Code Compliance

Dumping is illegal in the City of Littleton. It is unlawful for any person to deposit any trash, garbage, litter or other refuse on any property owned by another or in any trash container or dumpster owner by another. If this activity is observed and a vehicle is involved, it is important to get the license plate number. To report illegal dumping with suspect information please call the police non-emergency line at 303-794-1551.

Fences and walls must be safe, structurally sound and uniform or compatible in color and structure.

Weeds, Grass & Noxious Vegetation

Weeds that are over 8 inches in height are required to be cut and/or removed from the entirety of the property. Noxious vegetation must be controlled and/or removed from the property depending on the listing (A ,B ,C or Watchlist) and requirements from the Colorado Department of Agriculture Noxious Weeds Program.

Rubbish

All rubbish, refuse, and garbage must be placed in a suitable container for collection or removed from the property by the property owner/occupant.

Outdoor Storage

The outdoor storage of materials, equipment, supplies or other miscellaneous items is prohibited. Prohibited items may include, but are not limited to indoor furniture, appliances, building materials, automotive parts, and chemicals.

It is the responsibility of all property owners/occupants to remove graffiti promptly. 

Properties must be maintained in accordance with the International Property Maintenance Code. The Code provides for the regulation and safe use of existing structures; and establishes a standard for equipment, light, ventilation, heating, sanitation and fire safety.

Snow Removal

Sidewalks must be maintained in a proper state of repair and free from hazardous conditions. Snow and ice are required to be removed within 24 hours of the end of any snow fall or ice storm. Property owners are prohibited from depositing snow and ice to obstruct a street, sidewalk, or any public right of way. 

Street, Sidewalk & Alley Obstructions

Trees, shrubs, debris and all vegetation must be trimmed back from the public right-of-way in order to allow for the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles. The required clearance is 10 feet above the sidewalk and 14 feet above the street. No items, including basketball hoops, may be placed or stored on a public right-of-way.

Derelict and Unlicensed Vehicles

Vehicles on the street or private property must meet State of Colorado motor vehicle laws and must display current license plates. The Littleton Code Compliance division regulates vehicles on private property, and the Littleton Police Department regulates vehicles on public property. If your vehicle is not operable per State of Colorado motor vehicle laws and you are unable to register it, you must register the vehicle as inoperable with the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Vehicle Service (Maintenance/Repair)

Major and minor vehicle service are prohibited in residential zoning districts for commercial purposes (vehicle repair business, etc.). Vehicle service is allowed on occupant owned vehicles in an enclosed garage.

Parking Surfaces

Vehicles must be parked on approved surfaces and may not be parked on dirt or vegetation. Specifications for approved surfaces are detailed in the code.

To report any of the following violations, call the Littleton police non-emergency number 303-794-1551:

• Animal complaints including barking dogs and dogs off leash.
• Public parking violations (on streets).
• To file a report for graffiti.
• Abandoned vehicles.
• Noise complaints after hours.
• Illegal dumping.

To report any of the following violations, contact the Public Works Department at 303-795-3863:

• Snow on the street or snowplow issues.
  Snow Route Priority Map(PDF, 2MB)
• Nuisance trees.
• City-owned fences.
• City-owned landscaping.
• Illicit discharge or interference with the sanitary sewer system.

Civil Disputes are disagreements between two or more property owners, regarding items such as overhanging tree branches, fences and walls between private properties, and video cameras directed at private properties. The City of Littleton is not able to assist property owners with civil disputes at this time, and the Code Compliance Division cannot provide legal advice to property owners regarding civil disputes. 

We recommend that you contact a mediator or lawyer to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding civil disputes. There are also free online resources and paid resources that can help you navigate a dispute with a neighbor.

Neighbors | Nolo

If you're not sure if a matter is civil or regulated by the city, county, state or federal regulations, please contact Code Compliance by phone 303-795-3758, or email codecompliance@littletongov.org.

Foreclosed Properties

The city has no role in the foreclosure process, which is an action by a lender to reclaim property for which payment has not been received. The process is a civil matter between the property owner and the lien holder. This process takes time because certain legal requirements established by state law must be met before the lien holder can take possession of the property.

The city will enforce the same property maintenance codes on properties in foreclosure as with all other properties in the city. This means that the properties must be maintained free of weeds and rubbish and be secured. City code specialists will post properties with a notice to cut or clean-up a property that is not in compliance. If the posting order is not met, the city will contract the work to be done and lien the property for the cost, plus 40 percent.

