When work is done on a home in Denver without permits, this oversight often comes to light at the time a property is sold, refinanced or when a contractor or neighbor notices a problem and reports it to the city. To learn more about what kinds of projects need permits at www.denvergov.org
Common Code Violations
In order to protect the safety, prosperity, health and welfare of all city residents, city code regulations require that property owners keep their properties safe and well-maintained. Below are several examples of common city code violations. Please report property concerns by dialing 3-1-1 or visiting the 311 Help Center.  Visit the City and County of Denver website to learn more.
- Outdoor storage
- Parking on unpaved surfaces
- Too many cars
- Lawn care
- Fences
- Sidewalk safety
- Inoperable vehicles
- Home occupations (at-home businesses)
- Too many animals
- Construction without a permit
- Too many unrelated people
Download the City’s Property Maintenance Flyer
Construction Procedures
- Most construction projects require building permits.
- Building permits must be displayed where they can be seen from the street.
- Construction noise is allowed between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
- If a project involves demolition or excavation, the permit applicant must notify the owners of adjacent properties before obtaining demolition/excavation permits.
- Adjacent properties must be protected during construction. This includes foundations, fences and landscaping.
- Provisions shall be made to control water runoff and erosion during construction activities.
- Construction equipment and materials shall be stored and placed so as not to endanger the public, the workers or adjoining property for the duration of the project.
- Dirt and construction debris may not be placed in streets, alleys or sidewalks.
- Construction debris may not be placed in city dumpsters.
- Containers shall not be placed in streets without proper permits from Denver Public Works Right-of-Way Services.
- Streets and alleys shall not be blocked without proper permits from Denver Public Works Right-of-Way Services.
- A port-o-let or other sanitary facility is required for each construction site.
- Six-foot fences must be maintained around open excavation sites (including single-family projects where full basements are being dug) or hazardous job sites to prevent unauthorized access.
Snow Removal
Denver requires property owners to clear their walkways so that EVERYONE has safe access throughout the City! Senior citizens, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and mail carriers -just to name a few -struggle to negotiate hazardous walkways. We need to do our part to make our community safe and accessible for all.
- Once snow has stopped falling, business have four (4) hours, and residents have twenty-four (24) hours, to remove snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property
- Please contact Denver 3-1-1 to provide the address of unshoveled sidewalks.
- Denver relies on citizen complaints to help us identify those property owners that need to be educated about sidewalk safety requirements.
If you have any other questions, please email us at: zoning@wpenaonline.org