Centennial City Bylaws: Weights, Measures & Franchises

Business and Consumer Protection Colorado 4 Minutes Read · published March 01, 2026 Flag of Colorado

Centennial, Colorado regulates public franchises and relies on state and municipal rules for weights and measures that affect businesses, retailers, and utility franchise holders. This guide summarizes the controlling instruments, who enforces the rules, typical compliance steps, how penalties are applied, and where to find official forms and contacts for Centennial and Colorado enforcement authorities. Use the steps and contacts below to apply for franchises, request inspections, report suspected violations, or appeal enforcement actions.

Overview of Authority and Scope

The City of Centennial adopts and enforces ordinances governing franchise agreements for use of public rights-of-way and references state or local standards for weights and measures where applicable. Franchise terms are set by ordinance and individual franchise agreements negotiated by the city; weights and measures inspections are generally performed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture's measurement standards program for commercial measuring devices and retail scales. See the municipal code for franchise provisions and the state measurement office for weights and measures enforcement via the links below Municipal Code[1] and Colorado Measurement Standards[2].

Penalties & Enforcement

Penalties and enforcement responsibilities vary by topic and enforcing agency. Where Centennial municipal ordinances control franchise compliance, enforcement is by the City's administrative or legal staff; where measuring devices and retail weights are concerned, the Colorado Department of Agriculture administers inspection and enforcement. Specific fine amounts and per-day penalties are not uniformly listed on the cited municipal or state pages and are noted below where not specified.

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page for Centennial municipal franchise provisions; state measurement penalties not listed in summary on the Colorado Measurement Standards landing page.[1][2]
  • Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing-offence escalation ranges are not specified on the cited municipal franchise pages; agency discretion is referenced without numeric schedules.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: injunctive orders, compliance directives, franchise revocation or termination clauses, equipment seizure for noncompliant measuring devices, and court action may be used where authorized by ordinance or statute.
  • Enforcers and inspections: City of Centennial Code Enforcement/City Attorney for franchise terms; Colorado Department of Agriculture Division of Measurement Standards for weights and measures inspections and device testing.[1][2]
  • Appeals and review: appeals typically proceed to municipal administrative review or municipal court where the ordinance provides review; exact time limits for filing appeals are not specified on the cited municipal franchise summary page.
If you receive a notice from the city or state, act quickly to preserve appeal rights and to schedule any required inspection or repair.

Applications & Forms

Franchise agreements are usually initiated through the City Clerk or City Attorney's office; Centennial does not publish a single universal franchise application form on the municipal code page. For weights and measures, inspection requests and complaint reporting are handled by the Colorado Department of Agriculture; specific inspection request or complaint forms are available from the state measurement office where published.

  • Franchise application: contact City Clerk/City Attorney to begin negotiations; no standardized public form listed on the municipal code summary.[1]
  • Weights & measures inspection/complaint: state inspection request and complaint procedures are published by Colorado Measurement Standards; check the state page for forms and submission methods.[2]

Common Violations and Typical Responses

  • Unauthorized use of rights-of-way without an approved franchise — city issues stop-work or removal orders and may pursue ordinance violations.
  • Failing to maintain or register scales and meters — state inspectors may tag devices and order repairs or replacements.
  • Noncompliance with franchise reporting requirements — city may require corrective filings and assess sanctions per the agreement or ordinance.
Keep records of inspections, maintenance, and communications to support appeals or compliance audits.

How to Comply: Action Steps

  • Apply for a franchise: contact the City Clerk or City Attorney to request application instructions and draft agreement terms.
  • Register and test measuring devices: follow Colorado Measurement Standards procedures for testing, sealing, and certification.
  • Respond to notices promptly: meet deadlines for corrective actions and appeals to avoid escalation.
  • Report violations: use city code enforcement channels for franchise concerns and the state measurement office for scale/meter issues.

FAQ

Who enforces weights and measures in Centennial?
The Colorado Department of Agriculture Division of Measurement Standards enforces commercial weights and measures; the City of Centennial enforces local business licensing and ordinance provisions related to franchises and public right-of-way use.[2]
How do I apply for a utility franchise in Centennial?
Contact the City Clerk or City Attorney to request franchise application procedures and to begin negotiation of franchise terms; no universal public form is listed on the municipal code summary.[1]
What penalties apply for noncompliant measuring devices?
Specific penalty amounts are not listed on the state summary page; state inspectors may order repair, sealing, seizure, or other sanctions as provided by statute and regulation.[2]

How-To

  1. Identify the issue: determine whether the matter is a franchise/right-of-way issue (city) or a weights-and-measures issue (state).
  2. Contact the right office: reach City Clerk/City Attorney for franchises or Colorado Measurement Standards for measuring devices.
  3. Submit forms or evidence: provide the required application, scale specifications, maintenance records, or complaint details to the enforcing agency.
  4. If cited, follow appeal steps: file administrative appeals or appear in municipal court per the notice instructions; seek timelines in the notice or ordinance cited.

Key Takeaways

  • Franchise terms are governed by city ordinance and individual agreements; start with City Clerk or City Attorney.
  • Weights and measures enforcement is primarily a state function through Colorado Measurement Standards.
  • Respond promptly to notices and keep inspection and maintenance records to aid appeals.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Centennial Municipal Code - Code of Ordinances
  2. [2] Colorado Department of Agriculture - Measurement Standards

Categories

General Governance and Administration Public Safety Public Health and Welfare Land Use and Zoning Housing and Building Standards Transportation Environmental Protection Parks and Public Spaces Business and Consumer Protection Taxation and Finance Labor and Employment Education Civil Rights and Equity Elections and Campaign Finance Events and Special Uses Signs and Advertising Utilities and Infrastructure Technology and Data