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Colorado · Denver Metro · Front Range · ~#101 Most Populous County in the US
Arapahoe County, Colorado
Denver's largest eastern suburban county - Aurora, Centennial, Englewood, Littleton, and the communities spreading south and east from the metro core. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Arapahoe County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Arapahoe County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Arapahoe County Emergency Management – (720) 874-3990 | arapahoegov.com/emergency
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; Arapahoe County Alert; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Arapahoe County Fairgrounds (Littleton); contact OEM; Red Cross Mile High Chapter
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Denver metro southern/eastern suburban county; Littleton is county seat; tornadoes (eastern Arapahoe County is in a significant tornado corridor – the May 1999 F3 tornado struck the county); hailstorms (devastating hail damage is a recurring issue – the 2017 hailstorm caused over $2 billion in damage in the Denver metro area); flooding (Cherry Creek, Sand Creek, Dry Creek); wildfires in the foothills portion; 2012 Aurora theater mass shooting (Century 16 theater) – a defining community trauma
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Arapahoe County Public Works – (303) 795-4340
Transit: RTD – extensive metro Denver transit network; light rail (E, F, R lines through Aurora and Centennial); bus network; Dry Creek Station and Lincoln Station (Park-n-Ride hubs); Amtrak (Union Station in Denver)
Airport: Denver International Airport (accessible via I-70 and I-225 from Arapahoe County)
Notes: I-25 (north-south through Centennial and Englewood); I-225 (connects I-25 to I-70 through Aurora – major beltway); E-470 (toll highway along the eastern edge); US-285; US-40; I-70 northern edge; Arapahoe County encompasses Aurora (Colorado’s third-largest city – extends into Adams and Douglas Counties), Englewood, Centennial (the county seat area), Littleton (portions), Glendale, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Columbine Valley
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Arapahoe County Public Works and Development – (720) 874-6600 | arapahoegov.com
Services: Unincorporated county permits; Aurora (one of Colorado’s most active building markets, separate), Englewood, Centennial, Littleton (portions), Greenwood Village, Glendale, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine Valley, Sheridan have separate permits
Notes: Arapahoe County is one of Colorado’s most active building counties; Aurora’s growth drives enormous permit volume; Centennial is a planned community with active commercial development; Denver Tech Center (DTC) along I-25 in Greenwood Village is one of the Front Range’s major office and commercial centers; I-225 corridor commercial development is significant; medical corridor (Anschutz Medical Campus adjacent in Adams County)
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Arapahoe County Veterans Services – (720) 874-3980
VA Medical: Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (Aurora – within Arapahoe County; (720) 723-7000) – one of the VA’s most modern facilities; opened 2018; full-service comprehensive VA medical center affiliated with University of Colorado School of Medicine
Services: Full range; Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC is a major facility with advanced care; CalVet equivalent through Colorado DVA
Notes: Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora is one of the VA’s flagship modern facilities; affiliated with University of Colorado School of Medicine; Fitzsimons Army Medical Center was on this site previously; Buckley Space Force Base (Aurora) creates a significant active-duty and veteran community; Aurora has one of the largest veteran populations in Colorado
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Arapahoe Library District – (303) 542-7279 | arapahoelibraries.org; 8 branches serving unincorporated areas and some cities; Aurora Public Library (separate – 6 branches); Englewood Public Library (separate)
Notes: Arapahoe Library District is a well-funded and innovative system; Aurora Public Library serves Colorado’s third-largest city and one of the most diverse cities in the Mountain West – 100+ languages are spoken in Aurora; multilingual library services (including Somali, Vietnamese, Amharic, Spanish, and many others) are essential and well-developed; the district’s seed library and tool library reflect innovative programming; Aurora’s library system has been important in serving refugee communities
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
County Parks: Arapahoe County Open Space – (720) 874-6540; Cherry Creek State Park (Aurora – most visited state park in Colorado; Cherry Creek Reservoir; sailing; swimming; camping; dog park; disc golf; shooting range; equestrian; 4,000+ acres; one of Colorado’s great urban recreation assets); Chatfield State Park (Littleton area – second-most-visited state park; reservoir; camping; shooting range; boating); Quincy Reservoir; Big Dry Creek Trail
State Parks: Cherry Creek State Park; Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas County border – accessible from Arapahoe)
