Centennial City Charter Powers and Severability

General Governance and Administration Colorado 3 Minutes Read · published March 01, 2026 Flag of Colorado

Centennial, Colorado officials exercise authority under the city charter and municipal code to adopt ordinances, issue permits, and enforce local regulations. This guide explains charter powers, severability language, enforcement pathways, and practical steps for officials and residents in Centennial to comply, appeal, or request variances. It identifies the offices responsible for interpretation and enforcement and points to the official sources for the charter and municipal code.

Charter Powers and Severability

The Centennial city charter establishes the legal foundation for municipal powers, including legislative authority to adopt ordinances, administrative authority to issue permits, and the delegation of enforcement functions to departments and officers. The charter also contains a severability clause that preserves remaining provisions if any part is held invalid by a court; details are provided in the official charter text.[1]

Severability ensures a single invalid provision does not void the whole charter.

Scope of Authority

  • Ordinance adoption and repeal by the city council.
  • Issuance and regulation of permits, licensing, and land-use approvals.
  • Code compliance, inspections, and administrative enforcement by designated departments.

Penalties & Enforcement

Centennial enforces municipal code violations through civil and criminal remedies authorized by the charter and municipal code; specific penalty amounts for many violations are set in code sections or by resolution, or are imposed via municipal court. Where a precise fine or sanction is not listed in the controlling ordinance, the published code or charter text should be consulted for the default penalty provisions.[2]

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page for a single consolidated figure; many individual ordinances list fines in their sections or schedules.[2]
  • Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offence ranges are set by ordinance or court order; where not listed, amounts are not specified on the cited page.[2]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: stop-work orders, abatement orders, permit suspensions, civil remedies, and referral to municipal court.
  • Enforcer and reporting: Code Enforcement and Community Development coordinate inspections and complaints; official contact and complaint submission are on the city enforcement page.[3]
  • Appeals and review: administrative appeal to the reviewing body or appeal to municipal court; time limits for appeals are specified in the relevant ordinance or administrative rule and may vary by case.
Check the specific ordinance or permit conditions for precise fine amounts and appeal deadlines.

Applications & Forms

Many permits and enforcement responses use published forms or online applications maintained by Community Development or Municipal Court; specific form names and fees are listed on the department pages when applicable. If a form is not published for a given procedure, the city indicates the submission process on the relevant department page.[3]

Common Violations

  • Building without a permit — typical enforcement: stop-work order, required retroactive permits, and fines where specified.
  • Property maintenance and nuisance code breaches — citations, abatement orders, and cost recovery.
  • Unauthorized signage or right-of-way obstructions — removal orders and fines if provided by ordinance.
Early communication with Code Enforcement can often limit escalation of penalties.

Action Steps for Officials and Residents

  • Locate the controlling ordinance or charter section before acting; confirm the current code version via the official code publisher.[1]
  • Submit complaints or request inspections through the Community Development code enforcement contact page.[3]
  • If cited, review the citation for appeal deadlines and follow the administrative or municipal court appeal procedure.

FAQ

What does the severability clause do?
The severability clause preserves the remainder of the charter or ordinance if one provision is found invalid by a court.
Who enforces Centennial ordinances?
Code Enforcement and Community Development are primary enforcers; certain violations may be handled by Municipal Court or other departments.
How do I appeal a code enforcement decision?
Follow the appeal procedures listed on the relevant citation or department rule; time limits vary by ordinance or administrative rule.

How-To

  1. Identify the specific charter or ordinance section that applies to your issue.
  2. Contact Community Development Code Enforcement to request inspection or guidance.
  3. If issued a citation, read the citation for the appeal process and deadlines and submit an appeal as directed.
  4. If necessary, prepare evidence and appear at the administrative hearing or municipal court.

Key Takeaways

  • Severability protects the charter when isolated provisions are invalidated.
  • Enforcement and fines are specified in individual ordinances or administrative rules.
  • Contact Code Enforcement for inspections, complaints, and forms.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Centennial - City Charter
  2. [2] Municode - Centennial Code of Ordinances
  3. [3] City of Centennial - Code Enforcement

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