Overview of Building Codes and Policies

The Energize Denver Building Performance Policy reduces energy use from buildings, which will reduce operating costs, make buildings more comfortable and cut pollution. 

Developed hand in hand with facility managers, building owners and community experts, the ordinance, passed in November 2021, sets energy-saving targets for buildings 25,000 square feet and larger. It also sets prescriptive performance requirements for buildings 5,000-24,999 square feet.

Energize Denver only applies to existing buildings in Denver. New construction projects transition to being existing buildings after one calendar year of operation. 

There is considerable flexibility built into Energize Denver, and Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency is working with building owners, managers and service providers to plan and identify funding opportunities that work for their buildings and financial circumstances.  

Visit the Energize Denver Hub

The 2022 Denver Commercial Building Code, Denver Fire Code went into effect on May 1, 2023.

The Denver Commercial Building and Fire Codes establish the minimum, mandatory standards for new commercial and multifamily construction in Denver. Denver's code is based on international standards for safe, habitable structures. These are the standards necessary for all new construction projects to move forward with all new construction projects in the City and County of Denver.   

Community Planning and Development has resources about new processes and requirements outlined in the code, which are a helpful place to start:  

The 2022 Denver Energy Code is part of the 2022 Denver Commercial Building Code. The Denver Energy Code will be updated during every code cycle to maintain the path towards Zero Emissions new buildings by 2030. 

In general, the Denver Energy Code provides guidance to building designers and builders for ensuring new construction in Denver is more sustainable. However, the Energy Code also contains guidance related to upgrading, renovating, expanding, or changing existing commercial and multifamily buildings. 

The Denver Green Code addresses both climate change and biodiversity loss through mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency.

Starting May 1st, 2023, limited provisions are now mandatory for all new commercial and multifamily projects. These limited mandatory provisions also apply to major renovations of existing buildings.

Projects can also demonstrate innovation and leadership by following a voluntary path through the Denver Green Code.  

Learn more about the Denver Green Code

Denver's Green Buildings Ordinance requires developers and property owners to select from a menu of strategies that make new buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger more sustainable.

The Green Buildings Ordinance also applies to existing buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger, specifically when they complete work replacing the roof.

These strategies collectively seek to:

• Increase green space in Denver
• Improve water and storm water management
• Increase the use of solar and other renewable energies
• Foster the design of more energy-efficient buildings
• Increase adoption of national green building programs, such as LEED

Learn more about the Green Buildings Ordinance

The Denver Zoning Code balances conservation and development to implement the community's vision for the future of Denver through our built environment.  

Read the Denver Zoning Code

Denver has the goals for all new buildings and homes to be Net Zero Energy (NZE) by 2030 and all existing building and homes to be NZE by 2040. When we reach that goal, the impact of embodied carbon emissions grows exponentially. This report details the key findings on embodied carbon. It also provides strategies for reducing embodied carbon and for policy development. 

Read the report

This plan outlines goals, milestones, and targets achieve net zero energy in new buildings and homes.  

Read the plan

This plan provides a guide to using electricity instead of gas to heat and cool existing homes and buildings in Denver. Renewable heating and cooling is cost-effective and will bring many benefits to Denverites by: 

• Providing air conditioning as temperatures rise
• Reducing children’s exposure to carbon monoxide
• Mitigating climate change by reducing methane emissions 

Learn more