Clean water fees

Billing and fees

The Water Quality Control Division’s clean water work is supported by General Fund appropriations and cash funds generated through permit fees. Currently, there are application/issuance fees, annual fees, and modification fees for every permit and permit certification. The Colorado legislature passed legislation in 2023 to remove the fees from statute and instead directs the Water Quality Control Commission to set fees in regulation.

In July 2023, the division began a stakeholder process to prepare for two upcoming rulemaking hearings. The first hearing, which occurred on May 13, 2024, established a new rule, Regulation No. 102, which transferred drinking water and commerce and industry cash fees from statute to regulation, including a 13% fee increase. These fee increases were reflected in the state fiscal year 2024-2025 bills.

For fiscal year 2025-2026, the remaining fees were transferred from statute to regulation during the second rulemaking occurring in October 2025. This rulemaking resulted in a 14% fee increase for commerce and industry, municipal separate storm sewer, public and private utilities, preliminary effluent, and wastewater site application and design review fees. These fees go into effect on December 31, 2025.  This will immediately apply to application fees and modification fees. To streamline the process, the 14% annual fee increase impact on fee payors will be reflected in the annual billing on July 1, 2026, rather than the division billing a second time within the fiscal year 2025-2026, resulting in a delayed increase of about half a year.

For the 2026-2027 state fiscal year, the division is also proposing a 3.5% increase to the commission in May of 2026.  If approved, this would result in a 17.5% increase on July 1, 2026 for annual fees that includes the 14% effective fee-increase from the October rulemaking.

Regulation 102: Water Quality Control Division Cash Fees Regulation.

Summary of fees.
Note that this is just a summary; the most accurate fee information can still be found in Regulation 102.

How does billing work?

Billing for the Water Quality Control Division permits is based on a fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending the next June 30.

You will receive a bill from the division in the mail in June or July for the upcoming year, and you are required to pay it within 30 days.

You will continue to be responsible for paying annual permit fees for upcoming years unless you apply for termination and the division (prior to July 1) terminates your permit. 

Permit fees vary a little by category. Here are some more details:

Permits for construction and dewatering 

• This includes permit certification under general permits COR400000, COG080000, COG318000, COG604000, COG603000, and COG608000
• After you apply for a permit, you will be invoiced for an application fee.
• This application fee is required by regulation.
• The fee is 50% of the annual fee, regardless of when the application is submitted.
• The balance of the annual fee is NOT billed during the remainder of that fiscal year.
• Modifications issued during the fiscal year are invoiced a fee that is 25% of the annual fee for a minor modification and 55% for a major modification. This applies to all construction sector permit types.
• The first July 1 after the permit is issued (the beginning of the next fiscal year), you will be billed an annual fee. The annual fee is a flat fee and is not prorated.
• Annual fees are billed every July 1 and continue until the permittee terminates the permit.
• Annual fees are not renewal fees - they are fees that are invoiced each year until a permit is terminated.
• Due to the rapid turnover of construction sector permits, the division sends a billing courtesy reminder in May prior to the annual billing to permittees in the construction sector to alert them to the need of terminating any permits they may have that need to be terminated prior to July 1.  Permits not terminated prior to July 1 will be invoiced the annual fee. This fee will not be voided if a permit is not terminated before July 1.

All other sector general permits and individual permits

• An issuance fee will be assessed on a new permit, which is 50% of the annual fee
• The first July 1 after the permit is issued (the beginning of the next fiscal year), you will be billed an annual fee. The annual fee is a flat fee and is not prorated.
• Annual fees are billed every July 1 and continue until the permittee terminates the permit.
• Annual fees are not renewal fees - they are fees that are invoiced each year until a permit is terminated.
• If an application for a new permit is submitted and the division does substantial work toward a permit, and the application is withdrawn, you will be billed a fee of 50% of the appropriate annual fee.
• Modification fees of 25% (minor modification) and 55% (major modification) of the annual fee are billed when the modification is issued.
  Every July 1st, each open permit is assessed an annual fee. Permits not terminated prior to July 1 will be invoiced the annual fee. This fee will not be voided if a permit is not terminated before July 1.

Guide to your bill

This invoice markup walks you through the different pieces of a typical construction stormwater bill.

Stakeholder process - archive