Frequently Asked Questions

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The municipal code for trees and shrubs is located in the document Chapter 8: Health and Safety (PDF).

How do I plant a tree around utility lines? Overhead Lines Overhead utility lines are the easiest to see and probably the ones we take most for granted. Although these lines look harmless enough, they can be extremely dangerous. Planting tall growing trees under and near these lines will ultimately require your utility to prune them to maintain safe clearance from the wires. Trees which must be pruned away from power lines are under greater stress and more susceptible to insects and disease. Tall growing trees near overhead lines can cause service interruptions when tree contact wires. Proper selection and placement of trees in and around overhead utilities can eliminate potential public safety hazards, reduce expenses for utilities and their rate payers and improve the appearance of landscapes. Underground Lines. The biggest danger to underground lines occurs during planting. Before you plant, make sure that you are aware of the location of any underground utilities. To be certain that you do not accidentally dig into any lines and risk serious injury or a costly service interruption, call 1-800-922-1987 or visit Utility Notification Center of Colorado first. Never assume that these utility lines are buried deeper than you plan to dig. In some cases, lines are very close to the surface.

Packet pickup will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 19 and 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Brighton Recreation Center. Packets WILL NOT contain your bib. Bibs will be available race day from 7 a.m.-8:29 a.m. Your bib is also your chip!

Yes. We will issue household credits for all canceled programs. If you would like a different accommodation or a refund, please email sports@brightonco.gov 

A volunteer coach who is assigned to the team will contact you at the contact information you provide. It is important that your phone number and email are up to date in our system. If you have not heard from a coach a week prior to your first game please reach us at 303-655-2200

You can register in person at the Brighton Recreation Center (555 North 11th Ave, in Brighton) via phone at 303-655-2200 during regular business hours, and online. 

Programs are offered for ages 4-17. Take a look at what Youth Sports we offer!

You can begin by emailing sports@brightonco.gov, stopping by Brighton Recreation Center, or indicating on your child’s registration that you would like to coach. We are always looking for great coaches! 

Absolutely! All of our volunteers are thoroughly screened for the safety of our participants. As an extra safety measure we also have all of our coaches complete a concussion training. 

1 room holds up to 60 people banquet-style. 2 rooms up to 120 people banquet-style.

Yes - if approved, and for an additional fee. Beer and wine only, with no glass containers. Events 60 people and under require one off-duty officer at $65/hr. Events over 60 people require two officers, each at $56/hr. Alcohol service is limited to 4 hours. Officers need to be present a half hour before alcohol is served, and through the remainder of the event.

If you are part of an organization with 501(c)3 tax exemption status, have proof of that status, and are hosting an event for the organization, yes. If not, your event is considered "profit."

Yes. Additional charges for after-hour rentals are $25 per hour. 

It depends. There are different prices for different ages and for residents who provide proof of residency. The Recreation Center offers many types of admission fees including daily passes, 20 visit punch passes, monthly passes, and annual passes. More Information

Monday – Thursday 5:30 am – 9:00 pm Friday 5:30 am – 7:00 pm Saturday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

The City of Brighton ordinance prohibit (most) anything other than uncontaminated rain water from entering the storm drain system. Never pour anything into a gutter, street or storm drain. For further information on what can be accepted in the storm drainage system please review the City of Brighton Municipal Code. 

The City of Brighton is contained within two watersheds. The division, or ridge, between these two watersheds is Tower Rd. The South Platte Watershed, which includes areas west from Tower Rd, drains towards the northwest and into the South Platte River. The Barr-Milton Watershed basin, which includes areas east from Tower Rd, drains towards the northeast.

If your property is located within the City, storm runoff from your property is being managed by some or all of the storm water systems that are already in place. Storm inlets and ponds are designed and built in low areas. Just look around, or follow the flow along the curb and gutter. You will find a storm sewer inlet that’s servicing your area.

