Chapter 15.04 - Plumbing Code Adopted
Chapter 15.04 - Plumbing Code Adopted15.04.010 Adoption of the Plumbing Code.
The following code section was adopted by Resolution No. 25-303 by the Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners on December 22, 2025, with an effective date of December 31, 2025 and pursuant to C.R.S. 30-28-201hereby adopts the 2021 International Plumbing Code as amended by the 2023 Colorado Plumbing Code established by the Colorado State Plumbing Board and this code and the, 2021 International Residential Code, and 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, all published by the International Code Council, Inc. (ICC), and the 2013 NFPA 24 Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances published by the National Fire Protection Association with amendments and providing penalties and remedies for the violation thereof.
The Resolution and codes adopted in this chapter shall be known, and cited as the "Pueblo County Plumbing Code," and are referred to in this chapter as "the Code."
The purpose of the Code is to provide minimum standards to protect the public health and safety by controlling and regulating buildings, structures and equipment including but not limited to electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, comfort cooling, refrigeration systems; signs and sign structures; elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators; boilers and pressure vessels; plumbing and drainage systems; single and multiple dwellings; business and commercial buildings and structures; electrical conductors, and equipment; and the storage and handling of hazardous materials in the County of Pueblo.
The provisions of the Code and the other codes adopted by reference shall apply to the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, use, storage, height, area, maintenance, installation, inspection, design, operation, testing, handling, erection and fabrication of equipment, structures, and buildings within the County of Pueblo: except work located in a public way, public utility towers and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in the Code, and hydraulic flood control structures. Where, in any specific case, different sections of the Code, the County zoning resolution, or any other resolution of the County or other governmental body specify different requirements, the most restrictive provision shall govern.
The State Plumbing Board adopted the 2023 Colorado Plumbing Code without exempting agricultural buildings and structures. Pursuant to C.R.S. §12-155-106, a county may only adopt and enforce standards more stringent than the minimum standards adopted by the State Plumbing Board. Therefore, the Code applies to buildings or structures used for the sole purpose of providing shelter for agricultural implements, farm products, livestock or poultry without regard to C.R.S. §30-28-201(1).
The Code shall apply to all unincorporated areas in Pueblo County.
The adoption of this resolution shall not create any duty to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity with regard to the enforcement or nonenforcement of this Resolution or the Code. No person, firm, corporation, or other entity shall have any private right of action, claim or civil liability remedy against the County of Pueblo, , or their commissions, boards of review, or officers, employees or agents of such bodies or entities, for any damage arising out of or in any way connected with the adoption, enforcement or nonenforcement of this resolution or the Code. Nothing in this resolution or in the Code shall be construed to create any liability, or to waive any of the immunities, limitations on liability, or other provisions of the Governmental Immunity Act, C.R.S. § 24-10-101, or to waive any immunities or limitations on liability otherwise available to the County of Pueblo, or their commissions, boards of review, or officers, employees or agents of such bodies or entities.
If any part, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution or the Code is held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution or the Code.
All ordinances, resolutions, regulations and building codes of Pueblo County are repealed and superseded to the extent the same are inconsistent or in conflict with any term or provision of the Code. However, if the Code, this resolution, or any part of either is declared invalid, so that after such declaration of invalidity a building code for any matter covered in the Code shall not be in effect, the previous building or plumbing code covering the same matter shall not be deemed to have been repealed and shall be deemed reenacted and in effect.
As provided in C.R.S. § 30-28-210, any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of the Code may be subject to a civil infraction penalty. Each day that the unlawful activity continues shall be deemed a separate violation subject to a continuing penalty in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars for each day. Any civil penalty ordered by the county court may be collected as provided in C.R.S. § 30-28-210. In case any building or structure is, or is proposed to be, erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, or remodeled, used, or maintained in violation of any provision of the Code, the Pueblo County Attorney, pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-28-209 and in addition to other remedies provided by law, may institute an injunction, mandamus, abatement, or other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, enjoin, abate, or remove such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, maintenance, or use.
