Tap Permit Process in Denver
An independent, licensed plumbing contractor. Not affiliated with Denver Water or the City and County of Denver.
In Denver, water service is handled by one authority and wastewater by another, and both sit separate from the licensed contractor who performs the work. Denver Sewer and Water is that contractor. We are a private, family owned company and we are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver.
- Water and wastewater are separate authorities.
- Right of way work adds a third approval.
- Permits precede any excavation.
- Contractor licensing is a prerequisite.
- Private contractor, not the utility.
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How Authority Is Split in Denver
The biggest source of confusion in Denver is that a single tap project can involve more than one public body. The drinking water utility governs the water tap. The wastewater side governs the sanitary connection. The city governs work in the public right of way and the building side plumbing permits.
Each of those bodies has its own application, its own fee schedule, and its own inspection. They do not automatically coordinate with each other, and a delay at one holds up the whole project.
Contractor licensing and registration with those authorities is a prerequisite. Property owners cannot self-perform work at a public main.
(720) 935-6221Approvals a Denver Tap Project Can Involve
- Water tap authorization from the drinking water utility.
- Sanitary sewer connection permit from the wastewater authority.
- Right of way or street occupancy permit for work in the public way.
- Plumbing permit for the building side of the work.
- Traffic control approval where lanes or sidewalks are affected.
- Inspection sign-off from each authority with jurisdiction.
How We Diagnose It
Who Authorizes the Tap and Who Performs the Tap
Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated contractor. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We do not issue permits, set fees, own the mains, or approve service. The utility or municipality with jurisdiction does all of that.
Each authority decides what it will allow, what it charges, and when it inspects. Denver Sewer and Water does not influence any of those decisions and does not speak for any authority.
What we do is run the contractor side of the paperwork, keep the applications moving in the right order, and make sure the field work matches what was approved.
The authority authorizes. The licensed contractor performs. Below is the split for this type of work.
Authority Side and Contractor Side
- Authority: Approves tap size, location, and connection detail.
- Authority: Issues permits and sets every fee.
- Authority: Controls inspection scheduling and final acceptance.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Confirms which authorities have jurisdiction at your specific address.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Prepares and submits the contractor side of each application.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Sequences approvals so one does not stall another.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Performs the excavation and connection to the approved detail.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Attends inspections and completes restoration.
The General Sequence on a Denver Tap Project
- 1
Determine Jurisdiction
We confirm which water and wastewater bodies serve the address, because service boundaries do not always follow city limits.
- 2
Apply in the Right Order
Tap authorization generally precedes right of way approval, and both precede scheduling excavation.
- 3
Schedule Around Inspection
Field work is planned so the connection is open when the inspector arrives rather than waiting in an open trench.
- 4
Close Out
Inspections are signed off, restoration is completed, and documentation is delivered for your records.
Work With a Contractor Who Handles the Paperwork Side Too
Denver Fee Structure in General Terms
Expect charges from more than one body: tap and capacity charges from the utilities, permit and inspection fees from the reviewing authority, and right of way and restoration charges from the city where the work is in a street.
We do not publish fee amounts. Tap fees, plant investment fees, permit fees, and inspection fees are set by the authority with jurisdiction and change on their schedule, not ours. We confirm the current figures in writing with that authority for your address before work is scheduled.
The authority that issues a tap permit is set by where the property sits, not by who does the work. Denver Sewer and Water is a private contractor and does not issue permits, set fees, or approve service in any of these jurisdictions.
| Jurisdiction | Who issues the permit | Inspection required | Who is responsible for restoration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | Water service is authorized by Denver Water. Sanitary sewer and right of way work is permitted by the City and County of Denver. | Yes. Confirm with the jurisdiction which inspections apply to your permit type and in what order. | The permit holder and the licensed contractor restore the surface to the standard the permit sets. Confirm the standard with the jurisdiction. |
| Aurora | Aurora runs its own combined water and sewer utility, so both sides are authorized by the city. | Yes. Confirm with the jurisdiction which inspections apply to your permit type. | The permit holder and the licensed contractor. Confirm the restoration standard with the jurisdiction. |
| Lakewood | Water and sanitation are served by separate special districts, so the issuing authority depends on the address. | Confirm with the jurisdiction. Requirements vary between the district and the city right of way permit. | The permit holder and the licensed contractor. Confirm the restoration standard with the jurisdiction. |
Fee amounts, turnaround times, and inspection sequencing are set by each authority and change on their schedule. We confirm the current requirements in writing for your address before work is scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Tap Services and Municipal Process Pages
Denver Water Tap Installation
Who authorizes a water tap, who physically makes the connection, and how the two fit together.
Explore Denver Water Tap InstallationSewer Tap Installation
Connecting a property to a sanitary sewer main, from permit through inspection.
Explore Sewer Tap InstallationDenver Wastewater Tap Fees Explained
What each fee category on a wastewater tap project is for and who charges it.
Explore Denver Wastewater Tap Fees ExplainedTap Process in Aurora
Aurora runs its own water and sewer utility, so the process differs from Denver.
Explore Tap Process in AuroraTap Process in Lakewood
Lakewood properties are served by separate water and sanitation districts.
Explore Tap Process in LakewoodSanitary Sewer Connection for New Construction
Sequencing the sewer connection inside a new build schedule.
Explore Sanitary Sewer Connection for New ConstructionNot Sure Which Authority Governs Your Address?
That is the first thing we confirm, before any application or excavation.