Urban Design, Design Review, Design Standards and Guidelines

Zoning provides quantitative requirements to ensure proper placement, height, bulk and use of structures throughout the city. In designated design review districts throughout the city, development is also reviewed using discretionary design standards and guidelines to help ensure compatibility with a special context or to promote unique design objectives.

Design standards and guidelines, and associated design review processes, may be recommended in a small area plan. They are frequently established through the general development plan process, context-specific zone districts, zoning overlays or adoption of new rules and regulations. The Landmark Preservation design review process is established through the designation of a property as a historic landmark or as part of a historic district. Refer to the Development Services map to see what locations are included in a design review district.

Design Review Boards

In some design review districts, an appointed board conducts design review using adopted design standards and guidelines. In others, city staff conduct design review, or a community group conducts design review and makes recommendations to developers or city staff. Denver Community Planning and Development currently staffs the following design review boards:

Downtown Design Advisory Board

Uses the Downtown Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 39MB) to review proposed development in the Arapahoe Square, CPV-Auraria District and Golden Triangle areas of downtown.

Visit the Downtown Design Advisory Board page for more information.

Cherry Creek North Design Advisory Board

Uses the Design Standards and Guidelines for Cherry Creek North(PDF, 42MB) to review proposed projects in Cherry Creek North.

Visit the Cherry Creek North Design Advisory Board for more information.

Denver Planning Board

Uses the Denver Union Station Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 14MB) to review new construction on the station site, as well as exterior alternations to the historic station building and uses the Commons Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 49MB) to review proposed projects in the Commons area northwest of Union station. (Note: The Landmark Preservation Commission also conducts review at Union Station.)

Download the Planning Board design review submittal requirements(PDF, 151KB) for projects proposed in the Commons, and Denver Union Station.
Visit the Planning Board page.

Landmark Preservation Commission

Uses the Design Standards and Guidelines for Denver Landmark Structures and Districts(PDF, 24MB) to review and approve the designs of proposed exterior alterations, additions to buildings, new construction, signs, and non-vegetative site work for properties located within the boundaries of an historic district or for a designated a Denver landmark.

Visit the Landmark Preservation Commission web page for more information.

Lower Downtown Design Review Commission

Uses the Design Guidelines for the Lower Downtown Historic District(PDF, 15MB) to review projects in the Lower Downtown Historic District, including alternations to structures that have architectural, historical, or geographical significance.

Visit the Lower Downtown Design Review Commission page for more information.

Design Standards and Guidelines

View and download the guidelines

9th and Colorado Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 30MB) - 2012
B5 Downtown Zoning Guidelines(PDF, 965KB) - 1995
Belleview Station Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 7MB) - 2007, Amended in 2019
Broadway Station Development Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 8MB) - 2016, Amended in 2020
Capitol Hill/Uptown - R4/OD-1(PDF, 842KB) - 1999
Central Park Design Guidelines(PDF, 1MB) - 1999, Updated in 2021
Cherry Creek North Design Guidelines(PDF, 42MB) - 2012, Amended in 2024
Civic Center Design Guidelines(PDF, 15MB) - 2009
Colorado Center Design Guidelines(PDF, 3MB) - 2008
Commercial Corridors(PDF, 480KB) - 2005
The Commons(PDF, 49MB) - 2011
Denargo Market Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 31MB) - 2020
Denver Design District GDP Urban Design Standards and Guidelines - 2017 (PDF) - Proposed for amendment in June 2025. See public hearing information below.
Denver Gateway Standards and Guidelines - 1999 (updated 2013) (PDF)
Denver Union Station - Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 14MB) - 2009
- Includes Denver Union Station view corridor
Downtown Urban Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 39MB) - 2021, Amended in 2023.
- Apply to Denver Zoning Code D-AS-12+, D-AS-20+, D-CPV-T, D-CPV-R, D-CPV-C, D-GT, or Former Chapter 59 B-8-G zone districts (Arapahoe Square, Central Platte Valley-Auraria and Golden Triangle).
The Emily Griffith Opportunity School Design Standards & Guidelines(PDF, 4MB) - 2016
Five Points Historic Cultural District Design Standards & Guidelines(PDF, 13MB) - 2016
Gates East - Lionstone Design Guidelines(PDF, 5MB) - 2007
National Wester Center Design Standards and Guidelines(PDF, 15MB) - 2020
Outdoor Places Private Property Design Guidelines(PDF, 12MB) - 2023
Streetscape Design Manual(PDF, 2MB) - 1993
Uptown – R-4-X Design Guidelines(PDF, 574KB) - 1997
Waldram Diagrams(PDF, 216KB)

Proposed Amendments to Existing Design Standards and Guidelines

Cherry Creek

Community Planning and Development is updating the current Design Standards and Guidelines for Cherry Creek to include the Cherry Creek West redevelopment in the document's purview. A public hearing was held on the proposed amendments Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. The design standards and guidelines document will be updated soon to reflect the amendments.

Download and review the proposed amendments(PDF, 8MB)

Denver Design District / Broadway Park

Community Planning and Development is updating the Denver Design District GDP Urban Design Standards and Guidelines. The purpose of the update is to reflect recent changes in the updated infrastructure master plan for this area, and make minor updates and clarifications to urban design standards and guidelines applicable throughout the area where they apply. A public hearing will be held to consider these changes on June 16, 2025.

Download and review the proposed amendments(PDF, 46MB)

Public Hearing Information

3:30 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2025
Webb Municipal Building, Room 4.F.6 / 4.G.2
201 W Colfax Avenue, Denver

• Submit comments in writing to Matthew.Bossler@Denvergov.org by 3:30 p.m., June 16, 2025. Comments may also be mailed to Community Planning and Development at 201 W. Colfax Department 205, Denver, CO 80202 no later than 3:30 p.m., June 13, 2025. Any written comments received will be distributed to the executive director of Community Planning and Development.

• Anyone who wishes to present oral or written comments at the public rule-making hearing must give notice in writing addressed to Matthew Bossler, Senior City Planner – Urban Design and sent via email to Matthew.Bossler@Denvergov.org, or in person to Community Planning and Development at 201 W. Colfax Department 205, Denver, CO 80202. Notices must be received no later than 3:30 p.m., June 13, 2025.

If you use assistive technology and would like to access the content in the PDF documents on this page, please contact cpdcommunications@denvergov.org.