Landmark Design Guidelines
Landmark Preservation reviews the designs of proposed exterior alterations, additions to buildings, new construction, signs, and non-vegetative site work for properties located within the boundaries of an historic district or for a property designated a Denver landmark. Design review ensures that a proposed project preserves key historic features and is compatible with the character of designated historic buildings, sites and districts.
The Landmark Preservation Commission, the Lower Downtown Design Review Board, and Landmark Preservation staff use design guidelines and the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the treatment of historic properties to guide design review. Additional guidelines may apply for projects located in specific historic districts.
- Design Guidelines for Denver Landmark Structures and Districts, full document (PDF)
1 – Introduction (PDF): An overall introduction to the design review process and guide to using the design guidelines.
2 – Preserving Historic Buildings (PDF): Guidelines for projects that involve alterations or updates to and adaptive reuse of landmark structures and contributing structures in historic districts.
3 – Additions to Historic Buildings (PDF): Guidelines for projects that intend to add livable space to landmark structures and contributing structures in historic districts.
4 – New or Non-contributing Structures (PDF): Guidelines for new infill construction and alterations/additions to non-contributing structures in historic districts.
5 – Site and Landscape Design (PDF): Guidelines for site design, parking and treatment of historic landscape features.
6 – Signs (PDF): Guidelines for sign design on landmark structures and properties in historic districts.
Appendix A (PDF): Character Defining Features: Summaries of the neighborhood-specific character defining features of Denver’s historic districts.
Character defining features:
- Alamo Placita Historic District (PDF)
- A.M. Ghost Historic District (PDF)
- Baker Historic District (PDF)
- Clements Historic District (PDF)
- Curtis Park District (PDF)
- East Park Place Historic District (PDF)
- Morgan's Subdivision Historic District (PDF)
- Potter Highlands Historic District (PDF)
- W. 28th Avenue Historic District (PDF)
- Witter-Cofield Historic District (PDF)
- Wolff Place Historic District (PDF)
- Wyman Historic District (PDF)
Appendix B (PDF): Historic Context & Architectural Styles
Appendix C (PDF): Glossary of terms
The guidelines were last updated January 27, 2016.
Supplemental guidelines for specific areas:
- Country Club Historic District (PDF)
- Country Club Gardens (PDF)
- Lower Downtown Historic District (PDF)
- Lower Downtown Streetscape (PDF)
- Denver's Civic Center design guidelines (PDF)
- Denver Union Station - Urban Design Standards and Guidelines (PDF)
- Emily Griffith Opportunity School Design Standards & Guidelines (PDF)
- Five Points Historic Cultural District Design Standards & Guidelines (PDF)
Design Review Application
The Design Review page provides more detailed information about the Landmark design review process. Once a design review application is received, Landmark Preservation staff will evaluate applications for completeness within five business days, and let you know whether the project will entail an administrative or commission/board review process.
A pre-application meeting with Landmark Preservation staff is required for projects involving infill construction, second-floor (pop-top) and rooftop additions, additions over 900 square feet or which add more than 40% of above grade construction square footage to an existing structure, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction, zone-lot amendments, historic window replacement, demolitions of Denver landmarks or structures in a historic district, or comprehensive sign plans. Complete the web pre-application review request form and upload photos and preliminary information about your project. If you prefer to email your application, email the pre-application review form (PDF) and all required information to Landmark Preservation staff.
Following the pre-application review and meeting with Landmark Preservation staff, applicants may submit an infill application and required submittal materials.
- NEW: Infill & Guide, Checklist and Application (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Site Plans (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Elevation Drawings (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Photographs (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Streetscape Study (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Isometric-3D Drawings (PDF)
Second-floor (pop-top) and rooftop additions, additions over 900 square feet or which add more than 40% above grade square footage to an existing structure requires a pre-application review and meeting with Landmark Preservation staff. Following the pre-application meeting, applicants may submit an application and required submittal materials.
- Additions and Garages Application Form and Checklist (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Site Plans (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Elevation Drawings (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Photographs (PDF)
All other types of additions do not require a pre-application review and meeting with Landmark Preservation staff. Applicants may submit an application and required submittal materials:
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) require a pre-application review and meeting with Landmark Preservation staff. Following the pre-application meeting, applicants may submit an application and required submittal materials.
- Additions and Garages Application Form and Checklist (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Site Plans (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Elevation Drawings (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Photographs (PDF)
For all other accessory structures, including new one-story garages and small accessory structures, applicants may submit all required submittal materials to Landmark Preservation staff.
- Additions and Garages Application Form and Checklist (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Garage Submittals (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Photographs (PDF)
Following the pre-application review and meeting with Landmark Preservation staff, applicants may submit an application and required submittal materials.
Following the pre-application review and meeting with Landmark Preservation staff, applicants may submit an application and required submittal materials.
For minor work requiring quick permits but introducing little to no visible change to a historic structure or property, submit the Landmark Quick Review application form (PDF) to Landmark Staff.
For all other work on Landmark structures or buildings in historic districts, applicants may submit the application form and required submittal materials. Landmark Preservation staff is available to answer questions during counter hours, by phone or email, or by appointment.
- General Application form and checklist (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Site Plans (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Elevation Drawings (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Photographs (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Egress Window/Mechanical Submittals (PDF)
- Landmark Preservation Standards on Fence Submittals (PDF)
To apply for signage in a historic district or on a Landmark structure or property, applicants may submit the completed sign application form and checklist, and all required photographs, drawings and related materials as noted in the sign checklist to Landmark Preservation staff.
Visit the Demolition and Certificate of Non-Historic Status Review page for the demolition application, checklist and review procedure.
Submit Your Application
Complete the required application and submit it, along with any supporting materials, by email, by mail, or in person.
| In Person | ||
| landmark@denvergov.org See instructions below |
Landmark Preservation 201 W. Colfax Ave. Dept. 205 Denver, CO 80202 |
Records counter 2nd floor Webb Municipal Building 201 West Colfax Ave 8 am - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday |
Electronic submission should include two attachments: one PDF with the completed form ("yourname-preapp.pdf") and one PDF that combines all supporting materials ("yourname-preapp-materials.pdf"). File size should not exceed more than 25 MB combined. Contact us if you are having trouble with your electronic submission.
NOTE: All materials submitted with your application become the property the City and County of Denver. The materials are part of public record, can be used in a public hearing, and cannot be returned.
NOTE: If you use assistive technology and would like to access the content in documents in PDF format on this page, please contact planning.board@denvergov.org.
Complex projects and unplanned events can delay the approval process. Plan extra time to get your Certificate of Appropriateness.
Design Review
View the steps required to submit your project for a design review.
Landmark Preservation Office:
720-865-2709
landmark@denvergov.org