Keeping Our Community Clean: What You Need to Know About Graffiti Removal in Arvada
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Arvada Voices teamed up with neighbors to tackle graffiti and protect residents from costly fines
If you've noticed graffiti popping up in your neighborhood, you're not alone. As our community continues to grow and evolve, graffiti has become an increasingly visible issue that affects property values, neighborhood pride, and residents' wallets.
Understanding how graffiti removal works in Arvada can save you time, money, and frustration.
Know Your Options: Public vs. Private Property
The first step in addressing graffiti is understanding where it's located, as this determines your next course of action.
Graffiti on public property is the city's responsibility. If you spot tagging on sidewalks, city buildings, or public structures, report it through AskArvada. The city will handle removal at no cost to residents.
Utility boxes present a special case. While these may look like city property, they're often owned by various utility companies. When you report graffiti on utility boxes through AskArvada, the city will contact the appropriate utility company to arrange removal.
Private property graffiti is where things get complicated and expensive. When graffiti appears on private property—whether it's your fence, building, or business—the city will send a notice of violation to the property owner. Failing to remove the graffiti can result in fines ranging from $100 to $300.
A Gap in Services for East Arvada
Adams County operates a graffiti removal program that serves residents regardless of whether the graffiti is on public or private property—a service that could benefit many Arvada residents. Unfortunately, Adams County doesn't currently have an agreement with Arvada to extend these services to our community.
This gap particularly affects residents in East Arvada, who could benefit from Adams County's more comprehensive approach to graffiti removal. We encourage residents to ask City Council to work toward developing an agreement that would bring these valuable services to our area.
Community Action: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Recognizing that graffiti removal can create financial hardship for some residents, Arvada Voices has worked directly with neighbors to address graffiti before fines are levied. Our volunteer efforts focus especially on helping residents who may struggle to afford removal costs or lack the physical ability to tackle the job themselves.
Working together with community members, we've successfully removed graffiti from private properties, helping neighbors avoid costly violations while keeping our neighborhoods looking their best. This grassroots approach strengthens community bonds while addressing a practical problem that affects us all.
How You Can Help
Graffiti removal works best as a community effort. Here's how you can get involved:
Report promptly: The sooner graffiti is reported and removed, the less likely it is to attract additional tagging
Know the process: Understanding whether graffiti is on public, utility, or private property helps you report it through the right channels
Volunteer: If you're interested in helping neighbors with graffiti removal, Arvada Voices would love to hear from you
Advocate: Contact City Council about expanding graffiti removal services, particularly for East Arvada residents
Taking Action
Graffiti doesn't have to be a permanent fixture in our neighborhoods. By understanding the reporting process, supporting our neighbors, and working together as a community, we can keep Arvada looking its best while ensuring that no resident faces unnecessary financial hardship.
If you'd like to join our community graffiti removal efforts or need assistance with graffiti on your property, drop us a line. Together, we can maintain the neighborhood pride that makes Arvada a great place to call home.
