Infrastructure Right of Way (ROW) Permits

Requirements for ROW permits include, but are not limited to:

• Contractor must have a Thornton Contractor’s license.
• At a minimum, provide Quality Level B plans based on designated utilities.
  • The City of Thornton does not locate engineering tickets. Please note that the Thornton Utilities map is qualitative only and shapes from the map should not be used in lieu of designated utility locations.
  • Show on the plans the intended installation and distances to Thornton utilities called out at their narrowest pass.
  • Labeled distances should include but are not limited to, distances from features such as water mains, valves, hydrants, meters, backflows, and PRVs; sanitary sewer mains and manholes; storm drains, manholes, and inlets (from edge of concrete); streetlights; traffic signals and conduits; and city fiber.
  • The location and extent of any pits or other means of excavation.
  • A run line that complies with the standard of 10ft horizontal distance from wet utilities or the 5ft horizontal distance from dry utilities.
  • Requests for variances, if necessary, should be called out on plans along with the reason the variance is required.

• If a bore crosses any City utilities a SUE Quality Level A plan and profile is required. 

  • To obtain the depths for a SUE Level A plan, a potholing permit will be required. To obtain a potholing permit, provide SUE Level B plans as above but with the locations of planned potholes displayed.
  • The run line must be approved before a potholing permit is issued. When potholing the site label all potholes on the pavement with the contractor initials, depth of utility and planned depth of bore.
  • After the potholing event has been completed, an application for a boring permit will need to be submitted in the portal using the same links above. The application must include the plan and profile (SUE level A) with data obtained from the potholing event. Depths must be represented in profile view with the intended installation and labeled vertical distances from Thornton utilities (18 inches is the minimal vertical interference).
  • When planning a project involving boring, please submit traffic and construction applications for a design potholing event. 

  Plan and Profile

• After completing a potholing event, please create a plan and profile. A plan and profile includes:
  • Utility plans that have the distances between the intended bore and Thornton utilities called out at their narrowest pass. These should include but are not limited to, distances from features such as water mains, valves, hydrants, meters, backflows, and PRVs; sanitary sewer mains and manholes; storm drains, manholes, and inlets (from edge of concrete); streetlights; traffic signals and conduits; and city fiber.
  • The depths of represented in a profile view with the intended bore as well as vertical clearance from Thornton utilities (18 inches is the minimal vertical interference).
  • The location and extent of any pits or other means of excavation.
• Further information is available on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) subsurface utility engineering website.  
• Once a plan and profile is developed, submit traffic and construction applications for the construction/boring phase.
• Pre-construction meeting with City staff no less than 48 hours before starting work.

Minimal Interference

• 10-foot (10') minimum horizontal clearance when running along City utilities
• 18-inch (18") minimum vertical clearance when crossing City utilities
• If the minimum horizontal and vertical clearances are not adhered to, then the permittee assumes all risk of damage and loss arising out of failure to comply with required clearances. 

Paving Moratorium 

No provider shall cause an open trench excavation or potholing of utilities in the pavement of any ROW for at least one year from the completion or resurfacing unless authorized by the city’s Streets Manager. If an asphalt cut is unavoidable and approved by the Streets Manager, the replacement shall cover a greater area than the original cut, which the streets manager will determine.

Operating Without a Permit 

Any person found to be conducting any construction activity, work, or excavation activity without having first obtained a construction permit shall stop all activity until appropriate permit(s) are obtained.

Infrastructure Permit Conditions [PDF/277KB]Utility Cut Restoration Specifications

How long does it take to process a construction permit? 

The minimum processing time for construction permit applications is typically fourteen (14) business days; this includes review time, coordination with traffic control permit, and time to schedule a pre-construction meeting.

Is a permit required if the work is on private property and/or a private street? 

Yes, any type of construction being performed within the City requires a construction permit. City Code Sec 2-272(1)(a). The permit plans shall show the full scope of work both in and outside of the ROW. 

What if a construction project crosses into another city or county next to Thornton? 

A ROW permit from Thornton only allows permission for work being done within the City. Anything beyond the city of Thornton will need to be addressed with that city or county.

The scope of work only requires work to be done on the utility pole. Will a construction permit still be required? 

Yes, per the city code work only being done on a utility pole is still considered construction activity.

What if the scope of work is removing and/or replacing a utility pole, will a construction permit be required? 

Yes, per city code replacing a utility pole is still considered construction activity.

Is a construction permit required if it is Thornton that is requesting the work? 

Yes, this type of permit would fall under the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Permit application. However, some work such as irrigation line or water line breaks where the City is requesting the contractor to do the work, there is no construction permit is required. Still, a City employee is required to be onsite.

If there is an emergency repair within the City, is a construction permit required?

