Community Planning and Developing is launching an inclusive community process with the goal of allowing more middle housing forms in Denver’s residential neighborhoods through potential updates to the Denver Zoning Code and other city rules and regulations. The project would focus on this goal while working to preserve existing affordability and ensure that new development adds more attainable housing stock.
Middle housing refers to small multi-unit structures like duplexes, tandem houses, fourplexes and other house-scaled, middle housing building forms. The changes to the zoning regulations will focus on low- and medium-residential zone districts ranging from single-unit (SU) to rowhouse (RH), and the comparable Former Chapter 59 zone districts.
Want to get involved?
The project will kick off and begin public engagement in summer 2025. Community members interested in participating are invited to sign up for email updates or be considered for the community advisory committee.
Unlocking Housing Choices email sign up
What is “missing middle housing?"
Missing middle housing refers to housing types that fall between single-unit houses and large apartment buildings, including duplexes, fourplexes, row homes, townhomes and cottage housing. These housing forms are “missing” because despite their important role in providing housing options, very few are built today, and few have been built over the last 50 years.
Why does the city want to add middle housing?
Denver's adopted plans, formulated through extensive community engagement, include goals, policies, and strategies that call for the city to enable the construction of additional housing types in Denver’s residential neighborhoods. Allowing more housing options across the city can alleviate the ongoing housing shortage and provide attainable housing choices for more Denver residents.
What is a "building form"?
Denver’s building forms are the standards for the development of buildings and structures in the Denver Zoning Code. Building forms vary between zone district and include different standards for different building types. For example, The “town house” building form has different standards from the “urban house” building form. These building form standards regulate building height, building siting, building design elements, and the permitted use of buildings.
Examples of building forms
Illustration of town house building form:
Illustration of urban house building form:
The following structures are examples of middle housing that currently exists in Denver. Many of these are older, historic buildings because middle housing forms were more common in years past and/or because they were built in places where they are no longer allowed due to current zoning regulations.