Plumbers in Highlands Ranch, CO

Colorado's largest unincorporated community

Highlands Ranch is a master-planned community in northern Douglas County, built out from the 1980s onward in developer-named subdivisions. It is the largest community in the county and the most populous unincorporated place in Colorado, with more than 100,000 residents. Its center is about 14 miles from downtown Denver in a straight line. C-470 runs along the north edge, Broadway and Kendrick Castillo Way cross it, Chatfield State Park borders it on the west, and the Highlands Ranch Mansion and Civic Green Park are local landmarks. The Highlands Ranch Metro District handles roads, parks and open space, but not building permits.

Highlands Ranch Water for both water and wastewater

Highlands Ranch Water serves all of Highlands Ranch and Solstice. Most of its supply is surface water: snowmelt from the South Platte River, Plum Creek and Dad Clark Gulch stored in McLellan, McLoud, Tingle and Chatfield reservoirs, with alluvial and Denver Basin wells held mainly as backup and some purchased water. It is treated at the Joseph B. Blake plant and kept disinfected with chloramine in the pipes. Wastewater is treated locally at the Marcy Gulch plant. The district says it has no lead service lines.

The district owns every meter and maintains the service line from the main through the curb stop. From the curb stop into the house, the line is the owner's, meter excepted. In a private plumbing emergency, the district will help shut water off at the curb stop; its emergency line is 303-791-2185. For a sewer backup, it asks customers to call a plumber first to check the private sanitary line.

Permits through Douglas County

Because the community is unincorporated, the Douglas County Building Division issues permits, and its plumbing and mechanical application lists gas and electric water heaters. The Metro District says its own project approval comes before the county issues building permits, so larger remodels may involve both offices. The county's number on the application is 303.660.7497.

Housing and backflow

Since the community dates from the 1980s on, houses are newer than in much of Denver, and the work tends to be water heaters, valves, fixtures, sprinkler lines and the occasional slab or service line leak. Highlands Ranch Water's published backflow program covers commercial devices, which are tested yearly by the district's contracted tester and billed on the water bill.

Gas safety and calling

No gas utility for Highlands Ranch was confirmed, so check your gas bill for the name and emergency number. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside. For everything else, call the number on this page and you will be connected with an independent plumber who works in Highlands Ranch and quotes the job directly.