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Excavation Permit#

Step 1: Right of Way Contractor License

You will need a current Right of Way Contractor License issued through the City of Fort Collins Engineering Department.

Download the Application

Step 2: Excavation Permit

Are you licensed and ready to go? Download the Excavation Permit here!

Excavation Permit

Step 3: Check the status of your permit

Have you submitted your Excavation Permit and you want to check the status? Click the button below.

Check Permit Status

Permit#

Pre-Application Requirements#

  • Contractor must have an approved and current Right of Way Contractor License issued by the City of Fort Collins Engineering Department.
  • Contractor must verify whether the excavation site is in a floodplain by calling 970-416-2632 or by emailing floodplains@fcgov.com. 

Application Requirements#

Each application must include:

  • Completed application
  • Site plan clearly showing proposed work that includes dimensions

For each Excavation Permit, a Work Area Traffic Control Permit must also be submitted to the Traffic Department for review and approval. https://www.fcgov.com/traffic/watc.php

If the work is within a Parking enforcement zone, a Parking Obstruction Permit may be necessary. https://www.fcgov.com/parking/obstructionpermits.php

Submission of Excavation Permit#

All excavation permits must be submitted to excavationpermits@fcgov.com

All permits will have a 10 business day minimum for review.

How to create account to access submitted excavation permits#

Contractors are required to create an account to download their approved construction plans. The link below will take you to the Citizen Portal Home page where you can register for your account.  You will be asked to provide a valid email address to receive notices, as well as contact information and contractor license numbers.

Click here to register

Fees#

Fee Description Fee Amount
Application Fee A non-refundable application fee is required for each permit upon submittal. $45
Excavation Inspection Fee An inspection fee is charged for each 1,000 square feet or portion thereof. $50 per 1,000 square feet
Boring Inspection Fee An inspection fee is charged for each linear foot or portion thereof. $0.40/LF, $50 minimum
Pothole Inspection Fee An inspection fee is charged for each pothole. $30 each
Pavement Impact Fee* A pavement impact fee is assessed per square foot of excavation, in asphalt as well as concrete pavement.

* A pavement impact fee is tripled for streets constructed, reconstructed, overlaid or sealcoated within the last five years. Conversely, the pavement impact fee may be waived or reduced for utility repairs made in advance of scheduled pavement rehabilitation projects, or when the utility company performs a complete street overlay in conjunction with the utility repairs performed.
Square Foot of Excavation Cost per square foot
1 to 100 $3.85
101 to 500 $2.75
501 to 3,000 $2.20
over 3,000 $1.65

Trust Account Information#

If you are a licensed contractor with a trust account, please log in to the Citizen Portal to view your account information. 

Need help? 

View Tutorial/Guide

Instructions

Citizen Portal

FAQ#

Also called a "street cut permit," an excavation permit is issued anytime cutting is done in the City right-of-way i.e. sidewalk work, boring, cutting street. Anyone excavating in the public right-of-way, whether licensed contractors, licensed plumbers, City crews, utility contractors, etc. needs to acquire a permit.

Anyone excavating in the public right-of-way, whether licensed contractors, licensed plumbers, City crews, utility contractors, etc. needs to acquire a permit.

In an effort to cover both the costs of excavation inspection and the increased maintenance costs caused by excavation. This fee has three parts:

  1. Administrative Costs
  2. Inspections Costs
  3. Pavement Impact Costs

Application times will vary depending on the complexity of the permit, and the departments involved in the review process. All permits will have a 10 business day minimum for review. Application status can be checked via: https://accela-aca.fcgov.com/CitizenAccess/Default.aspx

The permit expires 90 days from the date of approval.