Rezoning - Map Amendments

Rezoning is a public process, culminating in a decision by the Denver City Council, that changes the rules for land use and types of buildings permitted on a given property by changing its zone district. Because the process amends the city’s official zoning map, a rezoning is also referred to as a “map amendment.”

Rezoning can take from four to six months or more after an application is submitted, depending on the complexity of the case, and involves public hearings before the Planning Board and City Council.

Rezoning may or may not be necessary when seeking to change the use of a property. If the intended use is already allowed under the existing zone district, a zoning permit may suffice. If you have a question about a property’s current zoning, contact the zoning team at zoningreview@denvergov.org.  

Review Process

The Official Map Amendment (Rezoning) Guide (PDF) offers a detailed description of the process and requirements. For general information, including opportunities for public input, see information for Neighbors and RNOs (below) and the rezoning process page.

Our staff and the Denver Planning Board evaluate most rezoning requests against the following criteria:

• Is the rezoning consistent with adopted plans?
• Does the rezoning further public health, safety and welfare?
• Are there circumstances that justify the rezoning?
• Is the rezoning consistent with the neighborhood context?
• Does the rezoning align with the zone district’s purpose and intent?
• Would it result in consistent regulations for each property with the same zoning designation citywide?

When there is a planning process in progress in the area of a rezoning, staff will let applicants know whether a new plan’s guidance would apply. 

Within 10 days of receiving a completed application, our staff posts the application online on the Proposed Rezonings page and notifies property owners within 200 feet of the proposed rezoning and surrounding registered neighborhood organizations (RNOs) about pending rezoning cases. This allows nearby residents the opportunity to learn about and comment on the rezoning request ahead of the Planning Board public hearing. For information on how and when to submit comments, visit the Planning Board page.