Requirements for Commercial Zoning Applications

All businesses in Denver are required to have a zoning use permit. A "use permit" indicates that the zoning code allows your specific business activities to occur at that location.

Projects that need a zoning use or construction permit:

  • New buildings
  • New businesses
  • Commercial additions or expansions
  • Changing an existing use, like converting a store into a restaurant or turning a warehouse into live/work space
  • Changing the square footage of an existing use
  • Adding or changing accessory uses, like adding an outdoor patio to a restaurant, adding an off-leash dog enclosure to a business, or building a new storage unit onsite
  • Exterior modifications, like new or modified doors, windows, railings, steps, ramps, roof-top or ground-mounted equipment
  • Site improvements, like changes to parking areas, landscaping, outdoor lighting, and pedestrian circulation 

View Sample Plans

These downloads illustrate a zoning plan set, including a sample site plan, floor plan, and building elevations. 

Document Requirements

When you apply for a zoning permit, you will be prompted to upload additional materials with your application. Please use the information below to help you prepare these materials.

  • All plans must include a title block with the business name, site address, applicant name, and date. All plans must be drawn to a commonly recognized scale and the scale must be included on the plans. Stamped and sealed plans prepared by a qualified design professional are preferred, but not required. Site plans, floor plans, and building elevations are further detailed below.
  • Include a legal description of the property.
  • An owner representative affidavit may be required if the applicant is not the property owner.

Written Project Narrative

All applicants

There is no required length for the narrative, but you should provide as much detail as possible. All work described in the narrative should also be shown on your plans. Include:

  • Name of business, as applicable
  • Description of proposed use and scope of construction work, if any
  • Hours of operation
  • Type of use or activities proposed
  • How you plan to address any use limitations found in Article 11 of the Denver Zoning Code

Site Plans

All applicants

  • Show the dimensions of all existing and proposed structures, minimum setbacks, build-to lines, and required buffers (if applicable)
  • Dimension the distance of all structures from zone lot lines, including any building, parking lot, shed or enclosure
  • North arrow and scale
  • Label all zone lot lines (e.g., primary street, side street, rear) and any adjacent streets and alleys
  • Identify all existing and proposed site features, including vehicle entry/exit, landscape areas, additions, sheds, trash enclosures, transformers, bollards, vents/flues/rooftop mechanical equipment, canopies, patios, fences, railings, and ramps
  • List the total gross floor area for all zoning land uses, structures, and parking lots
  • Identify all landscape areas and provide gross area
  • Identify the number of parking stalls and provide dimensions

For multi-tenant spaces, please indicate the location of your proposed use within the structure and list the gross floor area of your use. If your project includes exterior work, spot grade elevations and base plane calculations may be required. Please also note that codes may require additional off-street parking or landscaping depending on your proposal (e.g., expanding office or restaurant square footage).

Floor Plans

All applicants, except projects that are only performing exterior work

  • Include a title block with the business name, site address, applicant name, and date
  • Provide a legend and list the zone district, primary use(s), accessory use(s) as applicable, and gross floor area by permitted zoning use and floor
    • The total gross floor area of the proposed use stated on the application must match the dimensions shown on the submitted floor plans
  • Dimension all floors of the proposed project, including the roof if work is proposed for the roof (e.g., new roof-top mechanical equipment)
  • Label all areas with existing and proposed use or activity and the gross floor area
  • Identify all points of pedestrian and vehicle access to the structure

Elevations

Building elevations are only necessary when exterior work to the building façade is proposed as part of the project's scope (e.g., new windows, doors, additions, new accessory structures). 

  • Provide fully dimensioned elevations of the project site as proposed, including all existing and proposed structures, mechanical equipment, building penetrations and zone lot lines
  • Label all elevations with building face (e.g., South Elevation, North Elevation)
  • Dimension the height from the zoning base plane to the top of the structure, including all proposed mechanical equipment
  • Dimension all floors of the proposed project, including the roof and all mechanical equipment
  • Label all doors and windows
  • Show all proposed screening walls/fences (Screening standards are located in Division 10.5 of the Denver Zoning Code, and in Section 59-96 of the Former Chapter 59 code.)
  • As applicable, provide ground floor transparency calculations according to Division 13.1 Rules of Measurement in the Denver Zoning Code or Section 59-272 of Former Chapter 59

Final check

Have you consulted the zoning code to ensure your plans will meet code standards? 

Learn how to use the Denver Zoning Code: Watch a short video (~2 minutes; opens in YouTube)

Ready to apply?

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