Building Safety in Denver, CO (2026)
8 verified building safety rules for Denver, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Denver landlords and sellers must comply with federal EPA lead paint disclosure requirements for all pre-1978 housing. Colorado Real Estate Commission forms LP46 and LP48 are used for lead disclosures in rental and sales transactions. Renovation work disturbing lead paint in pre-1978 buildings must be performed by EPA-certified firms under the RRP Rule.
Denver Lead-Based Paint Disclosure and Safety Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsColorado Real Estate Commission Form LP46-6-21 (Mandatory 1-22)
LEAD-BASED PAINT DISCLOSURE (Rentals). WARNING! LEAD FROM PAINT, DUST, AND SOIL CAN BE DANGEROUS IF NOT MANAGED PROPERLY. Penalties for failure to comply with Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Laws include treble (3 times) damages, attorney fees, costs, and a base penalty up to $10,000 (plus adjustment for inflation) for each violation. Lead Warning Statement: Housing built before 1978 may co...
Childcare Center Rules
Denver requires a city license to operate any child care establishment, centers, homes, or residential facilities, with health department inspections and rules on sanitation and safety before a permit issues.
Denver Child Care Centers Must Be Licensed
Significant RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 11-3
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of operating a child care establishment without first obtaining a license to engage in such business as provided in this chapter. Federally funded and/or operated programs may be exempted. (Ord. No. 723-86, § 1, 10-27-86; Ord. No. 579-91, §§ 1, 2, 8-5-91; Ord. No. 998-95, § 1, 12-4-95; Ord. No. 1110-96, § 1, 12-16-96; Ord. No. 910...
Anti-Mansionization
Denver's zoning code requires new buildings to step back under a sloped bulk plane rising from the side zone lot lines, preventing boxy additions and oversized houses from towering over neighboring yards.
Denver Bulk Plane Limits Building Mass
Some RestrictionsDenver Zoning Code § 13.1.4.2
A. Intent To shape building forms to reduce effect of massing on adjoining properties. B. Rule of Measurement The bulk plane is measured starting from the Base Plane(s) established in Section 13.1.2.2, then rising vertically to a point (A) above the Base Plane(s) at the side zone lot lines for a distance established by the applicable building form standards. From this point above the Primary B...
Green Building Code
New buildings of 25,000+ square feet in Denver must install a cool roof plus green space, solar, or an equivalent green certification under the city's green building ordinance.
Denver Green Building Code for New Construction
Some RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 10-301(a)
an owner constructing a building containing twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet or greater of gross floor area who has not submitted a formal site development plan application with payment of all applicable fees by 4:30 pm on November 2, 2018 must provide the following green building requirements:(1)A cool roof; and(2)One (1) of the following options:a.Green space covering an area in one ...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Denver requires every dwelling unit in a licensed residential rental property to have a functioning carbon monoxide detector, smoke detector, and fire extinguisher.
Denver Rental Units Require CO Detectors
Some RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 27-195(c)
A residential rental property licensee shall ensure that all dwelling units within a residential rental property contain a functioning smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher.(d)A residential rental property licensee shall comply with section 27-240 herein.(e)A residential rental property licensee shall, to advertise a residential rental property, clearly display the lic...
Building Permits
Denver requires a Building Code Permit Application, reviewed by Community Planning and Development, for any alteration, enlargement, replacement or repair of a building: submitted electronically with complete construction documents through the city's permitting portal under the 2025 Denver Building Code.
Denver Renovation and Remodel Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 10-16(c)(1)-(2)
An application for a permit for the construction, alteration, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal, or demolition of a building or structure ("Building Code Permit Application") submitted to the department of community planning and development (CPD) for review after June 12, 2025 and on or before December 31, 2025 may continu...
Electrical Permits
Denver adopts the current National Electrical Code as modified by Colorado for all wiring work, and anyone building, altering, or repairing electrical systems must pull a permit through Community Planning and Development.
Denver Requires NEC-Compliant Electrical Permits
Some RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 10-17
The current National Electrical Code, as currently adopted by the State of Colorado or as is from time to time modified, re-enacted or re-adopted by the State of Colorado is hereby adopted as the electrical code of the City and County of Denver. (Ord. No. 363-04, § 3, 6-1-04; Ord. No. 316-11, § 1, 6-13-11; Ord. No. 377-18, § 1, 5-7-18; Ord. No. 1325-18, § 1, 12-3-18; Ord. No. 628-19, § 1, 7-...
Plumbing Permits
Denver adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code as part of its 2025 Denver Building Code, and plumbing work requires a permit reviewed by Community Planning and Development.
Denver Plumbing Code and Permits
Some RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 10-16(a)
(a) Denver building code. ...are hereby adopted as the 2025 Denver Building Code ("2025 DBC"): the International Building Code ("IBC"), International Fuel Gas Code ("IFGC"), International Mechanical Code ("IMC"), International Plumbing Code ("IPC"), International Existing Building Code ("IEBC"), and International Residential Code ("IRC"), all series 2024...