The fee is billed once per year and fees are due on the earlier of April 15th or net 30 days from the date of invoice, late fees and interest penalties do apply. The 2024 annual fee is $60.00 per household. The bills are sent to residents and property owners in the South Beebe Draw Basin, including the Bromley Park development. The billing period covers from January 1st through December 31st of each year. South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District assesses an annual storm drainage maintenance fee on all residential and commercial properties within its service area. The fee offsets the costs associated with the storm drainage regional infrastructure and maintenance within these developments.  South Beebe maintains the regional storm drainage system which includes, but is not limited to, the underground infrastructure and detention ponds.  The storm drainage maintenance fees collected by South Beebe are separate and unrelated to any fees that the City of Brighton charges for sanitary sewer services or infrastructure. You can access the District website at: www.cospecialdistricts.com/south-beebe-draw-metro-district-rates-and-fees for assistance with the options available to pay your annual storm drainage maintenance invoice.

You are not getting charged twice. Funds from each fee are collected by two different entities to pay for different services. 1) A portion of the storm drainage fee is being utilized to staff and fund the City of Brighton’s Stormwater Program. The City, and not the District, is the entity being held responsible for stormwater quality permit requirements by the State of Colorado. The City has been issued a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit by the State. This permit requires implementation of a Stormwater Program. The purpose of the City's Stormwater Program is to coordinate city-wide the implementation and enforcement of the following six minimum control measures which are in place not only to protect the city's natural resources, ensure public safety, and continue to improve the quality of life of all residents, but also to ensure compliance with State and Federal regulations. 2) The South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District was created to provide financing, construction, and maintenance of only certain public infrastructure with a defined boundary. Storm drainage improvements such as inlets, regional detention ponds and pipelines within the District’s boundaries are to be regularly maintained and when necessary replaced through the assessment of the District storm drainage fee. 3) Not all storm drainage structures and facilities, including trans-boundary flows and neighborhood detention basins which may be maintained by the homeowner associations, are covered by South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District services. 4) The City of Brighton, under the Federal Regulations governed by the Clean Water Act, and enforced by the State of Colorado is responsible for the oversight, enforcement, and maintenance of stormwater quality within the entire City boundary. 5) As part of the Municipal Stormwater Program, commonly referred to as the Phase 2, MS4 Program, the City must comply with a NPDES permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) or potentially be subject to levied fines up to $25,000 per day. 6) The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) does not recognize the Metropolitan District as an entity responsible for compliance under the Municipal Stormwater Program provisions of the Clean Water Act. 7) City enforcement of the provisions of the Phase 2, MS4 program also covers citywide post-construction inspections to ensure maintenance of all facilities, including facilities maintained by South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District. 8) City responsibility does not end at the boundaries of the District but also include the portions of the Beebe Draw Basin receiving the discharge of stormwater from the Metropolitan District facilities. 9) Prior to the separate listing of the Storm Drainage Maintenance Fee on the utility bill, the City’s Wastewater Fund was supporting the costs of the Phase 2 MS4 program with users fees for wastewater collection and treatment. 10) Increased costs of wastewater service and increased requirements from the State for compliance under our NPDES Permit supported the City Council decision to create a separate Storm Drainage Maintenance Fee and Stormwater Fund to account for expenses related to this unfunded Federal mandate.

If you have questions, please call the District’s Management Office at (303) 265-7949 or email statusrequests@claconnect.com directly.  

Report any clogged storm drains to the City of Brighton Stormwater Division at (303) 655-2120.The Stormwater Division will contact the responsible entity (HOA, CDOT, Beebe Draw Metro District, Commercial property manager, City of Brighton Maintenance Division, etc).

Winterizing your backflow device properly is easy, will save you a great deal of money and only takes one or two minutes: 

1. Shut off the water to your sprinkler system at the main valve. Do not close the main valve shut-off for the house. 

2. The next step will require a standard small flat head screw driver. Drain the water from the backflow preventer by opening the test cocks. (There are 2 test cocks on the side or top of your backflow preventer), to open them turn the little screws ¼ of a turn. Allow the water to drain from the backflow preventer and any piping.

3. Turn the valves on either side of the assembly ¼ turn so they are not completely closed or open.

Yes, you may go to www.citepayusa.com to pay with your credit or debit card. You must enter the 10 digit citation number for traffic or criminal tickets. There is a 5.95% transaction fee that will be assessed by the vendor.

