File Public Notices & Legal Ads with the Clerk - Colorado Springs

General Governance and Administration Colorado 4 Minutes Read · published February 08, 2026 Flag of Colorado

Overview

Colorado Springs, Colorado requires certain public notices and legal advertisements to be filed or coordinated with the City Clerk or published in a newspaper of general circulation when required by city procedure or state law. This guide explains what notices typically must be published, which office handles filings, how publications are proven, and where to find the controlling municipal text and official filing instructions.

What Notices Are Commonly Required

  • Notice of public hearings for zoning changes and variances.
  • Notices of proposed ordinances and adopted ordinances where publication is required by law.
  • Notices related to licensing, bids, and procurement when the City Clerk or department requests publication.

For the City Clerk's general procedures on public records and notices, see the official City Clerk page City Clerk - Public Records & Notices[1]. For the text of local ordinances that may trigger publication requirements, consult the City Code Code of Ordinances[2].

Always check the City Clerk page first to confirm current filing steps.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is generally carried out by the City Clerk for administrative publication requirements and by Municipal Court or the enforcing department for compliance with substantive ordinances. Specific monetary fines, escalation for repeat or continuing offences, and other sanctions vary by code section and are not consistently listed on the general notice pages.

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited pages; consult the Code of Ordinances for the precise section that governs the subject (see Code of Ordinances)[2].
  • Escalation (first/repeat/continuing offences): not specified on the cited pages; penalties typically appear in the specific ordinance section.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: may include orders to cease activity, injunctive actions, administrative orders, or referral to Municipal Court for civil or criminal remedies depending on the ordinance text.
  • Enforcer and complaints: primary contact for filing notices and questions is the City Clerk; enforcement of ordinance violations may be handled by the department identified in the ordinance text or by Municipal Court. See the City Clerk public notices page for contact details City Clerk - Public Records & Notices[1].
  • Appeals and review: appeals of administrative sanctions or municipal citations are typically to Municipal Court or to the designated review body identified in the ordinance; time limits for filing appeals are set in the specific ordinance or the Municipal Court rules and are not specified on the general notice pages.
Penalties depend on the specific ordinance; always read the governing section in the code.

Applications & Forms

The City Clerk publishes guidance on public notices but specific named legal-ad forms are not always listed on the general notice page. Where a form or request is required, the City Clerk page or the administering department will provide the form or instructions. If no form is published, you must follow the procedural instructions on the City Clerk page or contact the Clerk directly for acceptable proof of publication.[1]

How to Publish a Required Notice

  1. Identify the governing ordinance or state statute that requires publication by consulting the Code of Ordinances or relevant statute.[2]
  2. Prepare the notice text according to the requirements stated in the ordinance or the Clerk's instructions.
  3. Contact the City Clerk early to confirm timing, acceptable newspapers or publication platforms, and the proof of publication required.
  4. Arrange payment to the newspaper or vendor that will run the legal ad; retain affidavits of publication or certificates.
  5. File the proof of publication with the City Clerk within the deadline indicated by the ordinance or Clerk instructions.

Common Violations

  • Failure to publish required public hearing notices.
  • Failure to file proof of publication with the Clerk.
  • Publishing incorrect or incomplete notice text.

FAQ

Who do I contact to publish a legal ad for a city matter?
Contact the City Clerk's office for publication rules, acceptable vendors, and proof-of-publication requirements; see the City Clerk public notices page for details.[1]
Where is the requirement to publish an ordinance listed?
Publication requirements are set out in the Code of Ordinances or the specific ordinance text; consult the municipal code to find the governing section.[2]
Are there standard fees listed on the Clerk page?
Fees for publication are usually charged by the newspaper or vendor and specific monetary penalties in the code are not listed on the general notice page; check the ordinance section or contact the Clerk for guidance.

How-To

  1. Confirm whether your matter requires publication by reading the relevant ordinance or contacting the City Clerk.
  2. Draft the notice text to match the ordinance's required content and format.
  3. Call or email the City Clerk to confirm timing, approved newspapers, and submission method.
  4. Purchase publication in the approved outlet, obtain an affidavit of publication, and pay any vendor fees.
  5. File the affidavit or certificate of publication with the City Clerk before the deadline specified by the ordinance.

Key Takeaways

  • City Clerk coordinates public notices; always verify requirements with the Clerk.
  • Proof of publication is essential—keep affidavits and file them with the Clerk.

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