15.04.110 Colorado Plumbing Code; adoption by reference.
The Colorado Plumbing Code, established by the Colorado State Plumbing Board, 1560 Broadway, suite 1350, Denver, Colorado 80202, effective 4/14/2023 and as amended 12/15/2023 and published at 3 CCR 720-1, which includes portions of the 2021 Edition of the International Plumbing Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc. (March 2020), 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, referred to as the "International Plumbing Code" or "I.P.C." and the 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc.(January 2021), 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, all as adopted by the Colorado State Plumbing Board, together with the minor codes entitled, "International Swimming Pool and Spa Code," 2021 Edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc. (2020), 4051 West Flossmoor Road., Country Club Hills, IL 60478 (I.S.P.S.C.) and NFPA 24 Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances, 2013 Edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association (May 2012), One Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471 (N.F.P.A.), are hereby adopted and enacted by reference, and made a part hereof as if set forth in full; provided, however, that the following portions of the Colorado Plumbing Code are not adopted and are expressly deleted:
- Sections 1.2 D. 6. Fee Establishment and 7. Information Only Sections.
- Sections 1.2 E. 1. b. IPC Section 106.5 Permit issuance, p. IPC Section 312.9 Shower liner test, y. IPC Section 504.6.1 Collection of Relief Valve Discharge Exceptions 1 and 2, and aa. IPC Section 504.7 Required pan.
- Section 1.2 E. 2. a. IRC Section 105.1 Required, j. IRC Section P2503.6 Shower liner test, t. IRC Section P2801.6 Required pan, u. IRC Section 2803.6.2 Collection of Relief Valve Discharge Exceptions 1 and 2, and uu. IRC Section P3008.1 Where required (backwater valves).
- In addition, Chapters 1 Scope and Administration, 4 Public Swimming Pools, 5 Public Spas and Public Exercise Spas, 6 Aquatic Recreation Facilities, 7 On ground Storable Residential Swimming Pools, and 9 Permanent Residential Spas and Permanent Residential Exercise Spas of the I.S.P.S.C. are not adopted and are expressly deleted.
Copies of these codes are available in the office of the Pueblo County Building Division for distribution and sale to the public. All plumbing and drainage pipes, equipment and systems or parts thereof within the County shall be regulated by and installed, constructed, altered and repaired in conformance with the terms and provisions of this Chapter and the Colorado Plumbing Code as adopted herein.
15.04.120 Amendments to Colorado Plumbing Code; section 1.2 e.1. to add following.
(a) Section 103.1 Creation of Agency of the I.P.C. is amended and adopted to read as follows:
103.1 Pueblo County Building Division-Enforcement Agency: Administration and enforcement of this code and all related and secondary codes are hereby delegated to the Pueblo County Building Division. Wherever in this code the phrase "Building Official" appears, it shall be construed to refer to the Building Official of the Pueblo County Building Division or the Building Official's designated representative. The Building Official, the Building Official's designated representatives, and such Lead Building inspectors as the Building Official may appoint, shall be vested with the authority of a law enforcement officer with respect to enforcing this code and Title 15 of the Pueblo County Code including the authority to issue summons and complaints for the violation thereof.
(b) Section 202 General Definitions of the I.P.C. is amended to revise the definition of plumbing system to provide as follows:
PLUMBING SYSTEM. A system that includes the water distribution pipes; plumbing fixtures and traps; water-treating or water-using equipment; soil, waste and vent pipes; and building drains; in addition to their respective connections, devices and appurtenances within a structure or premises; and the water service, building sewer and building storm sewer serving such structure or premises. This includes all portions of private water mains, sewer mains, storm sewer and fire mains.
(c) Section 305.4 Freezing of the I.P.C. is amended to read as follows:
305.4 Freezing. Water, soil and waste pipes shall not be installed outside of a building, in attics or crawl spaces, concealed in outside walls, or in any other place subjected to freezing temperatures unless adequate provision is made to protect such pipes from freezing by insulation or heat or both. Exterior water supply system piping shall be installed not less than forty-eight (48) inches below grade.
(d) Section 305.4.1 Sewer depth of the I.P.C. is amended to read as follows:
305.4.1 Sewer Depth. Building sewers that connect to private sewage disposal systems shall be installed not less than twelve (12) inches below finished grade at the point of septic tank connection. Building sewers shall be inspected within 5’ inward to the building and installed not less than twelve (12) inches below grade.