In some circumstances, you may avoid traveling back to Colorado for a court appearance. You will need to file a Motion for Plea by Mail, which may be found in the Forms & Guidelines page. You will need to explain your circumstances to the Judge and request to handle your plea through the mail. 

If you wish to contest or fight the ticket your appearance will be required. You may file a request to appear virtually. 

Please contact your Probation Officer.

If you have a question about your case, you may direct it to the court clerks or raise the question at your appearance in court. The judge is not permitted by law to discuss the case prior to trial or a plea.

When you miss a court date, there are two possible outcomes. 

1. The Judge may have ordered a warrant. There are two ways to deal with this.  
   1. You may post your bond and receive a new court date. This will cancel the warrant that day.  
   2. You can come to court on one of our Walk-In Warrant hearing dates to resolve your warrant without having to post bond. The warrant will remain active until you are seen by a judge.    
2. The Judge may have found you Guilty By Default. This means that your failing to pay prior to your court hearing and your subsequent failure to appear is interpreted by the Court as an admission of guilt to the charge on your summons. 
   1. You must pay the fines plus any additional court costs ordered by the Court within 10 days of your court date in order to avoid additional fees and a referral to collections.   
   2. Alternatively, if you can show good cause as to why you failed to appear or pay prior and it has not been more than 30 days, you may ask the court to set aside your default and grant you a new hearing date.  

If you have an outstanding warrant with the Brighton Municipal Court and would like to receive a new court date, you must post bond by cash or with a professional surety. There will be a $20.00 processing fee charged in addition to the bond amount, and you will be processed by the police department. You may post the bond with the court Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm or the police department from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The police department is also available on Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Credit cards are not accepted.

You may appear as a walk-in on a scheduled court date at 8:00 am or 1:00 pm to see the judge and quash your warrant.  Your warrant will remain active until you appear.

Yes, your accident report is available from the Brighton Police Department. Please contact the Police Department regarding the procedure to request this report.

You may either download the Record Request form from Forms & Guidelines or you may come to the Clerk's window and request the form. We will then provide you with the certified documents that you have requested. You must pick them up in person. We cannot mail them to you. 

We offer group and private swim lessons, youth and adult recreational swim teams, and aquatic fitness classes including H20 Fitness, Deep Water Fitness, and BOGAFit. We also offer American Red Cross Lifeguard Training classes. We periodically offer contracted classes that are hosted by outside instructors, including Infant Swim Resource (ISR) infant survival classes. ISR is offered on the schedule of the qualified instructor and is not a regular offering.

The lap pool is 84 degrees, leisure pool is 87-88 degrees, and the hot tub is 103 degrees. These temperatures are based on the appropriate temperature ranges for the types of activities conducted as well as health department requirements.

If you want a specific instructor or a specific gender of instructor, you may participate in our private lesson program. We are not able to accommodate requests for group swim lesson instructors.

Yes, if there is space! The Brighton Gators Swim Team fills relatively quickly, so make sure you are paying attention to registration dates to have the best chance of getting a spot on the team.

Lifeguard candidates must be at least 15 years of age and certified as an American Red Cross Lifeguard. If you are not certified, your next step is to take an American Red Cross Lifeguard training. We offer lifeguard training in-house!

Only swim and bathing suits are appropriate for swimming. Basketball shorts, t-shirts, denim, sweatpants, and undergarments are not permitted. If you have questions about how to find a swim or bathing suit that fits your specific needs, we are happy to help! Contact us at 303-655-2212.

Yes. If there are enough swimmers, lane splitting and/or circle swimming is required. We do not allow for swimmers to retain their own individual lane while other swimmers wait to swim. Please follow lane sharing etiquette and find a swimmer similar to your level and notify them that you are joining their lane before you begin swimming.

You may bring Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices (PFDs). A PFD that is Coast Guard approved will have a label inside the jacket indicating approval clearly. PFDs that are not Coast Guard approved (including water wings and most swimsuits with built-in floatation) are not designed to keep the wearer’s head above water and are not permitted - however, you may borrow one of our approved floatation devices! Large floats are not permitted as they create blind spots for lifeguards and may lead to dangerous situations. 

