Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately the National Park Service has made the decision to discontinue selling tickets to  Mesa Verde National Park at the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez.  If tickets are purchased at Mesa Verde National Park, tickets for Ranger guided tours for Balcony House, Cliff palace, or Long House can be purchased for $5.00. 

The City of Cortez hopes to renew that relationship in 2019 as the Mesa Verde Museum Association is no longer a tenant at the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez and they had previously been the ticket vendor for the park.

Mesa Verde is 9 miles from the entrance of the Visitor's Center.

As of October 1, 2022, Denver Air Connection is the commercial airline serving the Cortez Airport. Please contact them at 866-373-8513 for your travel plans and inquiries. 

Enterprise Rental Car

Cortez Rentz

To contact the Cortez Airport automated weather station call 970-564-0193. Weather data is updated once each hour and posted at Cortez Airport Weather Web site

Effective February 18th, 2025, the following parking fees will apply:

1 hour (grace period) ………………….……………………………………………………. FREE

1 hour to a maximum of 7 days………………………………………$1.00/hr up to max $4.00/day

7 to 14 days……………………………………………………………………...………. $3.00/day

14+ days……………………………………………………………………………….… $2.00/day

Long Term Parking Pass (Annual)…………………………………………………...…..... $250.00

Passengers being dropped off or picked up are encouraged to utilize the curbside turn-around that is accessible prior to the main parking lot.  

The main parking lot has an entrance (south) kiosk and exit (north) kiosk. Please retrieve a QR code ticket at the entrance and keep in a safe location out of the sun, as it may fade. The overflow lot will only be authorized for large vehicle parking as-needed. Fees will apply. 

For inquiries regarding long-term passes, or general information, the airport should be contacted by email at cortezairport@cortezco.gov or phone at 970-565-7458. 

Off of Hwy 491, 3 miles south of Cortez, turn west onto County Road G. Travel west approximate one mile and turn left to the airport. Proceed another half mile to the terminal building, which will be on your left.

You can obtain bids at Rocky Mountain E Purchasing 

You can access the Public Surplus auction site here

The City of Cortez created a Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Advisory Board and meets at 7:00 a.m. every third Friday of the month at the Cortez Recreation Center to give community feedback on facilities, programs, and services and recommendations on future planning initiatives.

https://onwardfoundation.org/Site/?page_id=115

No, they are a separate entity.  Call 970.565.3962 or go to their website at www.cortezsanitation.com

Montezuma County owns and operates the Landfill.  Call 970.565.8858 for information.

May 1 through October 30 each year, depending on weather conditions.  Call 970.565.7320 for current status.  Link to map page for location.

No.

None.  This fee is what the landfill charges the City to dump the flatbeds.

Options for making a payment on tickets received are as follows, a.) appear in person at the Municipal Court office, located at City Hall, b.) through the mail, make check or money order payable to City of Cortez-Cortez Municipal Court, 123 Roger Smith Avenue, Cortez, Colorado 81321 or c.) over the phone (970)-565-7952 with a debit card or credit card.  There is a drop box behind the west entrance to City Hall for parking tickets and payable tickets with amounts (blue box on pole).  *At this time, payments cannot be accepted online. 

Yes, as long as there is an amount listed on your ticket and the ticket is paid in full before the court appearance date.  Traffic tickets that are paid within 20 days of receiving are eligible for point reduction.  Tickets that have summons written on the ticket, and no amount listed are court appearance tickets. 

Yes, a juvenile defendant needs to have a parent or guardian present with him or her in court. 

Juvenile cases are heard at 8:30 a.m.

Deferments are handled through the City Prosecutor. Defendants can appear in court on appearance date of summons and converse with City Prosecutor or contact City Prosecutor, Drew Buffington prior to court.  Phone: (970)-565-7640

Yes, whether you go to court or not, you are required to pay court costs.  It is a City of Cortez ordinance. 

License are suspended due to failure to pay fines owed to the court.  Once an amount (for a default, Outstanding Judgement Warrant (OJW) or Non-resident Violator Compact (NRVC) fee) is paid in full, showing the defendant has complied then paperwork is furnished to take to the DMV and a copy is sent in. 

