Denver, CO Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Reviewing body
- 9-member Landmark Preservation Commission
- Age threshold
- 30+ years old, or exceptional importance
- Designation standard
- 3 of 10 significance criteria
- Commission deadline
- 45 days after hearing
- Appeal route
- Denver District Court
Summary
Denver's Landmark Preservation Commission designates structures or districts as landmarks if they retain integrity, are over 30 years old (or exceptionally important), and meet 3 of 10 significance criteria under DRMC Chapter 30.
A structure or district may be designated for preservation if, due to its significance, it meets the criteria listed in subsections (1), (2) and (3) below: (1)The structure or district maintains its integrity;(2)The structure or district is more than thirty (30) years old, or is of exceptional importance; and(3)The structure or district meets at least three (3) of the following ten (10) criteria:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Any owner, a city council member, the Community Planning and Development executive director, or three Denver residents may apply to designate a structure or district for preservation. The nine-member Landmark Preservation Commission holds a public hearing and must act within 45 days; if it recommends approval, city council holds its own hearing and designates by ordinance. Once designated, exterior alterations, additions, and demolitions require a certificate of appropriateness from the commission, and a pending designation application blocks demolition permits for the property until the commission or council acts on it.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 30 or disobeying a commission order or ruling is unlawful and subject to the code's penalties; the commission can also order an unlawfully altered or demolished structure returned to its prior condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a building become a Denver landmark?
Can I alter or demolish a designated landmark?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado historic preservation overview
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