Regulations on utility box access in my yard (Denver: houses, neighborhoods)

[Denverite234]

I have utility boxes in my yard. My young son is an at risk child due to his special needs. I need to keep the gate doors locked which creates a problem for utility workers to access the yard when we are not home. Short of locking and unlocking whenever we leave the house, do you know of any remedy?

[COcheesehead]

I lived in Denver and the utilities never had to access my yard. What kind of boxes do you have?

[reed303]

Many neighborhoods with underground electrical, telephone and cable where the wires run along the rear lot line, have utility "boxes" in some yards serving 4 houses, 2 on each side of lot line.

I had the telephone box, rear neighbor had the electric transformer, and the cable tv box. I also had a wire that ran done the side lot line to a streetlamp. The property titles always have an easement that allows access.

[reed303]

Originally Posted by Denverite234

I have utility boxes in my yard. My young son is an at risk child due to his special needs. I need to keep the gate doors locked which creates a problem for utility workers to access the yard when we are not home. Short of locking and unlocking whenever we leave the house, do you know of any remedy?

The usual thing would be to have latches that the workers can reach that the child cannot.

Maybe like this one, mounted high on the outside of gate.

https://gatelatchusa.com/101339-galv...h-details.html

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

I thought that, even though they have the right to enter, the utility company would contact the property owner ahead of time and let them know that they will be working in their yard. That would take care of issues like the OP, as well as people who have dogs in their back yard.

[Denverite234]

Originally Posted by COcheesehead

I lived in Denver and the utilities never had to access my yard. What kind of boxes do you have?

Sorry for the last response. I have the cable/phone and two electric towers. They always just come knock on my door, but when I am not home they said they need access through the gate. My son is tall enough to reach the locks and is an at risk child as he doesn't respond to his name, and is nonverbal. Thanks for any ideas you may have!

[Denverite234]

Originally Posted by reed303

The usual thing would be to have latches that the workers can reach that the child cannot.

Maybe like this one, mounted high on the outside of gate.

https://gatelatchusa.com/101339-galv...h-details.html

Thank you! That is the exact latch we have. It is high up but he can reach it now.

[Denverite234]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

I thought that, even though they have the right to enter, the utility company would contact the property owner ahead of time and let them know that they will be working in their yard. That would take care of issues like the OP, as well as people who have dogs in their back yard.

I really wish they did. But they just come to my door and tell me they are going into my yard. I have yet to have even one ask me if they could. When I am not home they just go in.

[reed303]

Originally Posted by reed303

The usual thing would be to have latches that the workers can reach that the child cannot.

Maybe like this one, mounted high on the outside of gate.

https://gatelatchusa.com/101339-galv...h-details.html

Originally Posted by Denverite234

Thank you! That is the exact latch we have. It is high up but he can reach it now.

Assuming latch is on outside of gate, and son is reaching over gate to unlatch, relocate the latch lower on the gate where he can't reach. Maybe even have 2 latches, one high and one low.