Tiny home rules in Denver County, CO — covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds — determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Denver allows tiny homes on permanent foundations as ADUs or primary dwellings following 2018 IRC Appendix Q (adopted by Denver). Tiny homes on wheels (THOW) classified as RVs — cannot be permanently occupied in residential zones.
Denver adopted 2018 IRC Appendix Q ('Tiny Houses'), which applies to dwelling units 400 square feet or less. Appendix Q allows reduced ceiling heights (6'8" main room, 6'4" bathrooms/loft), compact stairs, ladder access to lofts, and reduced emergency escape window requirements. Foundation-built tiny homes may qualify as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in zone districts that allow ADUs — expanded citywide under Denver's 2024 ADU ordinance and state HB 24-1152. Minimum dwelling unit size in the Denver Zoning Code is now 220 square feet for ADUs. Tiny homes on wheels (THOW) are classified as RVs or park trailers under Colorado law and cannot be used as permanent dwellings in residential zones — they may only be parked/stored per Denver's RV rules and occupied in licensed RV parks or temporarily (under 30 days) per DRMC. Utility connections, IRC foundation requirements, and Colorado energy code apply to site-built tiny homes.
THOW as permanent dwelling in residential zone: $150 to $999, required removal. Unpermitted tiny home: stop-work, retroactive permit. ADU without approval: code enforcement, correction required.
Denver County, CO
Denver DRMC Chapter 36 sets quiet hours 11 PM–7 AM in residential zones. Residential limit is 55 dBA daytime, 50 dBA nighttime. Violations can reach $5,000/day.
Denver County, CO
Denver has no outright ban on leaf blowers but phases in restrictions on gas-powered commercial landscape equipment. DRMC Chapter 36 noise limits apply, and ...
Denver County, CO
Denver requires driveways to meet setback and width standards. Blocking the public sidewalk is prohibited. Curb cuts require a permit from DOTI.
Denver County, CO
Denver limits large commercial vehicle parking on residential streets to 2 hours. A 2023 ordinance expanded restrictions citywide. Trucks used for active wor...
Denver County, CO
Denver requires a zoning permit for fences between 4–6 feet. Over-height (6+ ft) fences require an additional over-height fence permit. Historic properties r...
Denver County, CO
Colorado's Good Neighbor Fence Act (C.R.S. §35-46-112) applies. Denver does not mandate cost-sharing, but neighbors may negotiate. Disputes over boundary fen...
See how Denver County's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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