You may bring dive toys and soft toys. Toys being thrown may not be permitted on busy days if they create dangerous situations, and the lifeguard has the agency to make that decision.

Refund requests can be filed with the Customer Service Representatives at the Front Desk of the Recreation Center. Refund requests must be received at least 5 days before the start of the activity in order to receive a refund. We do not offer cash refunds. If your total payment is less than $25, the refund will be issued as a household credit which can be used for future purchases. If it is more than $25, it can be refunded to the card used to pay for the registration or cut as a check. There will be a $5 processing fee assessed per activity registration. We will be flexible with our refund deadline for illness or injury that unexpectedly prevents participation. This refund policy is in place for all recreation programs and activities.

Get on the waiting list. As possible, we will add spots to lessons. It is not appropriate to enroll your child in a level higher - it can create anxiety and will not benefit your child or the other children in the class. If needed, you may enroll your child a level lower - this will allow them to continue practicing skills, and it is safer for our instructors to push an advanced student further than it is to accommodate a student who is not ready for the skills being taught.

No. All Fitness classes that are listed on the Fitness Schedule are included with your daily admission.

You must be 15 years of age to use the weightroom without supervision.  11 to 14 year olds can use the weightroom after participating in the Youth Weightroom Orientation. Youth Weightroom Card and Adult supervision must be present while using the weightroom. No one under the age of 11 can be in the weightroom. 

Yes, all of our Personal Trainers are certified through nationally accredited associations.Please contact 303.655.2228 for more information.

If your child is 11 years of age and older, they may attend the fitness classes with you. Some classes allow age 8+ with an adult. These are noted on our paper schedule with a ** next to the class. The paper schedules can be picked up at the front desk. Or, you can check our Kid Fit Schedule located on the website. 

Yes, we offer FREE weight room orientations. Please contact the Fitness department at 303-655-2228 to schedule. 

Yes, it can be rented on a space available basis. To rent the church please call the Brighton Recreation Center at 303-655-2200 and ask to speak with the Rentals Specialist

We offer a wide variety of activities and classes for both age groups and have divided them to make it easier to address. If you cannot find information under one section, please try the other as some programs have overlapping ages.

Residents pay $65. Nonresidents pay $75. The park shelter adjacent to the Splash Pad at Benedict Park is $85 for residents and nonresidents pay $105 (Please note this does not include the rental of the splash pad water feature). The fee covers the entire day. Park shelter start times vary; some are cleaned by 10am, including: Brighton Park, Benedict Park & Carmichael Park. All other reservable shelters are cleaned by noon. All parks close at 10pm.

At least 10 days in advance, take into consideration busy summer weekends, most popular shelters fill up fast. We accept Park Shelter reservations after January 1st of the year, with reservations offered from mid-May through mid-September of that season.

Not at the moment. We are currently updating our software system and online reservations will be available soon. Please contact the Brighton Recreation Center at 303-655-2200 or visit us in person at 555 N. 11th Ave. Brighton, Co. 

We currently offer shelter reservations at these parks: Benedict Park, Brighton Park, BJAA Park, Carmichael Park, Dewey Strong Park, Donelson Park, Farmers Park and Pheasant Ridge Park.

If you are planning to have amplified music, a request must be submitted at least 10 days in advance for a music permit. The only park location allows this is at Brighton Park Shelters #2, #3, and #4. All three shelters must be reserved for the event.

Reservations for the season can be called in as early as January of the year. We can accept reservations on the first business day after New Years day. We do not take reservations for future years, however we can answer questions you may have for a future event you are planning.

If you need to cancel your reservation, we need to get your request at least 10 days before your reservation date. No refunds with less than 10 days notice. No refunds for inclement weather. There is a $5 cancellation fee per park shelter if the rental fee is refunded back to you. There is no $5 fee if you accept it as a household credit with the Recreation Center. (Household credits can be used for all transactions except drop in visits.)

Please call 303-655-2221 to discuss the possibility of getting your under aged child in a program. The age is determined by the instructor and in some cases there may be exceptions.