Arapahoe County, Jefferson County and Douglas County keep records of the foreclosure process and proceedings. These are available to the general public at the counties' web sites. If you have questions related to the foreclosure of a specific property, visit the appropriate county web site.

• Arapahoe County
• Jefferson County
• Douglas County

Abandoned Properties

Abandoned properties have the potential to become dangerous, unfit for habitation, and overgrown. The city will take action to ensure the building does not become a danger to the public including securing utilities, closing and securing vacant structures, and identifying if structural damage is present. If you’re concerned a property has been abandoned, please call 303-795-3758 for more information. 

At this time, the city does not have a shopping cart return program. To report an abandoned shopping cart, please contact the closest grocery or retail store that the cart belongs to.

To report graffiti or vandalism of a mailbox, please contact the United States Postal Inspection Service.

What is the best way to report code violations?

Using SeeClickFix is the best and fastest way to report code violations to our team. If you are unable to use the SeeClickFix software, we ask that you report code violations to us directly by emailing codecompliance@littletongov.org or calling us at (303)795-3758. If you call or email, we ask that you provide as much detail as possible and indicate if you would like a response back from us.

How long does it take to resolve a code compliance case? 

Depending on the complexity, code compliance cases can take anywhere from 14 days to several months to resolve. 

What does your process look like?

After receiving a complaint through SeeClickFix, our team conducts an inspection to verify the code violation and identify any other violations that may be present. After completing the inspection, we typically send a courtesy note to the property owner to notify them of the violation and remedies and provide a follow-up inspection date. If the violations are still present during the follow-up inspection, we issue the property owner a notice of violation. If the violations remain after the notice of violation expires, our team will move forward with abatement or issue the property owner a summons and complaint to Littleton Municipal Court. This process might look different depending on the type and severity of the case.

Do you address code violations proactively?

Yes. Our team spends time identifying violations in addition to receiving reports through SeeClickFix. 

Someone else on my street is in violation too. Did you open a case for them?

Our team strives to address all violations in the surrounding area whenever proactive inspections are conducted, or we respond to a SeeClickFix report. 

Why hasn't my complaint been acknowledged?

The Littleton Code Compliance Division strives to investigate all complaints on the same day they are received. During peak season (May-August) it may take our team a day or two longer to address your complaint. Please allow our team 48 business hours to address your complaint before reaching out to us. Please no not submit additional complaints, as this may cause delays. 

My complaint was acknowledged but I haven't seen any progress.

If your complaint has been acknowledged, the code compliance team has begun the process of investigating and notifying the homeowner. If you would like to know what is being done to address your complaint, you can reach out to our office via phone or email.

Why was my complaint marked as a duplicate and archived?

If the Code Compliance Division receives multiple complaints about the same property and violation within a few days of each other, the first complaint received will serve as the primary case for the violation. All other complaints received will be marked as a duplicate of the primary case and archived in order to avoid duplicate notices being issued to the property owner. If your case is marked as a duplicate and archived, you will automatically receive updates on the primary case until it is closed.

What if I can't meet the deadline provided?

If you are unable to meet the deadline provided, please contact the officer listed on the notice or contact our office as soon as possible. The Code Compliance Division is happy to provide reasonable extensions to individuals experiencing hardship, including, but not limited to, financial hardship, injuries, physical and mental illnesses, and disability. Please contact the officer listed on the notice or contact our office to request more time.  

Important Information on Extensions

• If we do not hear from you before the deadline provided on the notice expires, we will not be able to provide you with an extension.
• If the violation on your property is an immediate threat to the safety and wellbeing of yourself, others, or surrounding properties, we may not be able to provide you with an extension.
• We ask that individuals who are not experiencing hardship do their best to meet the compliance deadlines provided in the notices.
• Repeated requests for extensions with no progress made may result in denial of future extensions, abatement of the violation and/or a summons and complaint to Littleton Municipal Court. 

What is abatement?

If the deadline provided on a notice of violation has expired, and the violations detailed have not been corrected, a contractor will perform the necessary work to correct the violation. The property owner will then be charged the cost of the work completed plus an administrative fee, detailed in the code.

Will I have to go to court?

Individuals that fail to comply with a written notice provided by the Code Compliance Division may be subject to a summons and complaint to Littleton Municipal Court.