When a person is issued a summons (ticket), the name of the court, address and phone number are on the bottom left hand corner.  The summons will also have the date and time to appear. 

Contact the court office at (970)-565-7952 for more information concerning the status on your case or appear before 9:00 a.m. on a Monday and request to be listed on the court docket for that day. 

Yes. The WebEx meeting ID is 2594 098 6730.

TO APPEAR USING A PHONE: 
 
    Call 1-844-621-3956 to reach Webex 
    When prompted, enter the Meeting ID 2594 098 6730 followed by "#" 
    When prompted for a participant number, enter "#" again. (you do not need an actual number, just enter "#") 

Defendants must appear in court and fill out and qualify for a court appointed Attorney. 

Getting a library card if you live in Cortez is free! For all the details, check out our Circulation Policy.

Yes! We have wifi inside and outside the library building. Keep in mind that it is a public Wi-Fi. There is no password required to access it.

Yes, they check out for seven days and can renew up to twice.

No, you don't need a library card, just come to the front desk and ask for a guest pass. You get 2 hours for your session, but if you need more time on the computer just come up and ask for a time extension before your session expires.

You can print at the library from one of our public computers or from your email on a mobile device. You can also make copies or scan to email on our printer/copier machine. We unfortunately do not offer fax services at this time.

If you need assistance with printing, copying, or scanning, we're happy to help!

Scanning to email is free.

Printing and Copying prices are as follows:

• Black and White prints and copies are free for the first 10 pages, then they are $0.10 per page beyond that.
• Color prints and copies are free for the first 4 pages, then they are $0.25 per page beyond that.

We have three study rooms: Two with a capacity of two people, one larger one with a capacity of up to four people. You can either reserve a room via our our booking system, call the library (970-565-8117) or come into the library. Study rooms will be available for two hours per day.

The Conference Room can be reserved by calling the library 970-565-8117 or via our reserving system

All meetings must be for a non-profit and open to the general public. 

The room can hold a maximum of 27 people.

We offer eBooks and eAudiobooks. Simply visit the Colorado Digital Consortium and log in with your library card number.
If you run into problems, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 970-565-8117.

Our catalog is here: Cortez Public Library Catalog

We now have automatic renewals but if you would still like to renew an item manually, you can access your account here.

Just click the Sign In button in the upper right.

• Your username is your library card # 
• Your password is your last name all lower case

You can also call us to renew at 970-565-8117.

Since we are part of the Colorado Library Consortium, we can request books from other libraries. There are several ways to request an ILL:

• Call us at (970) 565-8117
• Use the Book Request Form on our website (perfect for after hours!)
• Visit us and ask at the front desk

If you are curious to find out whether your item is available from another library, you can go to Prospector and use the search there. Should you require assistance, please do not hesitate to ask us.

Prospector is a union catalog of  nearly 200 academic, public and special libraries in Colorado and Wyoming. Prospector gives library patrons and staff access to more than 30 million books, journals, DVDs, CDs, videos and other materials held in the Prospector member libraries. With a single search, patrons can find materials and request free delivery to their local library via the Colorado Library Courier. 

Yes! We are part of the Colorado Library Consortium through which we can offer many of our services.

To find out more about the consortium, click here

The City of Cortez Municipal Election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April of even numbered years.  The next Municipal Election will be held on April 7, 2026.

No person shall be eligible to office as a Council member unless at the time election he or she is a citizen of the United States, at least twenty-one years of age and shall have been a resident of the city for one year immediately preceding such election.

Currently, the City of Cortez has 7 marijuana stores in the City of Cortez.  There is some space left in the community for a marijuana establishment.  All marijuana establishments shall be at least one thousand five hundred feet from any college, university, or seminary, residential child care facility, or other medical or retail marijuana establishment.

Liquor License fees are based upon the type of license requested.  A fee is paid to both the City of Cortez and the Colorado Department of Revenue.  A new license is required to be approved by City Council prior to sending the State for final approval.  Contact the City Clerk for exact fees for a liquor license in the City of Cortez.

