The Denver Building and Fire Code establishes the minimum, mandatory standards for building construction in Denver. Denver's code is based on international standards for safe, habitable structures.
Proposed updates to the 2022 Building and Fire Code
The city is proposing several amendments to the 2022 Building and Fire Code to correct code errors, mistakes or misprints, and/or unclear or conflicting language.
Next steps: The proposed amendments were postponed on June 5, 2023, and will instead go to City Council for a vote on June 20, 2023.
The Denver Green Code
First adopted in 2019, the Denver Green Code is based on the International Green Construction Code. Starting in May 2023, the city will begin requiring commercial and multifamily development to meet some provisions from this code, while allowing projects the flexibility to choose which specific provisions to implement.
Learn about the Denver Green Code
Denver has adopted the 2021 ICC (International Code Council) codes listed below. You are responsible for ensuring that your project complies with ICC codes as well as Denver's amendments to the ICC codes, which are located in the Denver Building and Fire Code.
The links below will take you to an external site hosted by the ICC.
- International Building Code (IBC): 2018 | 2021
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC): 2018 | 2021
- International Plumbing Code (IPC): 2018 | 2021
- International Mechanical Code (IMC): 2018 | 2021
- International Residential Code (IRC): 2018 | 2021
- International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC): 2018 | 2021
- International Fire Code (IFC): 2018 | 2021
- International Energy Conservation Code (IECC): 2018 | 2021
Denver also abides by the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is adopted at the state level.
Building code policies
The policies listed below clarify existing codes and detail how to handle certain situations that are not clearly addressed within current codes.
| Referenced 2022 Code Section |
Description |
Last updated |
| ADMIN 103.10(PDF, 137KB) |
Transition Rules |
1/12/23 |
| ADMIN 120A(PDF, 209KB) |
Classifications of Licenses, Registrations and Certificates
|
2/22/23 |
ADMIN 120B(PDF, 102KB)
|
Small Cooler and Freezer Room Contractors and Permits
|
2/22/23
|
| ADMIN 130.2B(PDF, 169KB) |
Independent Third Party Roofing Inspection
|
3/14/23 |
ADMIN 132B(PDF, 113KB)
|
Temporary Stage, Platform, Bleacher and Event Structures
|
2/22/23 |
| ADMIN 133(PDF, 140KB) |
Electrical Plan Review Requirements |
3/1/23 |
ADMIN 133.4 & 135(PDF, 184KB)
|
Deferred Submittal and Phased Construction Permits
|
2/22/23 |
ADMIN 134(PDF, 121KB)
|
Building Permit Application Requirements for Temporary Buildings
|
2/22/23 |
ADMIN 134B(PDF, 507KB)
|
Temporary Sales Office Within a Model Home
|
3/1/23 |
ADMIN 134C(PDF, 161KB)
|
Temporary Emergency Residential Shelters
|
2/22/23 |
ADMIN 134D(PDF, 152KB)
|
Temporary Daycare Occupancies
|
2/22/23 |
ADMIN 140.4(PDF, 116KB)
|
Home Inspections Containing Weyerhaeuser Flak Jacket TJI Joists
|
2/22/23 |
ADMIN 142A(PDF, 119KB)
|
Temporary Occupancies Within Existing Buildings
|
2/22/23 |
DCBC 603.1(PDF, 114KB)
|
Limited Combustible Pedestals on Roofs of Type I and II Buildings
|
2/22/23 |
DCBC 708.9(PDF, 109KB)
|
Gas-Fired Heating Systems in Small Existing R-1 & R-2 Occupancies
|
3/1/23 |
DCBC 1010(PDF, 124KB)
|
Locking and Securing of Egress Doors
|
2/22/23 |
DCBC 1507.18(PDF, 196KB)
|
Use of Foam Plastics with Reinforced Rubberized Asphalt Roofing
|
2/22/23 |
DCBC 1705.1.1(PDF, 139KB)
|
High-Rise Building Exterior Wall Special Inspection and Testing Requirements
|
2/22/23 |
DCBC APPX H(PDF, 108KB)
|
Permitting Procedures for Electric and Neon Signs
|
3/1/23 |
DEC C405(PDF, 105KB)
|
Lighting Requirements and Residential Metering
|
3/1/23 |
DMC 506 507 & 508(PDF, 125KB)
|
IMC Kitchen Hood Exhaust System Submittal Requirements
|
2/28/23 |
DPC Chapters 13 & 14(PDF, 207KB)
|
Graywater Treatment Works Systems
|
3/1/23 |
NEC 590(PDF, 142KB)
|
Temporary Power Generation
|
3/1/23 |
