# Tap Permit Process in 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.

## 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.

- 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.

## 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: 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.

## 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.

## Frequently asked questions

**How long does the permit process take in Denver?**

Review times are set by the authorities and vary with workload and project complexity. We confirm current expectations at application rather than promising a timeline we do not control.

**Can I apply for the tap permit myself?**

Tap work at a public main requires a licensed, registered contractor. Some building side permits can be owner pulled depending on the jurisdiction and property type.

**Is my address inside Denver's service area?**

Not always. Water and sanitation districts cross municipal boundaries. Confirming jurisdiction is the first step of every project we take.

**Are you Denver Water?**

No. Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated company. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We are the licensed contractor who performs the physical work after the authority with jurisdiction issues the permit.

**Can you tell me my tap fee amount over the phone?**

We can tell you which fees apply to your project type and who charges them. The dollar amounts come from the authority with jurisdiction, and we confirm them for your specific address rather than quoting from memory.

## Related Tap Services and Municipal Process Pages

- [Denver Water Tap Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/denver-water-tap-installation) Who authorizes a water tap, who physically makes the connection, and how the two fit together.
- [Sewer Tap Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/sewer-tap-installation) Connecting a property to a sanitary sewer main, from permit through inspection.
- [Denver Wastewater Tap Fees Explained](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/denver-wastewater-tap-fees-explained) What each fee category on a wastewater tap project is for and who charges it.
- [Tap Process in Aurora](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/tap-process-aurora) Aurora runs its own water and sewer utility, so the process differs from Denver.
- [Tap Process in Lakewood](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/tap-process-lakewood) Lakewood properties are served by separate water and sanitation districts.
- [Sanitary Sewer Connection for New Construction](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/sanitary-sewer-connection-new-construction) Sequencing the sewer connection inside a new build schedule.

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Denver Sewer and Water is a privately owned, licensed and insured plumbing contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Denver Water, the municipal water utility, or any government entity. To pay a municipal water bill or reach the public utility, visit denverwater.org.

Source: https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/tap-permit-process-denver