Notable: Denver Tech Center (DTC – major office and commercial center in Greenwood Village; distinctive skyline along I-25); Englewood’s historic medical district; Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (Greenwood Village – major outdoor music venue); Aurora’s Gateway Park area; 16th Street Mall connection via RTD
Notes: Cherry Creek State Park is Colorado’s most visited state park – its location adjacent to Aurora and Denver makes it an essential urban recreation resource; the reservoir provides sailing, swimming, and fishing; the park’s dog area is beloved; Chatfield Reservoir is a second major water recreation asset serving the southern metro area; the Denver Tech Center’s distinctive tower skyline along I-25 is one of the Front Range’s most recognizable commercial landscapes; Aurora’s incredible diversity (often called “the most diverse city in Colorado”) makes it a fascinating and vibrant city
Notes: Active GIS; Cherry Creek and Sand Creek flood plain mapping; Aurora development GIS; Buckley SFB airspace and boundary mapping; Anschutz Medical Campus planning maps; RTD transit network mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Arapahoe County Animal Control – (303) 699-1005; Aurora Animal Services; Dumb Friends League (major regional humane society – (303) 751-5772 | ddfl.org)
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter; wildlife management (coyotes abundant in all suburbs; prairie dogs; mountain lions occasionally in western portions)
Notes: Dumb Friends League is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the Mountain West and the nation – it rehomes thousands of animals annually and is nationally recognized; Aurora Animal Services serves a large and diverse city; coyote management is extensive throughout Arapahoe County’s suburbs; prairie dog management; Buckley SFB wildlife management; Cherry Creek State Park wildlife (deer, coyotes, waterfowl)
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Arapahoe County Public Works – (720) 874-6500; city collection programs; South Platte/Cherry Creek watershed
Recycling: ColoradoRecycles compliance; Aurora recycling programs; South Metro Recycling; hazardous waste collection events
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; CDPHE South Platte Basin; Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority; Buckley SFB environmental compliance (PFAS contamination – Buckley has documented PFAS groundwater contamination from historical firefighting foam use; USAF remediation ongoing); Anschutz Medical Campus research waste management
Notes: Buckley Space Force Base PFAS contamination is one of Arapahoe County’s most significant environmental issues – the base’s historical use of firefighting foam contaminated groundwater; the USAF is conducting remediation and providing alternative water to affected communities; Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority manages stormwater and water quality for the Cherry Creek watershed – a critical program given the reservoir’s urban recreation importance; South Platte River restoration continues through the metro area; Aurora’s rapid growth creates stormwater management challenges – the city is investing significantly in green infrastructure; Arapahoe County’s eastern agricultural lands are being converted to residential development at a rapid pace – agricultural land preservation efforts through the open space program are active
About Arapahoe County
Arapahoe County is the third most populous county in Colorado – a 805-square-mile county forming Denver’s primary eastern and southeastern suburban footprint. Its largest city is Aurora (shared with Adams and Douglas counties), Colorado’s third-largest city. Centennial, the county seat’s host city and one of Colorado’s newest incorporated cities (2001), is a master-planned community of over 110,000 residents. Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, Glendale, and Cherry Hills Village round out the incorporated cities. The county spans an enormous economic range – from Aurora’s working-class and immigrant communities to Cherry Hills Village, consistently ranked among the wealthiest municipalities in Colorado.
Arapahoe County sits immediately east and southeast of Denver, connected by I-25, I-225, and the RTD light rail system (the H, R, and E lines all run through the county). It contains the Denver Tech Center (DTC), a major office and corporate park straddling the Arapahoe-Douglas county line that serves as a second business hub for the metro. The Arapahoe County government is led by a five-member Board of County Commissioners with elected offices for the Assessor, Treasurer, Clerk and Recorder, Sheriff, District Attorney, Coroner, and Surveyor.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Colorado reappraises all real property every two years in odd-numbered years (2023, 2025, etc.). The Arapahoe County Assessor at 5334 S. Prince Street, Littleton (303-795-4600) mails Notices of Valuation (NOV) on or before May 1 of reappraisal years. The 2025 values govern both tax years 2025 and 2026. The residential assessment rate is 6.25% of actual (market) value.
A useful Arapahoe County feature: The NOV includes a QR code that links directly to your property’s online appeal page – scan it to view your comparable sales data and file a protest faster than starting from scratch on the website.