NEC 590.4(PDF, 134KB)
|
Cable Installation for Temporary Special Events
|
3/1/23 |
Building code policies for the 2019 code are available for download below:
| Referenced 2019 Code Section |
Description |
Last updated |
| ADMIN 120A(PDF, 209KB) |
Classifications of Licenses, Registrations and Certificates |
2/22/23 |
| ADMIN 130, 131, & IBC 3307(PDF, 456KB) |
Residential Excavation and Shoring |
11/12/21 |
| ADMIN 131B(PDF, 709KB) |
Alternative Permitting for Expedited Construction |
2/8/21 |
| ADMIN 131.5(PDF, 333KB) |
Plan Review and Permit Cancellation |
3/9/21 |
| ADMIN 133B(PDF, 397KB) |
Submittal Requirements for Residential Projects that Include Structural Work |
3/2/20 |
| ADMIN 134C(PDF, 161KB) |
Temporary Emergency Residential Shelters |
2/22/23 |
| ADMIN 134D(PDF, 152KB) |
Temporary Daycare Occupancies |
2/22/23 |
ADMIN 138(PDF, 202KB)
|
Permit and Inspection Fees
|
10/5/22 |
| IBC 302.1(PDF, 110KB) |
Occupancy Classification for Marijuana Uses |
8/22/20 |
| IBC 603.1(PDF, 114KB) |
Limited Combustible Pedestals on Roofs of Type I and II Buildings |
2/22/23 |
| IBC 1004.5(PDF, 410KB) |
Calculating Business Office Occupant Load |
4/1/20 |
| IBC 1507.19(PDF, 196KB) |
Use of Foam Plastics with Reinforced Rubberized Asphalt Roofing |
2/22/23 |
| IECC and IMC Clarification(PDF, 130KB) |
IECC, IMC Clarification on R-2 Ventilation Requirements |
1/15/20 |
IRC R324(PDF, 311KB)
|
Residential and Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy System Permits
|
5/17/22 |
| IRC 401.4(PDF, 109KB) |
IRC Geotechnical Investigation Reports |
12/28/20 |
Building guides
The following guides are available for download in PDF format:
| Commercial Building Permit Guide(PDF, 586KB) |
UPDATED MAY 2023.Guideline of requirements for commercial projects, information on related permits, and collection of required forms. |
| Electronic Signatures Guide(PDF, 1023KB) |
A how-to guide with screenshots for creating a valid electronic signature using Adobe Acrobat or BlueBeam Revu. (All building plans submitted to CPD electronically must include a valid electronic signature.) |
| Commercial Permitting Presentation |
Presentation and panel discussion from December 9, 2020.
YouTube recording, Slide deck(PDF, 9MB) |
| Energy Code Checklists |
View checklists
Denver Modeling Rules and Procedures
|
| Energy Code Trainings |
March 2020: Slide decks available for the following focused sessions: Homebuilders(PDF, 13MB) and electrical engineers(PDF, 8MB)
June 2020: YouTube videos available for the following focused sessions: Residents and home designers, Contractors, Mechanical and plumbing engineers, and Architects. |
| Denver Green Code |
View checklists |
| Expanded Prep Demo Overview |
Permit path enabling an expedited construction start for certain commercial tenant-finish projects. |
| Administrative Modification Request(PDF, 234KB) |
UPDATED MAY 2023. Application information and supplemental guidelines. |
| Master/TA guide for production homebuilders(PDF, 651KB) |
UPDATED OCTOBER 2020. Submittal instructions and checklists for Master plan and Type-Approved (TA) single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes built under the International Residential Code (IRC). |
| Residential Permitting Guide(PDF, 2MB) |
UPDATED JULY 2020. Additional project guides for specific types of work in single-family homes and duplexes are available on the Inside the Home, Outside the Home, Building/Expanding a Home, and Homeowner Permits webpages. |
| Manufactured Homes Checklist(PDF, 173KB) |
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2022. This guide outlines the minimum submittal requirements for each one- and two- family manufactured house submittal. |
| Slide Deck: Navigating Residential Permitting(PDF, 7MB) |
Presentation from February 2022. Navigating the permitting process for Single-Family and Duplex projects. |
| DEH Plan Review Application(PDF, 570KB) |
UPDATED DECEMBER 2019. This application is used to conduct an Environmental Health and building permit review of proposed new and extensively remodeled retail food establishments/commercial kitchens, marijuana-infused product (MIP) kitchens, and marijuana dispensaries. |