The Council Minutes are located under the Agenda and Minutes tab located on the left hand side.  You will find minutes under the different boards that the City has as well as the Council Workshop and Regular Meeting. You may also go to the City Council Live Stream and watch meetings at Council Minutes and Agenda

The Cortez Police Department no longer provides services for applicant fingerprinting. Per CBI policy, physical cards will no longer be accepted or processed by CBI. Please visit coloradofingerprinting.com or call (833) 224-2227 to schedule your appointment. As of 02/13/2020, they still have a local location but you must schedule your appointment before they give you the location, as they do not accept walk-ins. If you have further questions regarding fingerprinting, they may be answered by CBI/Colorado Fingerprinting at (833) 224-2227.

Building and other permit fees can be found on the Cortez Fee Schedule. You can see a copy of the current fee schedule and more information on how to obtain a building permit at the following link: https://www.cortezco.gov/186/Building-Permits-Applications

*For all new structures, regardless of size or purpose *For all manufactured home installations, regardless if on private property or in a park *For replacement of sewer, gas, or water lines *For re-roofing your building *For most plumbing, mechanical alterations/extensions *For any work within city Right of Ways (alleys, streets, etc.) *For new fences, sheds, carports, garages, additions, etc. (There are some exceptions- Please call our offices for information) If in doubt, please call our office (970) 565-3402.

Please refer to the factsheet from the Colorado Chapter of the International Code Council for guidance on the procedure for contemporaneous reviews of electrical and plumbing licenses.  

The city requires the purchase of a building permit that covers building, structural, mechanical, and plumbing. The state of CO covers the electrical portion of your project. In most cases you will have to purchase your building permit, right of way permit, and a water tap. Please note that the Cortez Sanitation District usually requires a fee for sewer connection. The Sanitation District’s number is 970-565-3962 for information.

Yes. Normal house repairs and replacement of cabinetry, windows, doors, and other items that do not require structural alterations and does not alter plumbing or mechanical elements do not require a permit.

Usually. For normal residential and commercial projects, Cortez permits and inspects for all phases of the project except for electrical. A state electrical permit is required through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Compliance. For more information on electrical permits, please visit their webpage at: https://dora.colorado.gov

City of Cortez Manufactured Home Installation Frequently Asked Questions 

Question: Do I need a permit to install a manufactured home within the city limits of Cortez? Answer: Yes. If the home will be placed in a manufactured home park (mobile home park), the fee is $175.00. The city will perform all inspections except for the electrical hook up. A licensed electrical contractor must obtain a state electrical permit and perform all electrical hook-ups. 

Question: Who is responsible to buy the permit? Answer: The park owner or park manager is responsible to purchase the permit. Only they know if your proposed sized home will meet the size limitations within their park. 

Question: What if the home will be placed on my own lot? Answer: You will still need a permit. However, not all lots in town are zoned for manufactured homes. Also, the fees for placing a home on private land are significantly different. Contact the Cortez Planning & Building Department at 970-565-3402 for more information. 

Question: Can I move in as soon as my home is brought into the park? Answer: No. For your safety, all inspections must first be performed and approved prior to moving in. Part of the set up includes code compliant steps for each exterior door. Many steps are not approved for use. Check with either your manufactured home installer, or you may call the Cortez Planning and Building Department at 970-565-3402 for more information. 

Question: My home is an older manufactured home. Does that make any difference? Answer: Yes. Only 1976 or newer HUD approved manufactured homes are allowed within the city limits of Cortez. Homes built prior to 1976 were constructed without any national safety standards, and many were deemed unsafe. 

Question: I’ve heard that I can install my own manufactured home: is this correct? Answer: In most instances no; only Colorado State Licensed manufactured home installers are allowed to install your home. Installing manufactured homes in Colorado takes specialized training and tools, therefore most homeowners are unable to comply with state law. 

Question: How long does it take to get a permit? Answer: Usually permits can be obtained no later than the day after the park owner/manager applies for them. 

