Welcome to the Denver Permitting Office! The departments responsible for plan review, permitting, inspections and licensing manage all development on private property and the adjacent right-of-way within the City and County of Denver. The city's development system is a complex network of functions across various city departments and external partners. The Denver Permitting Office seeks to improve the collaboration with our customers across all of the city departments involved to ensure a smooth process for our customers from homeowners, developers, tenants, and contractors.
We're here to help. Use the information in this guide to navigate the process based on customer type (owners, contractors, developers and small businesses).
- Plan Review: Checking of zoning, building (architectural/structural plans), electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire, sewer use and drainage (SUDP), right of way (ROW) and civil engineering drawings for code compliance.
- Permitting: Authorizing qualified businesses and individuals to begin construction work.
- Inspections: Field staff (inspectors) check all work that required a permit.
- Licensing: Authorizing some businesses and specific uses to operate.
Select one of the identifying roles in the process and we'll take you to the information you need
City departments involved in the plan review, permitting, inspections and licensing process
Community Planning and Development (CPD) – CPD guides the city’s growth through long range and neighborhood planning, landmark preservation and conducts plan review, permitting and inspections for compliance with building and zoning codes, the Green Buildings Ordinance, historic preservation and urban design standards and guidelines.
Department Of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) – DOTI manages the public right-of-way (including permitting for state highways owned or managed by the Colorado Department of Transportation), storm and sanitary sewer infrastructure and storm draining, floodplain, addressing, ROW encroachment permitting, ROW vacations, easement relinquishments, utility plan review and solid waste services.
Denver Fire Department (DFD) – DFD conducts plan review and inspections for compliance with the Denver Fire Code, and issues operational and special event permits.
Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) – As Denver’s local public health department, DDPHE conducts a full plan review for all food/beverage facilities, cannabis facilities, pools/spas/hot tubs/cold plunges/splash pads, and childcare facilities undergoing a change of use, new construction or an extensive remodel. DDPHE also ensures compliance with Executive Order 100 related to property being dedicated to the city (for parks, right-of-way, utilities, etc.).
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR), which includes the – DPR manages Denver’s public parks and parkways and provides recreation services. There are two key teams within DPR engaged in development review:
Parks Planning is responsible for reviewing projects when development is adjacent to designated city parks and parkways or will include future publicly accessible open space.
Office of the City Forester (OCF) is responsible for the maintenance of public trees within parks and designated parkways, along with oversight of privately maintained trees per Municipal Code, Chapter 57, and the overall quality of Denver’s urban tree canopy, which includes inspections and plan review for compliance with city ordinance, rules and regulations, and best management practices.
Excise and Licenses (EXL) – EXL issues licenses to certain businesses and uses (such as liquor, marijuana and short-term rentals)
Department of Housing Stability (HOST) – Denver’s Housing Department who reviews projects for compliance with Denver’s Expanding Housing Affordability requirements when ten or more residential units are provided.
Climate Action Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) – CASR is eliminating pollution and building an economy that benefits all of Denver’s communities. CASR is responsible for reviewing electrification feasibility reports related to the partial electrification requirements, and supporting the Energize Denver Performance and Benchmarking requirements.
External partners