Last Updated 07/22/2026
The City of Lakewood has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction. The City of Lakewood is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Lakewood will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Lakewood, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Lakewood has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
Excerpt from City of Lakewood Codes and Laws
Title 13 Waters and Sewers
Chapter 13.14 Stormwater Quality
13.14.050 Inspection and sampling.
It is lawful for a city employee or consultant to enter upon private property to perform inspection and sampling necessary to determine if the provisions of this chapter are being complied with if: A. The city has obtained a search warrant; or B. The city has obtained the consent of the person in possession of the property. (Ord. O92-55 § 1 (part), 1992).
13.14.090 Enforcement-Violations-Penalties.
- The violation of the provisions of this chapter or of the rules and regulations of the Director issued pursuant to this chapter by any person shall be unlawful.
- Whenever a discharge of polluting material is in violation of the provisions of this chapter or otherwise causes or threatens to cause a condition of contamination, pollution or nuisance, the city may, in addition to any other remedies available to it: 1. Take action as set forth in Section 13.14.080; 2. Issue a cease and desist order; 3. Issue a summons and complaint to be heard in Lakewood municipal court; 4. Petition the district court for the issuance of a preliminary or permanent injunction or both, as may be appropriate in restraining the continuance of such discharge and may seek compensation for any damage caused by said pollution, including any fines levied against Lakewood as a result of said pollution; 5. Treat the action as a nuisance. Any prohibited contribution to the stormsewer system is declared to be a nuisance and may be abated, if the city so chooses, under the provisions of the Lakewood Municipal Code relating to the abatement of nuisances.
- The Environmental Manager shall have the nonexclusive power and authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Environmental Manager shall be considered a peace officer within the meaning of Section 1.04.010 of this code for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. O-2002-10 § 4, 2002; Ord. O-93-52 § 4, 1993; Ord. O-92-55 § 1 (part), 1992).
13.14.100 Stormwater Discharge Permit.
The term “significant” as it relates to the City of Lakewood’s Stormwater Discharge Permit requirements for development and redevelopment is defined as:
- Sites that disturb an area of one (1) acre or more.
- Sites that disturb less than one (1) acre of total land area that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale, if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb one (1) acre or more. (Ord. O-2019-24 § 4, 2019; Ord. O-2006-6 § 1, 2006).
Title 14 Buildings and Construction
Chapter 14.15 Stormwater Management
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14.15.090 Public and private responsibilities for maintenance of system
B. Private Responsibilities.
If the Director has determined that the city will not accept the responsibility for maintenance and operation of a stormwater management system, the owner of the land then has the responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the stormwater management system. Such responsibility shall be assumed by subsequent owners.
If the city has determined that the property owner has not properly maintained or operated the stormwater management system, the Director shall cause notice to be served upon the property owner. Such notice shall be in writing, signed by the Director, and shall be personally served upon the property owner. The notice shall specifically state why the stormwater management system has been determined to be improperly maintained or operated and the procedures which must be undertaken to correct the system’s deficiencies.
Any person wishing to appeal the city’s determination that the stormwater management system has not been properly maintained or operated shall file a written petition with the Director as described in Section 14.15.110. If the property owner does not appeal or correct the deficiencies within fourteen days of service of the notice, the city has the right to enter the property, maintain the stormwater management facilities, and require reimbursement for the costs that may be incurred by the city. (Ord. O-81-165 § 6(C), 1981).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lakewood inspect my property for stormwater compliance without my permission?
Only under two circumstances: the city has obtained a search warrant, or the city has obtained consent from whoever is in possession of the property. Absent one of those, a city employee or consultant can’t lawfully enter private property to inspect or sample under Lakewood’s stormwater ordinance.
What size project counts as "significant" under Lakewood's Stormwater Discharge Permit requirements?
Any site disturbing one acre or more, and smaller sites count too if they’re part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will ultimately disturb an acre or more once combined. That’s the same aggregation approach we’ve seen in most other Colorado cities.
Who is responsible for maintaining a stormwater management system in Lakewood if the city doesn't take it over?
The property owner, and that responsibility carries forward to every subsequent owner. If the city determines it won’t accept responsibility for a given system’s maintenance and operation, the burden falls squarely on whoever owns the land at the time, indefinitely.
What happens if Lakewood decides my stormwater system isn't properly maintained?
You’ll get formal written notice, personally served and signed by the Director, explaining exactly why the system was found deficient and what corrective steps are required. You have 14 days from that service to either appeal the determination or fix the problem.
Can I appeal if Lakewood says my stormwater system isn't properly maintained?
Yes. You can file a written petition with the Director under the appeals process laid out in the code. That petition has to happen within the same 14-day window you’d otherwise use to correct the deficiencies, so appealing and repairing are really two branches of the same clock.
What happens if I don't appeal or fix my stormwater system within 14 days in Lakewood?
The city gets the right to enter the property, perform the necessary maintenance itself, and require you to reimburse whatever costs it incurs doing the work. There’s no extension built into the code beyond that initial 14-day window.
What enforcement options does Lakewood have for a stormwater discharge violation?
Several, and they’re not mutually exclusive. The city can issue a cease and desist order, file a summons in Lakewood municipal court, petition district court for an injunction along with compensation for damages, or treat the violation as a nuisance subject to abatement under the municipal code’s nuisance provisions.
Who enforces Lakewood's stormwater ordinance day to day?
The Environmental Manager, who holds nonexclusive authority to enforce the chapter and is legally treated as a peace officer for that specific purpose. That designation gives the position real enforcement teeth beyond a typical administrative compliance role.
How can AQUALIS help my property stay compliant with Lakewood's stormwater ordinance?
AQUALIS helps Lakewood property owners maintain stormwater management systems to the city’s standards, respond to a deficiency notice within the 14-day correction and appeal window, and manage significant-project permit requirements for sites at or above the one-acre threshold.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
