2025 Building and Fire Code Adoption Process

Overview

In spring 2025, the City and County of Denver will adopt a new building and fire code, which incorporates the following international codes (I-codes).  

  • 2024 International Building Code (IBC)
  • 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
  • 2024 International Residential Code (IRC)
  • 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
  • 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC)
  • 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
  • 2024 International Fire Code (IFC)

Except for the IECC, Denver will adopt the 2024 I-Codes and will significantly reduce the number of amendments to these codes, with limited new amendments being added. For the IECC, Denver will again adopt the 2021 IECC and make limited changes to Denver’s current amendments.

The overall goal for this amendment cycle is to align Denver’s codes more closely with the I-codes by deleting amendments not specific to Denver, with new amendments added only for items deemed necessary. With these goals in mind, Denver has not accepted external amendment proposals for this cycle as it has done in previous cycles. However, Denver welcomes the public to review and comment on the process. See the Public Review and Comment section.

Process and Timeline

Process and Timeline (Except for IECC)

  1. March 2024: Committees for each I-code were established that consist of City and County of Denver staff that are subject matter experts for a particular code. 
  2. April and May 2024: Committees completed baseline updates to Denver’s current amendments to align the amendments with the 2024 I-codes. No substantive changes were made to Denver’s amendments with these baseline updates.
  3. May through September 2024: Committees completed an amendment reduction effort where every amendment was evaluated to determine if it was specific to Denver and necessary to retain, with amendments being deleted if not.
  4. September and October 2024: Committees developed and voted on a limited number of new amendments deemed necessary at this time.
  5. Mid-February to Mid-April 2025: Public review and comment period opens. Comments will be reviewed by the committees and incorporated into Denver’s amendments where appropriate.
  6. Spring 2025: Final 2025 Denver Building and Fire Code will go to City Council for adoption.

  7. Summer 2025: Once adopted, there will be a 6-month transition period where either the 2022 or 2025 Denver Building Code may be used.

Process and Timeline (IECC)

  1. November 2024: Limited revisions were made to Denver’s current amendments to the 2021 IECC. These revisions were made primarily to align the Denver Energy Code with the Colorado State Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, as required by the State of Colorado.
  2. Further advancement of the Denver Energy Code will take place later in 2025, after adoption of the 2025 Denver Building and Fire Code. 

Public Review

The draft version of the 2025 Denver Building and Fire Code is now complete. The public review period ended on April 18, 2024. Members of the public can still view the draft below.

The draft version is shown in “redline” format with new text shown underlined and deleted text shown with a strikethrough. Baseline updates to align Denver’s amendments with the 2024 I-codes are not shown since there were no substantive changes with these updates. View draft versions of Denver’s codes below, along with a summary of significant changes to Denver’s amendments and a presentation slide deck that highlights the process and significant changes.

Request language or disability services

If you use assistive technology and need help accessing or reading the content in any of these documents, please contact CPDCommunications@denvergov.org.

Follow the Code Adoption Process

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