You can register online, register by phone at 303-655-2200, or you can come into the Recreation Center to register in-person.

Please call Megan Thompson (303) 655-2225 or email mthompson@brightonco.gov. The front desk customer service reps can also provide information to you

Drop-in Child Care provides supervised child care for children six months through seven years of age.

Child Care starts at $4.50 per visit. 10-visit and 20-visit punch cards are available for purchase. 

Child Care was designed to help support the fitness classes and is offered during the high-use hours of the Fitness program. The service is offered Monday through Saturday mornings and Monday through Thursday evenings for ages six months through seven years.

The City of Brighton Stormwater Division performs semi-annual post-construction inspections of certain private drainage structures. The City notifies property owners about inspections and/or the need for maintenance of the structure(s). The City then works with property owners to familiarize them with their system and how to best maintain it. If a particular system does not meet Brighton’s maintenance standards, the property owners will be notified of needed routine or non-routine maintenance by letter. Upon notification, the property owner will be responsible for completing the necessary maintenance.

Designation of a responsible party is important to assure proper operation of ponds. In some instances this may be a shared responsibility. In the majority of cases, the commercial property owner or the HOA is responsible for the correct operation and proper maintenance of the pond. Some ponds may be eligible for maintenance by the City of Brighton or South Beebe Draw Metropolitan District. In other cases, Mile High Flood District (MHFD) may accept maintenance responsibilities for regional ponds or channels.

Stormwater runoff is a significant source of water pollution in urbanizing areas. In addition, the increased volumes of flow resulting from added impervious areas during urbanization results in increased runoff volumes. Detention ponds mitigate both scenarios in providing a treatment basin for pollutant removal as well as a collection basin to detain the larger flows and thus reduce the peak runoff rates downstream. Properly maintained detention ponds can be very effective at removing certain pollutants and providing necessary storage volumes during larger storm events. Improperly maintained ponds can increase the discharge of pollutants downstream, increase the risk of flooding downstream, increase the instability of downstream channels, and lead to aesthetic and nuisance problems.

Routine HOA maintenance, like mowing and debris removal, is vital to the proper operation of the detention pond, and needs to be done on a frequent basis. Non-routine HOA maintenance, like slope stabilization and sediment removal, will probably be more on an annual basis. Every pond is different in the size, type and characteristics of the tributary area that contributes runoff to the pond, as well as the location of the pond within the development. A pond serving a large commercial district will likely require more maintenance than one serving an established neighborhood, and a pond in a prominent location in the development will require more frequent collection of trash. Maintenance considerations for a wet pond will need to focus on floating litter, scum and algal blooms, shoreline erosion, possible unpleasant odors and mosquitoes, as well as more difficult sediment removal. Maintenance considerations for a dry pond will concentrate more on mowing to control the vegetation and frequent removal of the trash, debris and clippings that may clog the outlet/trash rack. Maintenance will always be needed; if maintenance is not done, or not done frequently enough, or properly, a false sense of security exists for the pond’s temporary storage abilities during a large storm event, and its pollutant removal abilities during a typical runoff event. Routine maintenance includes: 

• Inspections: Periodic scheduled inspections with a specified checklist, and inspections after major rainfall events, to check for obstructions/damage & to remove debris/ trash. 
• Vegetation Management: Mowing on a regular basis to prevent erosion or aesthetic problems. Limited use of fertilizers and pesticides in and around the ponds to minimize entry into pond and subsequent downstream waters. 
• Trash, debris and grass clippings Removal: Removal of any trash causing obstructions at the inlet, outlet, orifice or trash rack. 
• Mechanical Equipment: Inspection & repair of any valves, pumps, fence gates, locks or mechanical components. 
• Structural Component: Inspection of the outlet, inlet, orifice, trash rack & trickle cannel. 

Non-routine maintenance includes:

• Bank erosion/stabilization: It is critical to keep effective ground cover on all vegetated areas. All areas not vegetated should be re-vegetated and stabilized immediately 
• Sediment removal: Every year, the accumulated sediment should be removed from the bottom of the outlet structure and the pond depths checked at several points. If the depth of the accumulated sediment is greater than 25% of the original design depth, sediment should be removed. 
• Structural Repair/Replacement: Eventually the outlet structure or other structural components like the trickle channel or trash rack will need repair or replacement. 
• Spill Clean-up: Removal of contaminated soil.