Question: Where can I go to find a licensed installer? Answer: You may search for licensed installers by visiting the Colorado Department of Local Affairs website: https://dola.colorado.gov/doh_codes/installers.jsf or you can call Colorado Department of Local Affairs at 303-864-7810. 

Here is the current (4/15/2022) list of installers in our area:

CJ's MOBILE HOME SERVICE          970-560-2282        

RCMHS                                               505-326-3074

WE DO IT ALL                                     505-592-3833

The 2015 Family of International Building Codes - Note: The City of Cortez has amended the 2015 IRC, deleting section 313 requiring sprinkler systems for residential applications---Also, the city uses the 2009 version for energy efficiency.

If you are a homeowner, you can obtain permits and work on your own house provided you are also the occupant of that house. If you own commercial property, or if the building is a rental or you are building or remodeling a house for resale, you must use the services of a state licensed plumber and electrician. All other work may be performed by the owner.

Yes. Demolition permits are required for any structure being demolished. Upon permit issuance, YOU MUST notify all utility companies of the demolition. Demolition projects require that the lot be graded smooth so that it will not become a nuisance. A demolition permit can be found on the regular building permit application. To complete a permit application and for more information visit: https://www.cortezco.gov/186/Building-Permits-Applications.

It depends. Most one story single family homes will not need a design professional. For commercial projects, yes. Generally speaking, any new commercial structures will require a design professional.

The City of Cortez online payments are handled through Xpress Bill Pay, www.xpressbillpay.com.  Select "Sign Up". Citizens must have their account number which is located the utility bills.

The city’s sales tax licenses are issued through MuniRevs, www.cortez.munirevs.com.  Select “New Users”.  The system guides potential business owners through the steps needed to complete the application.  The cost is $10.00 and can be paid online, by check, or debit/credit card at the end of the application process.  Once a license is approved business owners will receive emails each month notifying of monthly tax filings due.

The refuse department picks up refuse daily.  To find out what area and specifically when your refuse will be picked up, contact utility billing at 970-564-4012

Contact our utility department, 970-564-4012.  One will be delivered to your home.

The City of Cortez has a use tax on items over $1,000 that are bought out of town/state.  A use tax is a tax on merchandise bought in one are but used/stored/registered in another.  It is important that you check with the vehicle dealer when you buy a car out of town/state to make sure they are a town/state that reciprocates with the State of Colorado and Colorado Municipalities.  If they are a reciprocal vendor, then you will not be charged any tax that would ordinarily be due that town/state, only paying town/state in the place you register your vehicle.

You can file an application online at www.colorado.gov/pacific/tax/sales-tax-account-license.  

Contact the Recycling Division at the City Service Center at 970-565-7320 to request a recycling bin.  One will be delivered to your home.

Start small - audit your household and start recycling the one material you produce most.  Then when you are comfortable, begin with another material.  You can use cans, boxes, or bags inside of the bins to hold your materials, separately.  The City of Cortez allows residents to have two of our collection bins.  You may also set out an additional container for recycling, but it needs to remain separated, and preferably labeled as “Recycling” so our refuse collectors don’t throw them away.

The refuse department picks up refuse daily.  To find out what day your refuse will be picked up, contact the utility billing division at City Hall, or call 970-564-4012.

In August of 2017, China announced to the World Trade Organization that they intended to stop Taking post-consumer materials (recyclables) from the United States and several other countries, due to increased contamination and damage to their own environment from taking contaminated recycling mixes from other countries.  China audited their recycling factories in July and found that most of their factories could not meet their new environmental standards, so they decided to halt imports.

Yes it does.  Because our residents separate their items, it is much easier for us to move material to market.  In fact, we use Domestic markets whenever possible.  Our collection efforts have been clean and did not in any way contribute to the China situation.

The estimation on the amount of recycling that the United States moved to China ranged anywhere from 60-90%.  Imagine all the other groups in our nation’s recycling industry trying to find new homes for their recyclables. This potential market glut means that the cleaner and more separated our commodity stream is, the more preferred our recycling commodities will be in the near future. Thus, the easier to move them to that market.