The appeal process:
Step 1 – Protest with the Assessor (May 1–June 9): File online via the Assessor’s portal (arapahoegov.com), by phone (303-795-4600 or [email protected] for a scheduled appointment), by mail, fax, or at one of five drop box locations across the county. Your protest must be postmarked or received by June 9. Include your estimated value as of June 30, 2024, and supporting documentation – comparable sales, condition issues, property record errors. Note: comparable sales after June 30, 2024 cannot be considered.
Step 2 – The Assessor issues a Notice of Determination (NOD) by August 15.
Step 3 – If unsatisfied, file with the Arapahoe County Board of Equalization (CBOE) at 5334 S. Prince Street, Littleton by September 15. CBOE decision letters for 2025 were mailed approximately November 4, 2025.
Step 4 – After the CBOE, choose one: petition the Colorado Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA); file with Arapahoe County District Court; or pursue binding arbitration (residential $150 deposit; commercial $500 deposit). All three options must be initiated within 30 days of the CBOE decision mailing.
Drop box locations (for physical appeal forms): Administration Building (5334 S. Prince St., Littleton), Lima Plaza (6954 S. Lima St., Centennial), Aurora Branch (490 S. Chambers Rd.), Byers (538 US Hwy 36), and Altura Plaza (15400 E. 14th Place, Aurora).
Senior and Veteran exemptions: Qualifying homeowners age 65+ who have owned and occupied their primary residence for at least 10 consecutive years receive an exemption of 50% of the first $200,000 of actual value. Disabled veterans with 100% service-connected disability qualify similarly. The 2026 application window is currently open – apply through the Assessor’s office. A new qualified-senior primary residence subclass (effective 2025) provides additional actual value reductions for eligible seniors – contact the Assessor for details.
Colorado has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax.
OWNWELL CTA: Arapahoe County’s 2025 reappraisal covers both 2025 and 2026 – one appeal, two years of savings. QR code on your NOV makes filing faster. June 9 deadline. Five county drop box locations. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Arapahoe County's 2025 reappraisal covers both 2025 and 2026 - one appeal, two years of savings. QR code on your NOV makes filing faster. June 9 deadline. Five county drop box locations. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Arapahoe County District Court at 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial (303-649-6355) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder at 5334 S. Prince Street, Littleton (303-795-4200) maintains all land records – deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents. The county also has a Property Alert service (free sign-up through the Clerk’s office) that notifies homeowners when any document is recorded against their property – a useful tool for detecting title fraud.
Colorado probate is governed by the Colorado Uniform Probate Code (CRS Title 15). Colorado has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Colorado recognizes Transfer on Death deeds for real property.
Senior Services: The Arapahoe County Area Agency on Aging (303-738-8080) and the Tri-County Health Network coordinate senior programming, home-delivered meals, transportation, SHIP Medicare counseling, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Colorado Medicaid long-term care programs including the HCBS-EBD Waiver and PACE.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120
(303) 795-4200
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Arapahoe County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Aurora Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 31732, Aurora, CO 80041-0732 – meets at the Hoffman Heights Library, 1298 Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80011.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Arapahoe County District Court (Probate Division) 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112 (303) 645-6600 Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Arapahoe County also has a court location at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80120.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Arapahoe County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
13101 E. Broncos Pkwy., Centennial, CO 80112
(303) 795-4711
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120
(303) 795-4200
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(303) 220-9200
Human Services
(303) 636-1130
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Tri-County Health Department – (720) 200-1581 | tchd.org
Services: Comprehensive health department serving Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties; immunizations; WIC; STI/HIV; behavioral health; environmental health
Hospital: UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora – one of the West’s great academic medical centers; Level I trauma; nationally ranked; on the Anschutz Medical Campus); Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora – nationally ranked top 10 pediatric hospital); Aurora Medical Center (UCHealth); Littleton Adventist Hospital; Swedish Medical Center (Englewood); Sky Ridge Medical Center (Lone Tree)
Notes: The Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora is one of the most significant medical campuses in the Mountain West – UC Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, the CU School of Medicine, and the VA are all co-located; Children’s Hospital Colorado is consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the US; the area’s healthcare infrastructure is exceptional; Arapahoe County has significant health disparities between wealthy communities (Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills) and lower-income Aurora neighborhoods; Aurora has a large refugee community (the largest refugee resettlement population in Colorado – including many Somali, Vietnamese, Hmong, and African communities) with unique health needs; the 2012 Aurora theater shooting created significant long-term trauma health impacts
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