Funshine 2026 starts on Monday, June 8. 

Regular Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

We don't offer any discounts for shorter attendance.

If you prefer, you can sign up for the 9-week program and only have your child attend on the days most convenient for you, but there will not be any price changes.

No, there is no discount.

The location for Funshine 2026 will be at Vikan Middle School.

We will be housed inside the school. Entrances will be clearly marked and easy to find.

Swim at least once a week. Arts, crafts, active game, team building, STEM activities. Field trips are on Wednesdays (no field trip the first week).

Swim lessons will not be offered this year.

Field trip information will be available at the Parent Night. Afterwards, it will be posted online, as well.

Camp T-Shirts will be handed out on our first field trip day.

Please apply sunscreen before drop-off. Rocky Mountain Sunscreen SPF 50 will be provided to campers who don't have their own.

Medication must be turned in to our staff by Parent Night. Counselors are certified to administer medication.

Immunizations are required and need to be submitted annually. 

Yes, Funshine is a State Licensed program and required by law to abide by all rules and regulations set forth by the state. Therefore, all paperwork must be verified and submitted before your child can participate or attend the camp or camp activities. 

Yes, state licensing requires our staff to get cleared through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the FBI and the TRAILS system. In addition, the City of Brighton runs a separate background check before we hire any staff.

Answer One

Some Brighton residents do not currently have certain essential services such as recycling and yard waste collection. Not only will a single hauler provide these additional services, but it will also potentially lower the cost of services. Additionally, it will reduce damage to alley and roadway infrastructure ensuring the City continues to be good financial stewards of public money. A single hauler will also provide many environmental benefits by reducing noise and air pollution, and providing recycling, therefore improving the quality of life for residents. 

Brighton’s City Council will make the final decision. 

Weekly trash, bi-weekly recycling, and potential ala carte options including yard waste and large item collection. 

Yes! Every household will at least the minimum services including weekly trash with their bin size selection, and bi-weekly recycling. 

No. The terms of the contract with the company will allow the City of Brighton to have control over pricing and will be able to enforce standards for quality of service.

Similar to your current waste management company, prices may increase each year. However, through the contract with the single hauler provider, the City has the benefit of being able to limit the amount of those increases and the impact to customers.

No. There is an option to opt-out, and a fee will be assessed. 

Yes! You will be able to keep your current service provider, but you may be required to pay an opt-out fee.

It is anticipated that the single hauler system will result in a cost savings to City of Brighton residents receiving the service. The services available will be customizable, so residents will have more control over the amount of their bill. 

It will reduce the number of collection vehicles operating on city roadways, streets, and alleys. This will minimize the damage to road infrastructure. Service providers will be required to operate alternative fuel vehicles versus diesel powered vehicles. This will reduce air pollution and noise pollution. 

Yes! Customers will have an opportunity to select a container size that fits their disposal needs, and recycling will be included for everyone. Different trash container sizes will have tiered pricing, so the more you recycle the less you will pay for trash service. Large recycling containers will be provided to everyone unless special accommodations are requested.

Yes! Those that qualify can request services that will accommodate seniors and others with disabilities. Examples include options for the provider to place and remove containers at the curb for collection. 

Yes! Customers may be required to place containers on one side of the alleys for collection day to limit the number of trips the collection truck must take down the alley. This will assist in reducing damage to alley infrastructure. 

TBD.

No. This service is for single family residential units only. 

Yes! Other regional Colorado communities have implemented single hauler systems. 

Customers will be billed either monthly or quarterly depending on the final selection of a service provider. Customers will be billed directly by the provider, so any questions regarding billing should be directed to the service provider. 

Specific customer service guidelines will be established in the contract and the City will monitor and enforce those guidelines to ensure the highest level of service is being provided. 

Yes! This is an option that will be included in contract for services provided by the single hauler that is selected.

TBD