Landmark Preservation and Your Property
If your property is individually listed in Denver’s local historical register or if it is inside the boundaries of a local historic district, changes to the exterior of your property require approval from Landmark Preservation prior to the issuance of appropriate zoning, building, curb cut, or revocable permits. In addition, if your property is inside the boundaries of a designated parkway, you must obtain approval from Denver Parks and Recreation before obtaining any other approvals, including Landmark approval. (For more information visit
www.denvergov.org/parkways.)
Visit Denver Maps to determine if your property is in a local historic district or individually listed as an historic landmark.
Q. Which changes to my property will require prior approval from Landmark Preservation?
A. Any changes that will require a
zoning,
building,
demolition,
revocable, and/or
curb cut permit for work on the exterior of a building and/or its landscape require prior approval from Landmark Preservation, such as, but not limited to:
- Construction of new structures including, but not limited to:
- New buildings
- Sidewalks and driveways not in the public right-of-way
- Fences and retaining walls
- Decks and porches
- Any alterations to existing structures including, but not limited to:
- Window replacement or installation
- New roofing or siding
- Exterior doors
- Additions
- Changes to a building’s fascia/soffit
- Installation of signs
- Installation or modification of curb cuts
- Installation of structures that will occupy the public right-of-way
- Application for a zoning lot amendment
Q. How do I obtain approval from Landmark Preservation prior to starting my work?
A. Submit a design review application which consists of an application form describing the proposed work along with the required supplementary documentation.
- Full instructions and the design review application form are available from the application materials section of this web site.
- Design review applications can be dropped off at the Records Counter or at the Landmark permitting counter in-box located at 201 W. Colfax Ave. on the second floor.
- Applications can also be e-mailed to landmark@denvergov.org (PDF, jpg, or tif formats).
- If you have questions please contact us at: landmark@denvergov.org or 720-865-2709.
Q. How long does it take to get an approval from Landmark Preservation?
A. Approval times can vary, but generally if a project does not need to go before the
Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) or the
Lower Downtown Design Review Board (LDDRB), approvals can be granted in approximately a week. Projects that go before the LPC take about two weeks for approval and projects that go before the LDDRB take about four weeks for approval.
Q. What criteria are used for approval from Landmark Preservation?
A. Each project is evaluated against the following design guidelines for appropriateness:
All historic districts and individually designated landmarks:
Area specific design guidelines, which serve as supplements to the general guidelines:
Q. My property is one of Denver’s local historic districts, but it doesn’t seem very “historic” because it’s had a lot of changes. It’s also a lot newer than other properties in the district. Do I still need approval from Landmark Preservation to make changes?
A. Approval from Landmark Preservation is required for changes to any property in a local historic district regardless of the property’s age or the changes that have previously been made to it.
Q. Is there a fee that I need to pay in order to have my Landmark design review application processed?
A. There are no fees for Landmark design review or to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness.
For Additional Information
The following organizations, that are not part of the City and County of Denver, can provide additional information, such as assistance in locating qualified preservation professionals and possible financial incentives:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The information on this page should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible for compliance with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this page.