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September 2026

In this issue

• Denver’s PRO Housing strategy: making it easier to build housing in Denver
• Follow CPD on Instagram
• Effective Sept. 15: New Quick Permit process for commercial and multi-family equipment replacements
• Explore the interactive Climate Resilient Plant List tool
• Energize Denver Building Performance Policy final rules adopted
• Newly updated Energize Denver Navigation Center now live
• Neighborhood planning updates: Far Northwest Area Plan

Effective Sept. 15: New Quick Permit process for commercial and multi-family equipment replacements  

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, Denver has streamlined the permitting process for replacing mechanical and plumbing equipment in existing commercial and multi-family buildings. Equipment replacements that qualify for Quick Permits (no plan review) will be expanded beyond like-for-like or emergency replacements. There are no permitting updates proposed for residential projects, including detached single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes, as all space heating and water heating permits are already issued as Quick Permits.

For the first time, contractors can obtain a Quick Permit to replace existing equipment with more efficient units, including upgrading gas-fired equipment to heat pumps. Eligible replacements now cover mechanical units with an input capacity of 300 MBH or less and water heaters below 200 MBH, whether gas-fired, electric resistance, or heat pump. Equipment replacements that include additional electrical load or new exterior equipment locations will not qualify for a Quick Permit and must be submitted as a Building Log for plan review. Previously a gas-to-heat-pump conversion required a plan review; this change reduces submittal requirements for qualifying equipment replacements and makes it easier to electrify space and water heating equipment and install higher-efficiency equipment.   

For projects that require plan review, the review process is being streamlined. These replacements will generally be handled as an Express Review, and for equipment replacements, Zoning, Landmark, and SUDP reviews are now being included into a single Express Review rather than routed through multiple separate review processes. Express Reviews have a two-day review timeline instead of the 10-day review timeline previously required. The online permit application has been updated to support this expanded scope of work eligible for Quick Permits. If a project doesn't qualify for a Quick Permit, applicants can continue the application without restarting, which will then be used to create Building Log application for Express Review. Together, these updates expand the number of replacements that qualify as Quick Permits, shorten review times, and support the shift toward more energy-efficient building equipment across Denver!

Details can be found in the Commercial Building Equipment Replacement Guide and on the Quick Permits webpage. If you have questions about a specific project, please email mechplumb.review@denvergov.org.

Explore the interactive

Climate Resilient Plant List tool

Built in partnership with Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Resilient Landscapes team created the Climate Resilient Plant List. The interactive plant list tool allows you to search for Denver compatible, climate resilient plants. Each entry draws on the expertise of horticulturists from Denver Botanic Gardens who understand which species genuinely thrive in Denver's semi-arid climate and heavy clay soils. Curious what is low water use and bird friendly? Use the tool to filter and find what best suits your needs. Whether you're planning a new garden bed or replacing thirsty turf, the list makes it easy to build a landscape that's both beautiful and better suited to Denver's climate.

Newly updated Energize Denver Navigation Center now live

On August 27, CASR adopted final rules and regulations for the Energize Denver Building Performance Policy, implementing the ordinance amendments City Council approved earlier this year. To help buildings navigate these options, CASR has launched a new, streamlined Energize Denver Navigation Center. The Navigation Center is a single platform where building owners, managers and service providers can:

• Access compliance tools and resources
• Plan for different phases of the compliance process
• Find financial and implementation support
• Connect with trained service providers
• Get the compliance information they need

Check out the Navigation Center to get the guides, tools and support to help you meet your energy efficiency requirements.

Far Northwest Area Plan

Berkeley, Regis/Inspiration Point, Sloan's Lake and West Highland  

We are excited to kick off the planning for the Far Northwest Area Plan this week with the first public event tomorrow, Sept. 24. Residents, business owners, and other community members in the Far Northwest Area will have the opportunity to help shape the future of their neighborhoods. This effort will help create a shared vision for the future of the area’s land use, housing, transportation, parks, recreation, and social spaces. 

Want to get involved? Sign up for the Far Northwest Area Plan email updates or submit a general comment through our form.

Get caught up on last month's news >>

• Since City Council approved the site development plan (SDP) extension ordinance on May 4, 2026, CPD has started to see its impact on projects across the city. The numbers tell a clear story: The extension has ensured that multiple projects that might have stalled now have the opportunity to move forward. The zoning code update gave all SDPs approved before 2026 an additional three years to obtain building permits, extending the period of validity for SDPs approved on or before Dec. 31, 2025 to 66 months from their approval date. As a result of this extension, nearly 6,300 residential units were kept in motion that otherwise risked delay or loss altogether.

• CPD put into place new and improved rules that aim to find solutions faster and more efficiently for dilapidated buildings and troublesome empty lots across the city. Changes include updated criteria, stricter fines and a new enforcement process to identify and address neglected and derelict properties (NADP), reflecting the city’s ongoing commitment to protecting the safety, prosperity, health and welfare of all residents.

• In 2022, 70 percent of Denver voters approved the Waste No More ballot initiative, a community-led effort to expand recycling and diversion from landfills. The initiative was updated as the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance (URCO) with new timelines and better guidance about how to put the rules into place. The new ordinance went into effect Sept. 1, 2026, which means building construction and demolition projects will be required to divert debris from a project for recycling or reuse.

• CPD released an updated Commercial Building Permit Guide. The revised guide reflects all currently adopted building codes in Denver and provides clear descriptions of the permitting process and the documentation required to obtain commercial building permits for all types of construction.

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.

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