Denver's Green Buildings Ordinance (Initiative 300, 2017; amended 2018 and 2022) requires buildings 25,000 square feet or larger to choose a sustainable pathway: green or cool roof, on-site solar, off-site renewables, or energy efficiency tied to ASHRAE 90.1 plus Energize Denver targets.
Initiative 300, approved by Denver voters in November 2017 and amended by City Council Ordinance 18-1245 (2018) and the 2022 Energy Code update, requires both new construction and roof replacement projects on buildings 25,000 square feet or larger to comply with one of several green pathways. Choices include a green vegetated roof, a cool roof plus solar PV, off-site renewable purchase, ASHRAE 90.1 efficiency package, or LEED Gold certification. Energize Denver Performance Requirements (DRMC §4-32) layer on top, requiring large existing buildings to meet declining ENERGY STAR or site-EUI targets through 2030, with escalating per-square-foot fines. Community Planning & Development reviews permits and CASR verifies long-term compliance.
Permits and certificates of occupancy are withheld until the green pathway is documented. Energize Denver missed targets trigger Notice of Violation plus per-square-foot penalties scaling to roughly $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot.
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