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+News from Denver CPD that may impact building and development projects
| | News from Community Planning and Development (CPD) | | |
In this issue
- City Council Approves SDP Extension
- Temporary change to Permit Counter operations for commercial zoning team
- Demolition process coming to E-permits
- Submit your Denver Energy Code amendment proposals
- Give your feedback on new recycling and compost regulations
- Regulatory project updates
- Neighborhood planning updates
- Learn about Denver Landmark Preservation during National Historic Preservation Month
| | City Council Approves SDP Extension | |
On Monday, May 4, Denver City Council approved a zoning code update that gives all site development plans approved before 2026, an additional three years to obtain building permits. Specifically, council members voted to extend the period of validity for site development plans (SDPs) approved on or before December 31, 2025, to 66 months from their approval date. SDPs approved on and after January 1, 2026, will maintain a 30-month period of validity.
What this means: Site Development Plans expire if the project has not obtained building and zoning permits and started building construction. Because of the various factors that can affect project timelines and financing, many recently approved SDPs have not been able to begin construction within that window. This change ensures that previously approved SDPs will not expire due to current market conditions.
“This is a strategic, tactical, right-minded response to what’s going on in the marketplace today to support our housing goals,” CPD Executive Director Brad Buchanan said.
If you have questions about an SDP application or expirations, please contact DevelopmentServices@denvergov.org.
For projects that have already applied for building permits and have an active building “LOG” record, the extension does not automatically or simultaneously extend the expiration date of the LOG record. If you have questions about a LOG application or expiration, please contact PlanReview@denvergov.org.
For complete information, visit the Site Development Plan review webpage. You can check the status of your SDP and/or building LOG record using Denver's Accela ePermits portal.
| | Temporary change to Permit Counter operations for commercial zoning team | |
The Commercial Zoning Plan Review team will be meeting with customers by appointment only from Tuesday, May 26, until Friday, June 5. During those two weeks, walk-in customers at the permit counter in the Webb Municipal Building will be directed to make an appointment. Customers can continue to reach the team by email or by phone (720-865-3000). Phone hours of operation will remain the same:
Tuesdays: 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Wednesdays: 8-10 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Thursdays: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-3:45 p.m.
| | Demolition process coming to E-permits | | Submit Denver Energy Code amendment proposals now through June 5 | |
Members of the public are invited to participate in the Denver Energy Code update by submitting potential code amendments between now and June 5. The baseline code or starting point for proposals is the 2025 DEC and MLECC Correlation Document. Amendment proposals may suggest revising, adding, deleting, or substituting language in the correlation document. Links to the documents can be found on the CPD Energy Code website.
| | Once submitted, proposals will be prioritized based on the following criteria: impact on operational carbon, embodied carbon of buildings and building reuse, cost effectiveness, technical feasibility and market readiness, equity impact, energy efficiency, impact on code usability/regional alignment, enforcement complexity, grid resiliency, and national leadership as a jurisdiction. The commercial and residential code technical subcommittees will begin reviewing selected proposals in June. Meetings will be open to the public. | |
We need your feedback on new recycling and compost regulations | | |
On September 1, 2026, Denver will begin implementing the updated requirements for recycling and reuse of construction and demolition materials in the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance (URCO). URCO is the result of the community-led “Waste No More” ballot initiative, which was passed by 70 percent of Denver voters in 2022.
As a result, the city has developed proposed rules and regulations, which provide clarity and details needed to implement and comply with the requirements. A virtual public hearing to consider these rules and regulations will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 4. More information about the public hearing can be found on the URCO public hearing website. The public can also submit comments in writing by Thursday, June 4.
General information about URCO, including all hearing information and proposed rules and regulations can be found on the URCO webpage.
| | Regulatory project updates | | |
Unlocking Housing Choices
In March and April, the CPD Unlocking Housing Choices team gathered input from hundreds of Denver residents on proposed zoning updates to expand "missing middle" housing options (examples include duplexes, tandem houses, fourplexes, and cottage developments) in residential neighborhoods. Community members participated through virtual and in-person meetings across the city and through an online survey. Next steps in the project include presenting the community’s feedback to the project advisory committee in June, followed additional public meetings in late summer. To learn more, view a summary of public engagement, submit comments on the project or contact the team, visit the Unlocking Housing Choices webpage.
