Denver, CO Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Health & Environment
- Core duty
- Safe and sanitary maintenance (§ 27-21)
- Inspection refused
- County court can issue warrant (§ 27-26)
- Severe cases
- Placard as unfit, order to vacate (§ 27-28)
- Governing law
- DRMC Ch. 27, Article II, Housing Code
Summary
Denver's Housing Code makes it unlawful to occupy or rent out any dwelling unit that isn't maintained in a safe and sanitary condition, with minimum standards set for equipment, light, heating, and pest control.
It is unlawful for any person to occupy and for any owner or operator of a dwelling or dwelling unit to allow any person to occupy any dwelling or dwelling unit that is not maintained in a safe and sanitary manner. The board shall adopt and the manager promulgate rules and regulations that establish safety and sanitary standards applicable to all dwellings and dwelling units as necessary to protect public health and the safety of the people and promote the general welfare.
(Ord. No. 997-95, § 1, 12-4-95; Ord. No. 500, § 6, 9-17-07)
Sec. 27-21.5. - Disconnecting required utility services prohibited. It is unlawful for an owner, operator, manager, or other person in charge or control of any service, facility, equipment, or utility that is required by this article to take any action or fail to take any action that results in such service, facility, equipment, or utility being removed from, shut off, or disconnected from any occupied dwelling or dwelling unit.
(Ord. No. 997-95, § 1, 12-4-95; Ord. No. 500, § 7, 9-17-07)
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
Under DRMC Article II (Housing Code), owners and operators must keep every dwelling unit safe and sanitary (§ 27-21) and meet minimum standards for kitchens, bathrooms, rubbish/garbage storage, and water heating (§ 27-19), plus light, ventilation, heating, and insect/rodent control (§ 27-20). The manager of public health and environment can inspect dwellings (§ 27-26), and if entry is refused may get a county court warrant compelling access. Violations trigger notice-and-correction orders enforced under Chapter 2, Article XII (§ 27-27), and units posing an imminent health hazard can be designated unfit for habitation, placarded, and ordered vacated (§ 27-28).
Violations & Fines
Manager issues a notice of violation and can assess civil penalties and corrective-action orders under Chapter 2, Article XII; units found unfit for habitation can be placarded and occupants ordered to vacate, with demolition possible if hazards go uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who enforces habitability standards in Denver?
What happens if a landlord ignores a violation notice?
Sources & Official References
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