In this issue:

• What's new at the Denver Permitting Office
• Look up average plan review times before you submit
• Updates about Denver's Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance
• CPD staff among Denver Peak Awards winners
• Zoning bundle grace period has closed and other process reminders

In the five months since Mayor Mike Johnston signed Executive Order 151 to create the Denver Permitting Office (DPO), Director Jill Jennings Golich and her team have been working diligently to develop systems that improve customer service, break down barriers for residents and developers trying to build housing or open businesses in the city, and deliver on the commitment to get submittals completed within 180 days of time in the city's hands. This newsletter will periodically report out on key innovations and milestones achieved as the DPO coordinates the multi-agency work that goes into development review and permitting in Denver. Read on for the latest . . .

Public dashboard to track 180 days is coming soon. The DPO has created a dashboard to track the 180-day timeline that went into effect May 14, 2025, as part of Executive Order 151. A public facing version for customers to use will be shared in the coming weeks at www.denvergov.org/DPO. In the meantime, if you would like to check on where your project is on the timeline, email dpo@denvergov.org and include the record identification number (such as 2024-LOG-0000001).

Need to get in touch with someone about your project? DPO's Counter Operations Plan is now in effect. Plan review staff across multiple departments—CPD, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), the Denver Fire Department (DFD), the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE), and Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR)—are now available on-call in person or virtually Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Webb Municipal Building 2nd floor counter.

Customers are highly encouraged to schedule appointments, which are available for the following city departments.

• Community Planning and Development - In-person and virtual appointments are available Tuesday and Thursday mornings and can be made online for:
• Commercial zoning
• Single and two-unit dwelling (residential) building and zoning
• Permit intake/E-Permits assistance
• Commercial/Solar PV electrical
• Commercial & Multi-family architectural, structural, access control & townhomes
• Commercial mechanical and plumbing

• Denver Public Health and Environment - The Public Health Investigations team is available for virtual appointments Monday through Friday between 8 a.m.- and 2 p.m. To request an appointment, email DPHEplanreview@denvergov.org and include contact information, description of the project, questions needing answered and dates/times available for the appointment.

• Denver Parks and Recreation - The Office of the City Forester offers appointments for development, visit the office's webpage to contact staff for an appointment.  

• Excise and Licenses - Customers are advised to make appointments online for all license transactions. Appointments are available both virtually and in-person.

Fact sheets provide details on recycling and composting ordinance requirements

Denver City Council last month approved updates to Denver’s Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance, known on the ballot as "Waste No More," which was originally authored by community groups and passed by 70 percent of Denver voters in 2022. The ordinance aims to conserve natural resources across all sectors of the city by requiring recycling and composting services at multi-family residential buildings, food businesses, and events, as well as recycling at non-residential buildings and for construction and demolition projects. The updates explain who the rules apply to and what is required, making it easier for the city to work with entities as they achieve compliance.

With this step, Denver will now move forward with developing rules, administrative guidance, and education to support businesses, organizations, and community members who will be impacted by the changes, ahead of the September 1, 2026 enforcement date. To help everyone prepare, the Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) has created a series of fact sheets that summarize the ordinance updates and highlight what compliance will look like. These materials are designed to make the requirements easier to understand and to support smooth implementation. We encourage you to download and share the fact sheets with your networks.

• Multi-Family Residential Buildings - Property Owners, Managers, Associations and Residential Rental Licensees
• Apartment and Condo Renters and Owners
• Non-Residential Buildings - Building Owners, Associations and Property Managers
• Construction and Demolition Projects - Permit Holders (Contractors and Property Owners)
• Permitted Events - Permit Holders
• Food Waste Producers - Licensed Food Businesses, Building Owners and Property Managers

In December 2024, City Council adopted a ‘bundle’ of text amendments to the Denver Zoning Code, which went into effect February 25, 2025. Applications before that date were given the option to continue their review under the December 2024 Code if they obtained zoning permits by October 17, 2025.

If your application was submitted under the December 2024 zoning code but did not get approved before the October 17 deadline, a new review will be required under the current version of the Denver Zoning Code for portions of the project that might be affected by the amendments.

More information about the 2024 Zoning Code Amendments can be found on the zoning bundle web page. 

Reminders of other recent process changes:

• Landmark Preservation design review applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness, applications for Landmark demolition review, and Certificate of Demolition Eligibility applications must now be submitted on E-permits.



• Rezoning pre-applications (the first step in the process) and formal applications must be submitted through E-permits. Complete instructions are available on the Rezoning Process page.

Get caught up on last month's news >>

• If you are doing due diligence research on a property, you don't need to submit a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). Many building records are available for direct access on E-permits. To download them, register for an account and sign in. Go to the "Development Services" tab, search building permit records either by date, record type, address, or specific record number. From any record that has an issued permit, use the "Attachments" feature under "Record Info" to download a copy of the permit. Visit DenverGov.org/epermits more information.

• Updated checklists to support Denver Energy Code compliance are available at DenverGov.org/EnergyCode. Because the 2025 Denver Energy Code is similar to the 2022 Denver Energy Code, the commercial and residential energy checklists were recently updated to cover both code versions. The Energy Code checklists are continuously maintained. Be sure to download and use the latest version for your project.

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 © 2024 City and County of Denver. All Rights Reserved.