Apply for Landmark Design Review

Quick Review (for eligible projects):

A - Landmark staff will evaluate the completeness of your application. If necessary, staff will provide comments or request revisions.

B - If an application is found to be complete and meets the design guidelines, Landmark staff will issue an approval within a few business days.

Administrative Review (for eligible projects):

A - Landmark staff will evaluate the completeness of your application and perform a preliminary design guideline evaluation, generally within 10 business days. If necessary, staff will provide comments or request revisions.

B - If an application is found to be complete and meets the design guidelines, landmark staff will issue an approval within a few business days. Projects that are approved will be issued a certificate of appropriateness.

C- If a project cannot be approved administratively, Landmark staff will provide comments as to how it may be revised to meet the design guidelines or will let you know if it must be reviewed by the LPC or LDDRC. 

LPC or LDDRC Review:

The Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) reviews projects on individual landmarks and properties in historic districts except properties in the Lower Downtown Historic District, which are reviewed by the Lower Downtown Design Review Commission (LDDRC). Projects that require LPC or LDDRC review include:

• All additions that add more than 900 square feet or add more than 40% square footage to existing above grade square footage, whichever is less
• Projects readily visible from public vantage points, except fences and minor site work that meets the design guidelines
• Pop-top additions
• Roof-top additions with visibility from public vantage points, including enclosed and open space
• All new construction, including new primary structures, tandem houses, and new detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs),
  • Exception: One-story garages that meet design guidelines and are not visible from public vantage points do not require LPC or LDDRC review
• Changes to character-defining or visible doors, windows, porches and other historic features
• Major changes to historic materials
• Comprehensive sign plans
• Projecting shaped signs and upper story wall signs in the Lower Downtown Historic District
• Demolition of all primary structures, portions of a contributing structure, or contributing accessory structures
• Improvements to all city-owned property located in a historic district or an individual landmark site except projects that would normally qualify for a Landmark quick review
• Projects determined by landmark staff to not meet the design guidelines
• Administrative adjustments
• Zone lot amendments
• Sidewalk railings in the Lower Downtown Historic District

Process for LPC Design Review
Process for LDDRC Design Review

LPC or LDDRC review will result in one of the following:

• Approval - Landmark staff will issue a certificate of appropriateness within a few business days of the commission meeting

• Approval with conditions - Applicants must revise their project to comply with the conditions and must submit the final construction drawings to Landmark staff before a certificate of appropriateness will be issued.

• Continuation - Applicants must provide additional information as requested by the LPC or LDDRC and must return to the LPC or LDDRC for approval.

• Denial - Applicants must return to the LPC or LDDRC with a revised submittal that addresses the LPC's or LDDRC's comments.

Once the project has been approved by Landmark staff, or by the LPC or LDDRC, Landmark staff will issue a certificate of appropriateness (COA) and stamp the drawings.

The certificate of appropriateness and Landmark-approved application must accompany all plans and materials submitted to Development Services when applying for building or zoning permits. If permit drawings differ from the Landmark-approved plans, Landmark staff must evaluate the scale of the changes and whether the revisions meet the design guidelines. If they do, the COA will be revised the Landmark staff. However, if the differences are substantial or the changes do not meet the design guidelines, the project may need to return to the LPC or LDDRC. During inspection, the completed project must match the work shown on the Landmark-approved permit set.

Please coordinate with landmark staff if any changes need to be made to the project’s design during permitting or construction.

What to expect from your Landmark inspection:

• The Landmark and Zoning inspector will check to see if the work complies with the Denver Zoning Code, the Landmark Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) and the permit plans. 
  • NOTE: Any changes made after your plans have been approved  must be submitted for review and approval again. Changes made without Landmark approval will cause your inspection to be denied.
  • If you have questions about Landmark inspections for your project, please schedule a "Landmark Pre-Construction Meeting"

Landmark inspection tips:

• Changes to design, dimensions, and/or materials (including trim work, windows, doors, etc.) will require an additional review and approval from Landmark.
• Landmark must approve the removal, replacement, or infill of doors and windows.
• If required by zoning, make sure the approved landscaping isn't dead or missing.
• Make sure the types of materials you've selected are allowed to be used.
  • Examples of materials not allowed: compressed artificial wood, T-111 siding, skim-coat or two-coat stucco systems, siding or trim with faux-wood grain, vinyl windows, and internal muntins in glazing.
• Make sure all work complies with the Denver Zoning Code.
• Make sure to obtain all required Landmark approvals, as well as building and/or zoning permits. 
• Make sure the approved plans show:
  • the locations of any exterior building penetrations,
  • new mechanical units, fences, or site work that may require a zoning permit,
  • exterior lighting,
  • installation of a new or replacement fence, and
  • any hardscaping and site work.

NOTE: Some work does not require a building and/or zoning permit unless the building is located in a historic district or has been designated as an individual landmark site. See the list of exempted work and exceptions to that list in the most recent Denver Building Code.

How to schedule a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy (CO) inspection for Landmark:

• Visit e-permits and click "Enter E-Permits"
  • New users will need to create an account 
• In e-permits, click the “Development Services” tab and then either: 
  • Select the permit record from your “My Records” list (which will populate after your contractor’s license has been added to your e-permits account), OR
  • Search for the permit by type the permit number in the "Record Number" box and click search.
• Once on the correct permit page, go to "Record Info" > "Inspections"
• Click “Schedule or Request an Inspection” 
• Select "Landmark Final" to schedule a final landmark inspection, and "Zoning CO" to schedule a final zoning inspection

Schedule your inspection