Denver City Council to Consider Fee for Citywide Sidewalk Improvements

Published on August 20, 2024

Denver –  This afternoon, Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is scheduled to make a presentation to Denver City Council’s Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure (LUTI) Committee, seeking changes to an ordinance governing a new citywide sidewalk repair and construction program.

The sidewalk program was approved by Denver voters in November 2022. Following passage of the measure, DOTI established a committee of local stakeholders and community members to review the ordinance and its fee structure and recommend a way to address higher-than-average fees on residential properties and help lower-income households.

While the original ordinance charged property owners a fee based on linear feet of sidewalk associated with their parcel and the street type on which it was located (arterial, collector or local), the new proposal is a flat fee for most residential and commercial property owners.

Highlights of the proposed ordinance changes being presented to the committee today include:

• Adjusting the fee structure to a base rate - proposed at $150 annually - that would apply to more than 95% of commercial and residential properties in Denver and nearly 99% of single-family homes.
• Charging properties with more than 230 linear feet of sidewalk, and a high impact on the sidewalk network, an additional “impact fee” of $3.50 for every foot over 230 linear feet.
• Offering an affordability program based on income, aligned with DOTI’s solid waste management affordability program.
• Billing property owners by account versus parcel, consistent with the city’s stormwater billing practices.

The proposed fee structure remains aligned with the intent of the original ordinance from a revenue perspective, adding up to an estimated $40M of annual revenue.

If the LUTI Committee approves the proposed ordinance changes, the changes would move to the full council for consideration in the coming weeks. The fee for sidewalks in Denver is anticipated to begin in January 2025. The sidewalk charge would be included on people’s stormwater bills, with half the annual sidewalk fee assessed the first half of the year and the second half of the sidewalk fee assessed the second half of the year.

The need for sidewalk work in Denver is great. In addition to sidewalks in need of repair, the city has 300 miles of missing sidewalk and more than 800 miles of sidewalks that are too narrow.  Funding to address sidewalks supports city goals and community desires for walkable neighborhoods. Good sidewalks provide the foundation for a complete transportation system that’s equitable and safe and connects everyone to the amenities that make Denver special.