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+ News from Denver CPD that may impact building and development projects

| | News from Community Planning and Development (CPD) | |
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In this issue
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SDP extension impact
- New rules for neglected and derelict properties
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Discover Denver building survey’s findings map
- Denver's Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance
- Updated Commercial Building Permit Guide
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Denver Energy Code update
- New electric standards
- Quick Permits for HVAC and water heater replacements
- Neighborhood planning updates
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SDP extension: three months of impact
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.
By the numbers:
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29 projects with previously approved SDPs are continuing progress on their building permits. As a result, roughly 5,400 residential units are now in the pipeline instead of stalled.
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Five projects have secured their building permits, enabling the construction of 515 residential units across Council Districts 1, 3, 7, 10 and 11.
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Four projects, covering 340 residential units, have requested an additional 180-day extension on their building permits.
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One project that had expired before the extension took effect has resumed activity thanks to the ordinance, resulting in an additional 12 residential units.
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New rules in place for neglected and derelict properties | | |
Starting this month, CPD is putting 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.
What happens after a property is designated?
Under the updated regulations, owners are now required to attend a pre-application meeting with CPD within 30 days of designation to review the violations, discuss any relevant site conditions and identify a path toward remediation. The city encourages owners to reach an approved remedial plan during this meeting, which establishes agreed-upon timelines, benchmarks and interim maintenance requirements.
Updated penalties and fines for non-compliance
Property owners who fail to comply with an order of designation, miss the required pre-application meeting or fail to properly maintain and secure a designated property will now face administrative citations of $5,000 per violation. CPD will continue issuing citations until the owner begins complying with city orders.
How to report a neglected property
To report a neglected property in your neighborhood, dial 3-1-1, text "hello" to 439311 (HEY311) or visit 311 City Services to submit requests or report issues digitally.
Residents and property owners can find full details on the updated regulations on CPD’s neglected and derelict property webpage.
| | Find your property on the Discover Denver findings map | |
Haven’t checked out the Discover Denver findings map yet? This tool allows you to search for a Denver building by address or explore buildings in a specific neighborhood. The map provides a photo of the property taken during the survey, information about the estimated year the building was built, its original and current use, the number of stories, its form or architectural style, its roof form, and its primary cladding material. Several addresses in each survey area will include detailed information about the building’s history. You will also find a link to the neighborhood history from the survey report listed under each property. It’s a great way to learn more about your city and your neighborhood through its buildings.
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What contractors and homeowners need to know about Denver's Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance | | |
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 will go into effect starting Sept. 1, 2026, which means building construction and demolition projects will be required to divert debris from a project for recycling or reuse.
What projects does this apply to?
URCO applies to most building construction and demolition projects, including new construction, additions or demolition projects larger than 500 square feet and interior remodels larger than 2,500 square feet.
What’s required?
Starting Sept. 1, new applications for many building residential and commercial construction and demolition permits must:
- Submit a Waste Diversion Plan and pay a fully refundable performance security deposit before a permit is issued.
- Divert at least 50 percent of debris by weight from three covered materials through recycling or reuse.*
- Document compliance when the project is done.
*The city recognizes that meeting the diversion requirements may not be possible for all projects. Therefore, applicants may request modified diversion requirements due to site-specific conditions and reductions in the performance security deposit due to economic hardship..
Next steps
If you are a contractor who works on residential or commercial building construction or demolition projects in Denver, you may already be aware of some of the upcoming requirements. If you aren’t, here is information to familiarize yourself with the requirements:
CPD is committed to helping applicants and permit holders understand these requirements so that all projects can be successful in diverting waste from landfills and receive the full security deposit refund at the completion of a project. As such, we’ll be making additional guidance document resources available as the Sept.1 effective date approaches.
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Updated Commercial Building Permit Guide available online
CPD has released an updated Commercial Building Permit Guide. The revised guide reflects all currently adopted building codes in the City and County of Denver and provides clear descriptions of the permitting process and the documentation required to obtain commercial building permits for all types of construction.
The guide includes revised checklists for permit applications, helping applicants ensure they have all necessary information before submitting. It also features guidance for specific types of work, such as excavation, phased construction, and other specialized project types.
Additionally, the update incorporates information on new ordinances, including the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance (URCO), along with links to webpages where you can learn more.
| | Committee hearings on Energy Code amendment proposals begin this month | | |
After months of work, the eight technical subcommittees for the Denver Energy Code Update have completed their review and have advanced 36 proposed amendments to the Residential and Commercial committees for consideration. Next, the committees will consider the proposals at virtual public hearings taking place in August, September and October.
Visit DenverGov.org/ EnergyCodeUpdate for the complete hearing schedule, to view meeting materials and to sign up to speak at a hearing.
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New electric standards adopted on August 1
On Aug. 1, 2026, the State of Colorado adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC). Effective Aug. 1, 2026, all new project submittals to CPD must comply with the 2026 NEC. Project submitted for plan review prior to August 1, 2026 are permitted to utilize the 2023 NEC as the basis of design. Questions may be directed to electrical.review@denvergov.org.
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Quick Permits expanding for HVAC and water heater replacements
Coming mid-September, equipment replacement applications allowed to be Quick Permits will be expanded. Updates will allow HVAC equipment under 300MBH and water heating equipment under 200MBH to be replaced with higher efficiency heat pumps without plan review when there are no new electrical load and exterior equipment is replaced in the same location. In the meantime, Commercial Building Permit Guide is available for permitting today and will be updated with the changes in September.
| | Neighborhood planning updates | | |
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 with the first public event. Save the date, RSVP today and plan to attend the kickoff on 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.
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Community Kick-off for Far Northwest Area Plan
- Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026
- Resource fair: 5:30-6 p.m.
- Public meeting: 6-8 p.m.
- North High School cafeteria, 2960 N. Speer Blvd., Denver
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Burnham Yard Small Area Plan
We’d like to thank everyone who joined us for the Aug. 12 community open house at the La Alma Recreation Center. If you were unable to attend the event and want to provide feedback, we invite you to fill out the online survey. The purpose of this survey is to collect input on the community’s priorities for implementation, gather feedback on draft policies and identify additional ideas that should be included in the plan. The input collected in this survey will be used to inform the small area plan’s public review draft and corresponding implementation plan, which will be available for public review and comment in the fall of 2026. Open house meeting materials are available for your review on the CPD Burnham Yard website. Sign up for Burnham Yard emails to receive information on the latest project updates, upcoming meetings and surveys, and ways to provide your ideas.
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ICYMI: Recaps from
our last newsletter
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Get caught up on last month's news >>
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Interested in how much housing the city’s Affordable Housing Fund has made possible? CPD staff, in partnership with the Office of Housing Stability, shared two dashboards providing up-to-date statistics on the number of market-rate and income‑restricted units created through the ordinance.
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The home of two transformative Denver leaders has become the city’s newest historic landmark following a City Council vote on Monday, June 22. Landmark Preservation staff from CPD presented the owner-supported designation application for the home of the Honorable Wilma J. Webb and Mayor Wellington E. Webb at 2339 N. Gaylord St. as part of a public hearing.
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Starting June 29, a “Revocable Review” was added to Building LOG applications if the drawings show proposed site elements or structures (e.g., patios, fences, stairs and roof overhangs) in the public right-of-way (ROW). During this review, the ROW Encroachment team will inform customers if a separate permit application is required. Visit the ROW and General Permits website and select Encroachments for more information on permit and submittal requirements.
| | 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. | | | | |
