for the new building.
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 24 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
- Aurora — Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Colorado Springs — Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Denver — Department of Public Works (DPW)
This Form Is One of 60+ Requirements.
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