No person shall make any excavation or fill any excavation in any public place without first obtaining a license and permit for the excavation except as otherwise provided in City Code.

Excavation is any opening in the surface of a public place made in any manner, except an opening into a lawful substructure below the surface of a public place, the top of which is flush with the adjoining surface and constructed to permit frequent openings without injury or damage to the public place.

City Code

Fees and Payment

  • Annual License fee: $110
  • Late renewal fee: $55
  • Duplicate license fee: $5

Excavation licenses are valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance or renewal. 

The City Clerk's Office accepts cash, check, money order, Visa and MasterCard.

Required Documents

  • Business License Application
  • $5,000 Surety Bond - Bond Form
  • Certificate of Commercial General Liability Insurance with the City of Colorado Springs listed as the certificate holder ($1,000,000)
  • Trade Name Registration and Certificate of Good Standing with Colorado Secretary of State, if applicable.
  • Certificate showing successful completion of Colorado Springs Damage Prevention Safety Class (See below.)
  • Safety Class

Colorado Springs Damage Prevention Safety Class 

Colorado Springs City Code, Section 3.3.203. requires persons applying for an Excavation License in Colorado Springs to complete the Colorado Springs Damage Prevention Safety Class (“Safety Class”) and submit proof of completion along with the license application.

If your company has already applied for your license in 2022, you will not be required to take the Safety Class until your 2023 renewal.  

The Safety Class is part of the new Colorado Springs Underground Damage Prevention Safety Program created pursuant to Colorado Springs City Code Section 12.10.103.  The Colorado Springs Underground Damage Prevention Safety Program, as set forth at Colorado Springs City Code Chapter 12 Article 10, in collaboration with state and local agencies, enforces One Call and excavation–related violations. The Safety Class contains information on Colorado’s One Call process, safe excavation, as well as state and local law. 

A link to the Safety Class can be found on the City Clerk’s website under Required Documents. A certificate of completion can be printed out or uploaded upon completion of the Safety Class. This certificate must be submitted with the required documents to obtain or renew your company’s excavation license.

We are confident that the information provided in the Safety Class will result in a safer dig environment both for excavators and the community. 

We appreciate your cooperation, for more information please contact the Colorado Springs Underground Damage Prevention Safety program at DamagePreventionInfo@csu.org or call 719-668-8458.

Permit Information

Permits may be required for concrete and excavation work. The City's Right-of-Way Management team ensures that new and retrofit concrete, street excavations, and capital project work in the public right-of-way is constructed to City Engineering Standards. Contact the City's Right-of-Way Management team at (719)385-5977, or at 2880 International Circle, Suite 200-1, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910.

Online Application Portal

The City Clerk’s office is pleased to offer you access to our licensing services online.  By creating an account, you will be able to view, apply and submit an Excavation application.  You will also be able to check the status of pending request, access payment information, and much more. 

Use Online Portal

Application Portal Tutorial