Solar PV and Solar Hot Water Panels
|
Visit the online guide for Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Hot Water Panels. |
| Restaurant Guide |
Visit the online guide for Restaurant Permits. |
| Concept Phase |
Visit the online guide for the Concept Development Phase. |
| Formal Site Plan and Plan Amendments |
Visit the online guide for the Formal Site Development Plan Phase and Plan Amendments. |
| Final Recordation of a Site Development Plan |
View a brief overview of the Final Recordation of a Site Development Plan. |
| Modifications to Site Development Plans |
Learn how to make minor modifications to approved and recorded Site Development Plans. |
| Pool Permitting Guide |
Visit the online guide for residential and commercial pools, spas and water features. |
| PUD/PBG Site Plan Rules and Regulations(PDF, 4MB) |
The process and requirements for site plan review of Planned Unit Developments/Planned Building Groups. |
| Total Demolition Guide |
Visit the online guide for step-by step procedures for demolition of residential and commercial structures. |
Archived Denver building codes
Archived Denver Building Code Amendments are available for download below.
- 2016(PDF, 4MB)
- 2011(PDF, 23MB)
- 2008(PDF, 6MB)
- 2004(PDF, 5MB)
- 1999(PDF, 6MB)
- 1995(PDF, 30MB)
- 1993(PDF, 15MB)
- 1991(PDF, 18MB)
- 1976-1990(PDF, 39MB)
- 1976(PDF, 29MB)
- 1965(PDF, 18MB)
- 1959(PDF, 24MB)
- 1935(PDF, 20MB)
- 1905(PDF, 7MB)
- 1898(PDF, 4MB)
- 1881(PDF, 1MB)
Working hand in hand with the Denver community, the city has defined and adopted bold climate goals. Adoption of more stringent building codes to achieve higher building performance is integral to attaining these goals. CPD's energy code checklists are designed to support project teams in navigating complexities of the energy code, and succeeding in delivering projects that support our community’s expressed priorities.
2019 Checklists
A commercial checklist is required for all commercial and multi-family residential construction projects. Projects using the Performance Path are required to use the two files for the energy modeling report.
A residential checklist is required for:
- New one- and two-family dwellings
- Additions and alterations to one- and two-family dwellings with an increase or work area over 20% of the existing above grade gross floor area, or 300 S.F., whichever is less
- New IRC townhouses
- New R-3 and R-4 occupancy buildings 3 stories or less above grade plane.
Download the appropriate checklist based on your project type:
Commercial IECC Prescriptive Checklist(XLSX, 153KB)
Commercial IECC Performance Checklist(XLSX, 147KB)
Commercial ASHRAE Prescriptive Checklist(XLSX, 151KB)
Commercial ASHRAE Performance Checklist(XLSX, 143KB)
Commercial Energy Code Modeling Report(PDF, 312KB)
Residential IECC Prescriptive Checklist(XLSX, 82KB)
Residential IECC Performance Checklist(XLSX, 78KB)
Residential ERI Checklist(XLSX, 78KB)
Learn how to fill out and submit the correct IECC checklist:
Commercial checklist webinar (opens in YouTube), View slide deck(PDF, 5MB)
Residential checklist webinar (opens in YouTube), View slide deck(PDF, 4MB)
On January 9, 2023, Denver City Council adopted the 2022 Denver Building and Fire Code and the 2022 Denver Green Code. This code cycle, the city placed a significant focus on energy and climate action. Denver’s building codes are critical in helping the city reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise the bar on the long-term performance of all buildings in Denver.
Learn more about the process
To appeal a decision made regarding the building code, you must apply to the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals is an independent body that reviews:
- Appeals of administrative decisions
- New methods or products
- Plan correction notices
- Written orders and opinions of a building code official regarding the building code
Board of Appeals