Colorado Land Development

Land development engineering in Colorado

MES helps Colorado developers turn raw land into buildable lots. We design the site civil work and the water and sewer service a project needs to get approved.

That covers grading, drainage and paving, water and sewer line extensions, lift stations, and small treatment plants when no sewer is close enough. Our Colorado office is in Golden.

How approval works for Colorado land development

The city or county runs the land use review. It checks the site plan, the drainage report and the civil plans against its own criteria.

Water and sewer usually come from a city utility, a metropolitan district or a water and sanitation district. Each provider has its own standards and its own process for line extensions and taps.

For larger developments, Colorado law requires the local government to decide whether the water supply is adequate before it approves the plan.

If the site needs its own wastewater plant, or a lift station above 2,000 gallons per day, CDPHE must approve the site location and design. Construction that disturbs one acre or more needs CDPHE construction stormwater coverage. We walk through the sewer side in storm and sanitary sewer permitting for Colorado developments.

Land development work in Colorado

In Lakewood, we fit six homes on a 0.75-acre infill site, with every water and sewer line meeting CDPHE separation rules. In Kremmling, we produced the civil set and drainage report for a cabin development and answered agency comments. In Brighton, we designed a wastewater lift station and wrote its site plan application.

For the site design side alone, see civil engineering for Colorado land development.

Common questions

When should a developer bring in a water and wastewater engineer?

Before closing on the land, if you can. Who will serve water and sewer, and how far the lines must run, can decide whether a site works. See how to evaluate wastewater options before you close.

What if no sewer is available?

A small treatment plant is one option. Above 2,000 gallons per day it needs CDPHE site location and design approval, and a discharge permit if it discharges to state waters. Smaller onsite systems are permitted by the local public health agency.

How do I start?

Call (214) 833-6748 with the site address. We will confirm the providers and the review path.