Landmark Preservation Design Guidelines Update

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Thank you to everyone who participated in the community meetings, completed our online survey, and reviewed the public draft of the updated windows and doors guidelines and of the introductory chapter of the design guidelines. Landmark Preservation staff sincerely appreciate your time and thoughtful input. Your feedback played a key role in shaping the draft updates and will continue to guide us as we finalize the guidelines. Your insights help ensure that the updated design guidelines reflect community values and support effective, preservation-focused outcomes.

The Landmark Preservation Commission is reviewing the draft document during discussion items at regularly scheduled Commission meetings this fall and winter. We anticipate adoption by the Landmark Preservation Commission at a public hearing on January 20, 2026. Please continue to check this page for updates and consider subscribing to our newsletter to stay informed about the review process and future opportunities for engagement.

Windows & Doors

Landmark staff drafted the updated windows guidelines to allow greater flexibility for window and door replacements on Denver’s historic properties and to ensure character-defining features are preserved. Under the proposed design guidelines, most historic windows and doors could be replaced provided they are not character windows or a front façade door.

Character windows and doors are a window anywhere on a building or a front façade door that is part of the architectural identity of a building or representative of a certain architectural style or type. Character windows and doors date to the period of significance for the historic district or individual landmark, are distinctive, and are integral features of the building’s design. The proposed design guidelines also provide better guidance for alterations to window openings, egress windows, and greater flexibility on materials in some cases.

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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Thank you to everyone who attended our community meetings and shared their feedback on design guidelines for ADUs. Landmark staff have reviewed your input and are drafting updated design guidelines, which will be shared for public review in late 2025. Landmark staff put together an informational video series about ADUs, linked below. These videos provide important background and context on what ADUs are and the process for building one in Denver’s historic districts.

Video 1: Introduction to ADUs

Video 2: ADUs and Tandem Houses

Video 3: Density in Historic Districts and Zoning Updates

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FAQs

What are Design Guidelines?

Design Guidelines help architects, contractors, and owners of individual landmarks and properties in historic districts design sensitive alterations that protect the historic, architectural, or cultural features that make the property significant. The design guidelines serve as the rules and regulations that Landmark Preservation staff and the Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) use to evaluate proposed changes. The guidelines are based on the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the treatment of historic properties while expanding on the basic rehabilitation principles with a specific focus on Denver. Learn more about the design guidelines and the design review process for landmark properties and districts in Denver.

Why are you updating the Design Guidelines?

How are you incorporating community input?

Why is this process taking several years?

Landmark staff wants to ensure that we receive ample community input on the design guidelines each step of the way. In addition, we are drafting updates to the design guidelines ourselves, without consultant assistance, and must find time to fit this in while also reviewing the nearly two thousand design review applications that we receive each year.

How can I provide comments?

About the project

The Design Guidelines for Denver Landmark Structures and Districts(PDF, 24MB) were initially developed through a public process from 2012 to 2014, with a minor update in January 2016. Due to evolving needs and the desire for greater flexibility, Landmark Preservation staff and the LPC recognize that the design guidelines need a comprehensive update. Changes to the Design Guidelines for Denver Landmark Structures and Districts must be adopted by the Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) through a public rule-making process.

The design guideline update will be divided into four phases with each phase anticipated to take 12-24 months. Each phase will include community meetings and input, public review of draft updates, and a public hearing and vote by Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission.

Note: The design guideline update does not affect customized design guidelines written for specific historic districts, including Civic Center Historic District, Country Club Gardens Historic District, Country Club Historic District, Five Points Historic Cultural District, La Alma Lincoln Park, and the Lower Downtown Historic District.