Code Enforcement

The Police Department is in charge of Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement Specialists may be reached at 970-826-2374.

• Hazardous or Unsanitary Property
• Junk/Inoperable Vehicles
• Junk
• Weeds & Brush
• Permitted Uses
• Substandard Buildings
• Trash, Garbage and Refuse
• Burning
• Trash Pickup Grass & Leaves
• Tree Trimmings
• Visibility at Intersections

Municipal Ordinances

Code Enforcement involves the enforcement of many of the City’s municipal ordinances. These ordinances have been enacted to preserve the health, safety and welfare of Craig’s citizens and to protect the basic character of our community. The information contained here is provided in an effort to inform you of the various nuisance ordinances and to help you better understand the laws that affect you. Through compliance with these ordinances, we can all continue to make Craig a better community. 

• American Association of Code Enforcement

Hazardous or Unsanitary Property:
Any building or real property, which presents a hazard of fire or accident or a hazard to health or safety must be corrected. Residents are given ten (10) days to correct this violation. 8.12.040(4)

Junk / Inoperable Vehicles:
A junk or inoperable vehicle is defined as any vehicle not capable of traveling under its own powers, not bearing current registration plates, or which, for sixty (60) days or more, has not been in condition to be legally operated on the streets. In the City of Craig, any junk or inoperable vehicle must be within an approved solid six (6) foot fence or within a fully enclosed building. Residents are given ten (10) days to correct this violation. 8.12.040(6) Through a cooperative program with the National Kidney Foundation, the City of Craig participates in the "Kidney Car Program". The program allows vehicle owners to donate motor vehicles to the Kidney Foundation. The donation is tax deductible.

Junk:
Junk is any material or object, new or used, which by reason of its location and character is dangerous to public health, safety and welfare, is unsightly or interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of property by neighbors, detrimentally affects property values in the surrounding neighborhood or community or which would materially hamper or interfere with the prevention or suppression of fire upon the premises. Residents are given ten (10) days to correct this violation.8.12.040(5)

Weeds and Brush:
Growing weeds, including noxious weeds, and brush or dead weeds, grass, brush or tree trimmings or any plants which conceal filthy deposits located on any property with the City of Craig are considered a nuisance. This includes land on or along the sidewalk, street or alley adjacent to the property between the property line and the curb or middle of the alley. Exceptions to this are undeveloped or un-subdivided land, open space areas, agricultural crops and tended flower or vegetable gardens. Residents are given ten (10) days to correct this violation. Failure to comply can result in the City causing the weeds to be cut and the property owner billed for the charges plus a 20% administrative fee. Weeds and Brush 8.08.030.

• Colorado Weed Management Association
• North American Weed Management Association
• Noxious Weeds "Wanted Posters"
• Weed Identification

Permitted Uses:
The City of Craig has twelve zoning districts designed to provide orderly development of the city. Each district has its own permitted uses that are allowed to be conducted within that district. Certain conditional uses are allowed in each district by application. Once the application is submitted, it must receive approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Permit forms are available from the building department. Uses conducted without a permit are a violation. Residents will be given thirty (30) days to correct the violation. Title 17.

Substandard Buildings:
The City utilizes the 1997 Uniform Housing Code and the 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings. All construction must follow the 1997 Uniform Building Code. Residents should contact the Building Department for information on building requirements and permits.

Trash, Garbage and Refuse:
The owner or occupant of any premises is responsible to keep and maintain the property, including the sidewalk and parking in front and the alley in back, in a clean and orderly condition. It is unlawful for any person to deposit garbage, refuse or rubbish in or around the dumpster, container or receptacle of another without permission of the owner, occupant or tenant of the property. It is also unlawful to dump trash on any private or public property in the City. 8.04.165 and 8.04.100.

Burning:
It is unlawful for any person to set fire to, burn or attempt to burn any garbage, rubbish or debris in the City. 8.04.120.

Trash Pickup Grass & Leaves:
Grass clippings, leaves and hedge cutting must be placed in plastic bags, cardboard boxes or other approved containers and securely fastened. Weight of such containers shall not exceed thirty (30) pounds. 8.04.140 (A)

Tree Trimmings:
Tree trimmings shall not exceed five (5) feet in length or six (6) inches in diameter. Small branches shall be tied in bundles not to exceed twelve (12) inches in diameter for ease in handling. 8.04.140 (B).

Certain items will not be picked up by the Sanitation Department. Some items will be picked up for an additional charge.

• Refrigerators / freezers - must bear certificate of freon removal.
• Appliances
• Oil, Paint and Chemicals
• Metal and Auto parts
• Tires

Visibility at Intersections:
No fence or related landscape element can obstruct vision between three (3) feet and ten (10) feet above street level within a triangular area formed by connecting two (2) points fifty (50) feet each direction from the intersection of the curb lines. This is commonly referred to as the "visibility triangle." Title 17 property development standards.