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Denver Resilient Landscapes
The Denver Resilient Landscape Symposium at the end of April hosted more than 250 attendees. CPD staff were joined by more than a dozen nonprofits, agencies and business partners who shared landscaping resources, seeds, plants and more. If you were unable to attend and would like more information, materials and resources shared at the event are available on the Denver Resilient Landscapes webpage. What’s next? Keep an eye out for the draft Landscape & Irrigation Rules and Regs this summer.
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Denver People’s Budget
On May 8, the Denver People's Budget celebrated a milestone alongside community members and agency staff as one of the program's funded projects was completed. In Cycle 2 of the People's Budget, the community chose to invest $181,250 toward planting trees across the seven neighborhoods in the West Denver area. Over the last year, Denver Parks and Recreation has planted more than150 trees in nearly a dozen different parks and trails. People's Budget community leaders came together alongside city staff for a volunteer day to plant the final 21 trees at local nonprofit, Re:Vision. Unlike the trees planted in Denver open spaces, this last batch of trees are fruit-bearing and Re:Vision, an urban farm and food access organization, will use the produce for their weekly food banks.
| | Neighborhood Planning Updates | | |
Near Northeast Area Plan: Clayton, Cole, North Park Hill, Northeast Park Hill and Skyland
City planners are hosting the public launch of the visioning process for Near Northeast Denver this week. Join residents, business owners, neighborhood groups and more at the first public meeting for the Near Northeast Area Plan on Thursday, May 21. City staff will share information about the planning process, how to get involved and begin to collect community feedback. Visit DenverGov.org/nearnortheastplan for complete details.
| | | Community Kick-off for Near Northeast Area Plan
- Thursday, May 21, 2026
- Resource fair: 5:30-6 p.m.
- Public meeting: 6-8 p.m.
- Clayton Early Learning Campus, 3801 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Denver
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Far Northwest Area Plan: Berkeley, Regis/Inspiration Point, Sloan’s Lake and West Highland
Residents, business owners, and other community members are invited to help shape the future of their neighborhoods by participating in the Far Northwest Area planning process. This effort will help create a shared vision for the future of the area’s land use, housing, transportation, parks, recreation, and social spaces. Get involved now by applying to serve on the advisory committee, taking the community pulse survey and signing up for the project newsletter. Visit DenverGov.org/farnorthwestplan for more information about the plan.
| | Learn about Denver Landmark Preservation during National Historic Preservation Month | | |
Did you know May is National Historic Preservation Month? It’s a time to reflect on and share how the places we preserve spark joy, inspire wonder, and connect communities to Denver’s shared history. Landmark Preservation is a vital and integrated component of Community Planning and Development. Denver’s landmarks and historic districts enhance the city’s unique identity, quality of life, and economic vitality. Denver’s City Council first enacted the Denver Landmark ordinance in 1967 to help preserve, enhance and encourage the use of structures and areas of the city with historical, architectural, cultural, and/or geographical significance. Home of civic leaders Wellington and Wilma Webb are among three proposed landmarks currently under review. Learn more in this month’s Landmark Preservation newsletter.
Interested in staying up to date with Denver Preservation updates? Sign up to receive our Landmark quarterly newsletter.
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ICYMI: Recaps from
our last newsletter
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Get caught up on last month's news >>
- Shorter review times, new customer tools and more transparent processes and requirements are just some of the wins the Denver Permitting Office (DPO) has delivered in the year since Mayor Mike Johnston signed Executive Order 151 to create the office. The DPO was announced April 14, 2025, and launched a month later to coordinate and oversee plan review and permitting for private development in the City and County of Denver—work that spans across seven city departments.
- Beware of phishing scams! Some development applicants have reported receiving fraudulent emails requesting payment of fees. The City and County of Denver will never request payment for any permitting or licensing fees via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or prepaid gift cards. If you believe you have been targeted by a scam or have received a fraudulent request, please report it immediately to the city staff person you are working with and the Denver Police Department's non-emergency line at 720-913-2000.
| | Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development (CPD) complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or gender to include language. It is your right to request oral or written language assistance services in your primary language, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations, if needed. Please fill out our language services request form and these services will be provided free of charge. If you have any questions, contact CPD’s Operations Team at cpdoperations@denvergov.org. | | Copyright © 2026 City and County of Denver. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