Same as in real estate – Location.  Our location is outside of optimal trucking zones so companies that wish to move material out of this area face what is known as dead-head trucking rates. That means most entities need to pay round-trip shipping if they want to move materials to market.

Events that are held on city property, including parks, may require permission from city council, written consent from specific staff members, facility use agreements, insurance and other permits depending upon the activities involved and/or the level of support requested of the city. No alcohol is allowed in the parks without these items and other specific requirements regarding fencing, security, etc. The city can help with the planning and permitting process and provide you or your organization with any information you may need to hold events within the city. Contact our Marketing and Events Department with any questions. Call the Communications and Events Manager at 970-564-4096 or email specialevents.coordinator@cityofcortez.comEvent Request Packet

The city fiber system is a underground network. There are no aerial installations planned at this time. The drops and the electronics used to bring your business services will need to be installed and maintained by the city. The form authorizes the city to bring the services and maintain them. The drop survey will begin the process of routing the underground services to your business location and into your building.

The City Public Works Department maintains all accepted streets.  Each year the City performs an annual street improvement project with funds generated from City sales tax, which includes periodic maintenance, reconstruction, resurfacing, and drainage improvements.

Yes, it is a law that you have to get locates before you can dig anything - anytime, anywhere.  Call UNCC for a line locate at 1-800-922-1987 (or 811).

If your work, i.e. any construction or excavation activity, is inside the City right-of-way, you will need to apply for a Right-of-Way (ROW) permit.

Apply through the engineering division at the City Service Center, 110 West Progress Circle, Cortez.  You will need to bring in a description of the location, overview, and time frame of proposed work.  Utility Line locates must be obtained after a ROW permit is issued and before any construction begins.  Call UNCC for a line locate at 1-800-922-1987 (or 811).

The ROW Permit is $30 per permit, plus any other costs that are deemed necessary, i.e. asphalt or concrete patch-back cost. 

To ensure your site meets the requirements for a driveway entrance, you will need to speak with the engineering division at the City Service Center, 110 West Progress Circle, Cortez.

The City of Cortez can only fill potholes on public rights-of-way: streets, alleys, curbs.

No, this gives the impression that it is safe for children to play in the street.

No, the City has an ordinance against pushing snow from private property into the street.   Downtown business owners are to clean their sidewalks by noon of the second day after a storm.  The property owner is responsible for removing the snow from the sidewalks, whether the lot has a business on it, or is vacant.  

The City of Cortez has an annual Sidewalk Cost-Share program to assist property owners who want to construct or repair all sidewalks in the public right-of-way abutting or adjacent to his or her property.  Please contact the City Service Center at 970.565.7320 for an application.  The applications are due by May 31st to be included in that year's project.  Anyone not participating in the program, and wants to construct or repair any sidewalk, driveway, or curb-cut on the public right-of-way, must obtain a Right-of-Way construction permit.

The City of Cortez can’t make an official determination if your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area.  There are methods of determination, such as an Elevation Certificate and Letter of Map Amendment, which can be used to demonstrate that a property is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area.  Flood Insurance Rate Maps are available for viewing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website at the following link: https://msc.fema.gov/portal.  The City has a GIS map that shows the approximate location of the flood plain in relation to all properties.

Our water comes from the Dolores River Watershed, via McPhee Reservoir.

The fees can be found on the “Water Rates” page.

Please call the City Service Center at 970.565.7320.

Yes.  Every year from May 15 – September 15, lawn watering is not allowed during the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.  For new lawns, a permit can be obtained (for a fee) to water during those hours.  Call 970.565.7320 for more information.   Check out the “Water Conservation” page.

Yes, at the City Service Center in the Industrial Park.  Check out the “Water Dock” page for a link to the map.

When water leaves the tap, it isn't under pressure any longer and the air comes out.  However, a yellow or rusty color is probably due to sediment from the water system.  Try running your water for a few minutes; this usually takes care of the problem. 

This is probably caused by suspended materials in the water system; however, sometimes it is caused by rusty pipes from within the home itself.  

