It shall be unlawful to make a service connection to the city's water system without a water license therefor except for temporary connections for construction purposes made with the permission of the director of public works and in accordance with chapter 13-16. (Ord. 569 §5, 1984)

Water licenses may be purchased from the city at a fee of $22,454.00 per three-quarter-inch equivalent tap. Tap fees and meter fees are separate and additional. (Ord. 710 §1, 1986; Ord. 752 §1, 1987; Ord. 805 §1, 1988; Ord. 871 §1, 1989; Ord. 887 §1, 1990; Ord. 918 §1, 1991; Ord. 949 §1, 1993; Ord. 1033 §1, 1994; Ord. 1105 §1, 1995; Ord. 1213 §1, 1996; Ord. 1304 §1, 1998; Ord. 1378 §1, 1999; Ord. 1430 §1, 1999; Ord. 1454 §1, 2000; Ord. 1516 §1, 2000; Ord. 1649 §1, 2001; Ord. 1702 §1, 2003; Ord. 1752 §1, 2003; Ord. 1786 §1, 2005; Ord. 1823 §1, 2006; Ord. 1852 §1, 2006; Ord. 1879 §1, 2008)

(A) At any time during which a declaration of drought has been declared by the city council and a Drought Condition I, II, or III has been imposed pursuant to chapter 13-36, B.M.C., a twenty-percent drought surcharge shall be added to the water license fee charged in section 13-02-020, B.M.C.

(B) Such surcharge may be used for any of the following purposes:

(1) The purchase, lease, or acquisition of water rights, water, or use of water;

(2) The reimbursement of water customers for installation of city-approved water conservation devices;

(3) The payment of water fund debt service;

(4) The acquisition of real property for construction of water facilities; or

(5) To pay costs for the enforcement of drought restrictions.

(C) This section shall not apply to single-family, detached housing served by well water on the effective date of the enactment of this section. (Ord. 1720 §1, 2003; Ord. 1735 §1, 2003; Ord. 1838 §1, 2006)

Applications for water licenses may be made to the public works department on forms provided by that department by any person owning property within the city or by his or her agent. Applications must be accompanied by the license fee and must contain the following:

(A) A description of the lot, tract, or parcel owned and to be served, including a legal description, a street address, or such other description as may be required by the public works department.

(B) The size of the water tap and water meter requested.

(C) A description of the purposes for which the water is to be used.

(D) The name, address, and signature of the applicant.

(E) Other information required by the public works department to assist in administering this chapter. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984)

The department of public works shall issue a water license if the application complies with section 13-02-030. If the application does not comply with section 13-02-030, the department of public works shall deny the application. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984)

No building permit for a structure which will require a new water tap or connections shall be issued unless the applicant has a valid water license. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984)

(A) A water license shall be issued for the lot, tract, or parcel described in the application and shall be issued to the owner of that property.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (D) and (E) below, a water license may not be transferred or sold except in conjunction with a sale or transfer of the underlying property, either as a whole or in smaller tracts, pursuant to the applicable provisions of title 16.

(C) If a water license is sold or transferred as provided in subsection (B), the city must be immediately notified in writing and may require evidence of such transfer or sale.

(D) The city manager may authorize the transfer of water licenses within the same development parcel on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the city manager, provided any such transfer is consistent with the provisions of this chapter. For purposes of this subsection, the term development parcel means one or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land that are contiguous to each other and are planned, developed, owned, and managed as a unit.

(E) The city manager may authorize the transfer of water licenses from one lot, tract, or parcel to another lot, tract, or parcel on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the city manager, provided any such transfer is made for the purpose of allowing the holder of a water license to convert outside irrigation to the city's water reclamation system and further provided any such transfer is consistent with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984; Ord. 1221 §1, 1997)

No new water licenses may be issued for property outside the city except pursuant to existing contracts unless first approved by the city council. Where an existing contract allows service, or where the city council approves service, outside the city, the property owner may apply for a water license even though the property is outside of the city. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984)

(A) Holders of valid or expired water licenses issued under former chapters 13-04, 13-08, and 13-10 who wish to buy a new license shall receive credit towards the current fees for any fees now on deposit with the city, except to the extent the Denver Water Department has made charges in relation to such licenses.

(B) Holders of expired water licenses issued under chapters 13-04 and 13-08, who do not want a new license, may, on written request, receive refunds in an amount equal to the difference between deposits previously made and fifty percent of the water availability of service fees in effect at the time of application for the expired water license. Such refunds shall be made within sixty days of receipt of the written request.

(C) Holders of expired water licenses issued under former chapter 13-10 may, on written request, receive refunds of all fees previously paid, less a two-hundred-ten-dollar forfeiture to the city and less any

penalties or administrative charges paid to the Denver Water Department. Such refunds shall be made within sixty days of receipt of the written request. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984)

The flat monthly water service charges established by chapter 13-12 shall begin on the date a water license is purchased. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984)

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

(A) Three-quarter-inch equivalent tap. The basic unit of comparison based on demand on the water system. Demand is compared to the demand characteristics of three-quarter-inch connections serving single-family detached housing. Equivalence is determined on a case-by-case basis by the public works department, except for the following:

(1) Connections serving duplexes shall be equivalent to one three-quarter-inch equivalent tap per unit.

(2) Connections serving mobile homes shall be equivalent to eighty percent of a three-quarter-inch equivalent tap per unit.

(3) Connections serving townhouses or other single-family attached housing with limited individual outside irrigation shall be equivalent to sixty percent of a three-quarter-inch equivalent tap per unit.

(4) Connections serving apartments or apartment-style condominium units with no individual outside irrigation shall be equivalent to forty percent of a three-quarter-inch equivalent tap per unit.

(B) City water system. The water reservoir, plant, lines, pumps, facilities, assets, and appurtenances controlled by the city.

(C) Tap. A physical connection to a distribution main.

(D) Stub-in. A tap made to allow streets to be paved before a service connection is made. A stub-in line ordinarily extends only to just beyond the curb line. A stub-in does not provide service.

(E) Service connection. A tap and appurtenances capable of effecting water service to a water meter. (Ord. 546 §6, 1984)