Denver's Green Buildings Ordinance (DRMC §10-300) and the 2022 Energy Code amendments require most new and reroofed buildings over 25,000 square feet to install cool, green, or solar-ready roofs that meet ENERGY STAR reflectance and emittance standards.
Denver's Green Buildings Ordinance, originally Initiative 300 (2017) and updated by City Council in 2018 and 2022, mandates that new construction and full reroof projects on existing buildings 25,000 square feet or larger choose from a menu including a cool roof plus solar, a green vegetated roof, on-site renewable energy, off-site renewables, or energy-efficiency packages tied to ASHRAE 90.1. The 2022 Denver Energy Code amendments further tightened roof reflectivity, requiring three-year aged solar reflectance index ratings on most low-slope roofs. Community Planning & Development (CPD) reviews building permits, and the Office of Climate Action verifies compliance reports. Smaller buildings are encouraged but not required to use reflective materials.
Permits will not be issued, and certificates of occupancy can be withheld, until the green-buildings compliance pathway is documented. Failure to complete the chosen pathway can trigger DRMC §10 stop-work orders and corrective work.
Denver, CO
Denver's Game Plan for a Healthy City and the Office of Climate Action target heat-island reduction through a 30% citywide tree-canopy goal, cool-roof rules,...
Denver, CO
Denver's Green Buildings Ordinance (Initiative 300, 2017; amended 2018 and 2022) requires buildings 25,000 square feet or larger to choose a sustainable path...
See how Denver's cool roof requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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