Downtown Historic District Tax Rebate

Building at 900 16th St in Denver In December of 2000, Denver City Council approved the designation of the Downtown Historic District. The ordinance helps to preserve the distinctive urban design and character of our city’s core. At the same time, city council authorized a tax rebate to help offset property tax rates for historic property owners in this historic district, and to thank property owners for preserving and maintaining their renovated structures.  

Your building may qualify for the tax rebate if:

  • The building is within the Downtown Denver Historic District. See a map(PDF, 3MB)
  • The street elevations are in good repair
  • The street elevations are historic in appearance, or have alterations that complied with the landmark design guidelines at the time of alteration, or remain unaltered since designation of the historic district
  • The building systems are in good repair
  • The building/owner does not receive financing from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA), nor have an outstanding repayment obligation to DURA
  • One or more tax-paying entities are located in the structure

Please note: For each building in the Downtown Denver Historic District, a single applicant authorized to represent all occupants must complete and return an application. Multiple applications for the same structure, even if there are multiple units and owners, are not permitted. 

How to Apply

By Email

Step 1.Complete Application

Fill out the Tax Rebate Application(PDF, 285KB).

Step 2.Collect Photos

Gather current color photographs showing all street-facing sides of the building. Photos must be clear; no blurry images. Include the structure’s address in all file names. See photo standards(PDF, 590KB).

Step 3.Submit by Email

After completing the above steps, email all required documents to landmark@denvergov.org. File size should not exceed more than 25 MB combined.

Email your application now

By Mail

Step 1.Complete Application

Fill out the Tax Rebate Application(PDF, 285KB).

Step 2.Collect Photos

Gather current color photographs showing all street-facing sides of the building. Photos must be 4" x 6" clear prints; no blurry images. Include the structure’s address on each photo. See photo standards(PDF, 590KB).

Step 3.Submit by Mail

After completing the above steps, compile all documents and mail them to:  

Denver Community Planning and Development
Attention: Denver Landmark Preservation
 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 205
Denver, CO 80202

In Person

Step 1.Complete Application

Fill out the Tax Rebate Application(PDF, 285KB).

Step 2.Collect Photos

Gather current color photographs showing all street-facing sides of the building. Photos must be 4" x 6" clear prints; no blurry images. Include the structure’s address on each photo. See photo standards(PDF, 590KB).

Step 3.Submit In Person

After completing the above steps, bring all documents to the CPD Records counter. The counter is located on the second floor of the Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building at 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver.

Additional Information:

Please note: The timeline for the Tax Rebate program was updated in August 2022 and deadlines have changed. 

  1. Landmark Preservation will contact the authorized representative by early-October, approximately 60 days prior to the rebate application due date. (Building owners are encouraged to let Landmark Preservation staff know if the authorized representative for a historic structure changes.)
  2. The authorized representative submits the tax rebate application, along with required photographs following the instructions on the application form no later than December 1.
  3. Landmark Preservation staff will review the application, and makes a recommendation to the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission regarding the eligibility of structures for the rebate.
  4. Landmark Preservation staff will forward the list of qualifying structures to the Department of Finance by February 1.
  5. The Department of Finance evaluates applications for eligibility to receive a Denver property tax abatement based on a number of property tax factors, and transmits the rebate check to the qualified representative by December of the following year.

In December of 2000, Denver City Council approved the designation of the Downtown Historic District. Ordinance No. 970 — establishing the tax rebate and — helping to offset property tax rates for historic property owners in the district. 

The ordinance states that the program is to be evaluated on a year-to-year basis as part of the City’s annual appropriation process to determine if funds will be available for the tax rebate. In 2022, changes were made to the program to better align the program’s application due date with the budget process.

There is no fee to apply for the tax rebate. 

Contact Us

Phone

720-865-2709

Email

landmark@denvergov.org
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