Design Review for Garages

Landmark Preservation reviews applications for garages on all individual landmarks and properties within a historic district to ensure consistency with the appropriate design standards and guidelines.

Before you begin . . .

The following materials are not allowed for new garages or additions to existing garages in Denver historic districts or on individual landmark properties:

  • Composite-wood siding, T-111 siding, molded plastic siding, vinyl siding, and aluminum siding
  • One- or two-coat stucco
  • EIFS
  • Materials with a faux-wood grain texture
  • Vinyl windows
  • Windows with internal muntins or glued-on muntins. Windows may be simulated-divided light with muntins on the exterior and interior faces of the glass, but must include a spacer bar.

For more information about appropriate materials, review the design guidelines below.

Does your project involve demolition?

If so, visit the Demolition and Certificate of Demolition Eligibility page for information on total demolition applications.


Determine which design guidelines apply

Your location and type of project determines which design standards and guidelines you should follow. If you are unsure about whether your project is in a historic district, check the landmark and historic districts map.

In certain neighborhoods and historic districts, additional customized design guidelines may apply.

If you use assistive technology and need help accessing the content in these documents, please contact landmark@denvergov.org.


Required documents

Design review applications must adequately describe the project and provide sufficient information to evaluate the proposal. Documentation must clearly illustrate the existing conditions as well as any proposed work.

All applications for garages must include the following information:

Application

Download the landmark design review application and checklist(PDF, 1MB)

NOTE: If you are proposing to demolish an existing garage in a historic district or an individual landmark, submit the Total Demolition Application, along with photos of all sides of the existing garage.

Photos

Photos of existing conditions showing proposed building site and surroundings are required and must be:

  • In color
  • Labeled with direction and orientation to the street
  • No smaller than 4"x6" in size (or between 1024 x 768 pixels and 1280 x 960 pixels)
  • Arranged on one or more sheets within the drawing set (PDF format), with each image clearly labeled

For examples of acceptable photos and tips for taking good photos, download Landmark Standards for Photographs(PDF, 590KB) and the Photo Page Example(PDF, 999KB).

Site Plan

All projects must submit a dimensioned and scaled site plan (1” = 40’ or larger, if possible). The site plan must include:

  • Existing and proposed locations of mechanical equipment
  • Spot elevations at existing grade are required to establish the base elevation, evaluate height within the historic context, and ensure the historic district’s height limits are met
  • Street address
  • North arrow
  • Scale
  • Location of streets, sidewalks, alleys (including any right-of-way or easement), and all existing structures
  • Location of proposed garage
  • Location of existing and proposed fences, retaining walls, exterior stairways and ramps, driveways, etc.
  • Property lines and required zoning setbacks
  • Location of front 65% of the lot and rear 35% of the lot (or 80% / 20%, depending on the zone district)
  • Original grade elevation at intersection of side property lines and minimum setback

Site Plan Example

Elevation Drawings

Submit elevation drawings of each proposed façade that include the following:

  • Overall dimensions and scale (at least 1” = 20’)
  • Proposed overall height
  • Proposed window and door dimensions
  • Porches, awnings, shifts in massing (including protrusions or indentions), and other façade detail dimensions, as applicable
  • Note all façade materials, including wall cladding, windows, doors, decorative trim, roofing material, porch construction, etc.
  • Maximum height and bulk plane, indicated in a dashed line per zoning requirements, clearly showing any requests for variances or administrative adjustments
  • Street address
  • Façade direction
  • Proposed eave dimension
  • Location of all new vents, louvers, electrical boxes, lighting, etc.

Details of Construction

The following details of construction are required:

  • Enlarged elevations and sections for each window type and location, showing the full window in the wall assembly, including head, jamb, sill, muntins and other details/profile information, and indicating the amount the window is recessed in the wall plane
  • Photos of samples of all exterior materials with labels for each building component indicating material and finish
  • Manufacturer cut sheets on all products, including wall cladding, roofing, windows, doors, and lighting
  • For glass, provide visible transparency ratings and visible light reflectance

Ready to apply?

View design review application instructions