(e) Section 306.3 Backfilling of the I.P.C. is amended to add a subsection as follows:
306.3.1 Time to Backfill. Backfilling shall be completed within seventy-two (72) hours after approved inspection.
(f) Table 403.1 of the I.P.C. is amended to add Footnote g as follows:
Mop sinks, floor sinks, or service utility sinks shall not be installed in restrooms.
(g) Subsection 405.3.1 of the I.P.C., entitled "Water closets, urinals, lavatories and bidets," is amended by the addition of a paragraph to read as follows:
Where more than one (1) water closet or water closets and urinals are installed in a room, they shall be separated by an approved partition wall. Urinals set next to each other or another fixture shall have an approved splash guard.
15.04.130 Amendments to minor codes.
(a) Section 3.2.2 Authority Having Jurisdiction of the N.F.P.A., is amended to read as follows:
3.2.2 Authority Having Jurisdiction. This phrase shall mean administration and enforcement of this code and all related codes are delegated to the Pueblo County Building Division.
15.04.140 Interpretation of the Colorado Plumbing Code.
Wherever in the Colorado Plumbing Code it is provided that anything must be done to the approval of or subject to the direction of the authority having jurisdiction, this shall be construed to give such officer only the discretion to determine whether the rules and standards established by the Colorado Plumbing Code have been complied with; and no such provision shall be construed as giving any officer discretionary powers as to what such regulations or standards shall be, or power to require conditions not prescribed by the Colorado Plumbing Code or to enforce the provisions of the Colorado Plumbing Code in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner.
15.04.150 Domestic Appliances.
All connections made to a water supply system for the purpose of installing, altering or repairing water service pipes, domestic appliances, water heating appliances and water conditioning appliances as herein defined shall be made in conformance with all other provisions of this Code.
In all cases where a permit shall have been obtained for another purpose directly connected with the installation, alteration or repair of such appliance, it shall not be required that a separate permit be obtained under the provisions of this Chapter; provided; however, that in any case wherein a permit is not required for other purposes in the installation, alteration or repair of such appliance, a permit for such installation, alteration or repair shall be obtained under the provisions of this Chapter.
15.04.160 Plumbing utility contractor.
It shall be unlawful for any person not registered as a plumbing contractor to engage in the business of a plumbing utility contractor without first being licensed by Pueblo County Board of Review. A plumbing utility contractor includes any person who engages in the business of installing one (1) or more of the following: water service lines, building sewers, private fire mains and similar installations. A person may be licensed to install one (1) or more of such items, but in no event shall such license authorize the licensee to install waste, drain or venting piping. A person licensed as a plumbing contractor or master plumber by the State may be licensed as a plumbing utility contractor to install water service lines and/or building sewers without examination.
15.04.170 Offenses; criminal penalties; permit revocation; other enforcement.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly violate, disobey, omit, neglect, refuse or fail to comply with or resist the enforcement of any provision of this Chapter or of the Colorado Plumbing Code.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse or fail to timely comply with an order issued by the Building Official or other designated inspector pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter or the Colorado Plumbing Code.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly make any false statement, representation or certification in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to any requirement of this Chapter or the Colorado Plumbing Code.
(d) Any permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter or the Colorado Plumbing Code may be suspended, terminated or revoked by the Building Official for any of the reasons stated in Section 106.5.5 of the International Plumbing Code, or (2) any material violation of the terms of said permit or requirements applicable thereto.
(e) In the event any owner or occupant of premises within the County shall refuse entry to the Building Official or any plumbing inspector, or if any premises are locked and the Building Official or any inspector has been unable to obtain permission of the owner or occupant to enter, the Pueblo County Court is authorized to issue a search or inspection warrant authorizing such entry in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Colorado Court Rules of Procedure.
(f) In the event any owner or occupant of premises within the County, or any licensed contractor or any permittee, shall fail or refuse to comply with any provision of this Chapter, the Colorado Plumbing Code or any license or permit issued thereunder, the County may initiate an action for injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with this Chapter or the Colorado Plumbing Code, license or permit.
(g) The enforcement remedies in this Section are expressly declared to be cumulative, and the exercise of any one (1) or more of them is not dependent upon the exercise of any other remedy, nor does the exercise of any one (1) or more of them constitute any bar or limitation to the exercise of any other. (Res. 25-303)