Depending on the area of town where the leak is, the main line may be quite old and a water valve won’t shut down as well as it should, so several valves may have to be shut down.  The City is trying to rectify the problem by installing new water lines and valves.  All of this takes time and money.  Each year, Public Works budgets for a major waterline replacement project and a street improvement project.

See our recycling page posted on the City website under Public Works  http://www.cityofcortez.com/340/Recycling.

The City’s recycling changes reflect the overall recycling market; our changes are made with an attempt to control otherwise runaway cost.

Where can I take my recycling?  110 West Progress Circle, Cortez.  Map to Service Center

No.  Contact the Montezuma County Landfill at 970.565.9858 for information on e-waste.

No.   Residents are encouraged to do their own backyard composting

Everyone can help a little by reading about new changes, making sure to properly recycle and separate material.

The Master Street Plan is a tool for the City of Cortez and Montezuma County that proposes future street alignments.  Please see the Master Street Plan Page for more information.

The Master Street Plan is used to identify locations where there is a need for street connectivity.  When development is proposed, the plan provides guidance to the developer and local governments to ensure that the street connections can be accommodated.  

The Master Street Plan helps local governments and land developers identify where a future street should go.  Otherwise, streets may not connect to each other in a logical way.  

Local governments (i.e. the City of Cortez and Montezuma County), the State Highway Department, land developers, and individual property owners all use the the master street plan for guidance on where streets should go, and on where a street may need to be upgraded.

The street plan can cover an area of up to three miles outside of City limits.  The proposed street plan only covers an area of one mile outside of the City’s limit.  If significant growth begins to happen, the plan can be amended to plan for additional traffic needs appropriate for the demand.  

The Master Street Plan is a subsection of the City of Cortez Comprehensive Plan, which looks at policies to guide growth and land use for the city in general.  The Master Street Plan provides specific guidance regarding street connectivity and policies for ensuring that there is a logical system of streets for the City and certain areas of the unincorporated area.  

The Master Street Plan is advisory, in that it provides general guidance.  The Street Plan is implemented through the land use code, in the form of regulations that require development to consider the proposed streets and accommodate the street connections that are proposed in the Master Street Plan.  

The City's turf replacement rebate pays a portion of the cost; however, it will not cover the entire conversion to a low-water landscape. This is meant to be an incentive, and over time the savings on water bills will add up with expected savings being between 40-60% once plants have reached maturity.

This program is incentivized by a rebate/reimbursement. Property owners do not provide matching funds, nor is it a cost share. Property owners whose application has been approved for replacement of turf will pay, in full, the regular price of materials, labor (if you hire a landscaper), etc. needed to replace their non-functional turf to low-water alternatives. Once a final site visit/inspection has been performed, the City will offer cash back, up to the maximum allotted amount of removed turf, lowering the overall cost it took you to convert your landscape. 

Yes, you are allowed to convert as much non-functional turf as you wish, however, the rebate will only reimburse project costs up to the listed maximums.

By choosing to only use rock, or to design a landscape without the necessary plant growth coverage, the ground stays hotter, which can ultimately lead to a more arid community. The grant that has been awarded to the City of Cortez also requires a minimum of 50% plant coverage, at maturity, to offset heat.

You can either do it yourself or hire a contracted landscaper, but the requirements, as listed, must be followed in order to qualify for reimbursement. Please remember to call 811 for utility locates before ground disturbance.

Your removed turf can be disposed of at the Landfill located at 26100 Road F Cortez, CO 81321. Phone Number: (970) 565-9858

No, you are not required to have a sprinkler system in order to participate in the turf replacement program, but you do have to follow the requirements as listed, and install drip or high efficiency, low precipitation hoses, waterers, etc. It will be up to City staff to determine if the proposed changes to how you water are sufficient enough to qualify for the program.

At this time we do not offer adult swim lessons.

Our sessions follow the American Red Cross schedule of 8 classes per session.

For levels 1 - 5 participants must be 5 years old by the last day of the session.

For the Parent and Child class the child must be at least 6 months old on the first day of the session.

Children who do not meet the 5 year old age requirement are able to take the Parent and Child class if there is availability. Parent and Child class availability is dependent on available instructors and available pool space.