Yes, once the emergency has been discovered, immediate notification to the Traffic Division and/or Infrastructure Department must be made. Start the work as soon as possible, but once the work has started it must continue until the repair has been fixed and the surface restored to previous condition. A construction permit application must be submitted within 24-hours of notification of the emergency repair.

Do I need a construction permit if we only need to access a manhole and the work is inside the manhole? 

No, a construction permit is not required when accessing your own manhole. However, a traffic control permit will be required.

If we make sidewalk cuts, do we replace only what was cut? 

No, once a sidewalk has been cut the entire panel(s) will have to be replaced.

For more information, please contact Engineering Services at 720-977-6210, or email infrastructure.permits@thorntonco.gov.

How long does it take to process a traffic control permit?

Minimum processing time for traffic control permit applications is typically ten (10) business days; this includes review time, coordination with construction permitting process, and time to schedule a pre-construction meeting. Minimum processing time for traffic control permits that do not require a construction permit is typically five (5) business days. The traffic control permit cannot be approved before the construction permit.

What are the different types of traffic control permits and do they have associated fees?

CIP Permits

• City of Thornton capital improvement project work.
• No associated fees.

Franchise Permits

• Work being done by Xcel Energy, Comcast, United Power and associated subcontractors.
• $50 processing fee as well as a closure fee that depends on duration of the closure, street classification, and square footage occupied by the traffic control and work zone.

General Permits

• Rights-of-Way permits for boring, potholing, approved small cell installation, and utilities.
• $50 processing fee as well as a closure fee that depends on duration of the closure, street classification, and square footage occupied by the traffic control and work zone.

Non-construction Permits

• On-street containers for single-family residences, block parties, and special events permits have no associated fees.
• Other non-construction permits have a $50 processing fee.

Is a traffic control permit required if the work is on private property and/or a private street? 

A traffic control permit is required if the traffic control zone encroaches the City of Thornton’s right-of-way (ROW) or if traffic control elements (signs, cones etc.) are within city ROW.

Is a traffic control permit required if it is the City of Thornton that is requesting the work? 

Yes, this type of permit would fall under the CIP Permit application.

Are traffic permits outlined in the City of Thornton Code of Ordinances?

Yes, they can be found in ARTICLE VII. – RIGHTS-OF-WAY MANAGEMENT, Sec. 2-272. – Construction permits. 

What are standard traffic control permit time restrictions?

• Lane and full closures are permitted 8:30am – 3:30pm, M – F unless otherwise approved by the city’s Traffic Engineering and Operations division.
• Alternative hours or further time restrictions may be required for traffic control in close proximity to schools or other sensitive areas as determined by the city’s Traffic Engineering and Operations division.
• Night and weekend traffic control may be permitted pending review and approval by the city’s Traffic Engineering and Operations division.

How are traffic permit fees calculated?

• Special events such as block parties, races, or parades fall under non-construction permits and do not have associated fees.
• Roll-off dumpsters and on-street containers fall under non-construction permits and do not have associated fees.

• Traffic control permits have a $50 processing fee. In addition, there is a closure fee that depends on the duration of the closure, street classification, and square footage occupied by the traffic control and work zone. This fee is calculated by Thornton’s staff during the review process and presented to the applicant for payment. These fees are calculated based on the fee structure shown in the table. 

  Street Classification	Rights-of-Way Closure Fees
  Arterial	$0.02 x Number of Days x Square Feet of Closed Area
  Collector	$0.01 x Number of Days x Square Feet of Closed Area
  Residential	$0.01 x Number of Days x Square Feet of Closed Area
  Sidewalk or Trail	$0.03 x Number of Days x Square Feet of Closed Area

• There are no fees for lane shifts or shoulder closures provided that no lanes of travel are closed. 
• If there are multiple traffic control plans for one location for the same day, fees will only apply to the most extensive traffic control plan as determined by the city’s Traffic Engineering and Operations Division. 
• Mobile traffic control plans or short-duration traffic control plans can be used for multiple locations. These traffic control plans allow for the use of one ‘generic’ traffic control plan for identical, repetitive closures. The closure fee charged would apply to one location per day and not accrue for all locations. 

What are traffic control permit penalty fees? 

A $500 penalty fee can be charged if the following occur and are not corrected within the requested time: restriction of ROW or traffic control in place without a valid permit, restriction of ROW or traffic control in place with an expired permit, and violation of permit conditions or permitted locations. If violations continue after a warning has been issued, the permit can be revoked until traffic control issues are resolved. Penalty fees apply to all permit types, including permits which do not have processing or closure fees.

For more information, please contact Traffic Engineering at 720-977-6490, or email infrastructure.permits@thorntonco.gov.