Executive Order 151: Denver’s New Permitting Initiative

Mayor Mike Johnston announced on April 14, 2025 his first executive order, the creation of the Denver Permitting Office, or DPO. Executive Order 151 takes aim at the infamous Denver City and County Department of Neighborhood Development along with all of the related department services that are intertwined with permitting processes for any type of construction in Denver. For years following the pandemic, Denver’s Developmental Services have been inundated with a boom of permitting and plan review requests which have led to astronomically long wait times. These wait times have even breached 300 days in recent years, leaving anybody; Developer, homeowner, or general contractor at the mercy of an overburdened bureaucratic system. 

Mayor Johnston said, “The Denver Permitting Office will take immediate action that will restore Denver’s reputation as one of the best cities in the country to do business, to build, and to get big things done. By overhauling our permitting process, we’ll be able to build more affordable housing, residents can remodel their homes more easily, and entrepreneurs can more efficiently open the doors of their businesses.”

What is DPO?

The DPO or Denver Permitting Office, is proposed to be a newly orchestrated government department which is set to reform and repair Denver’s current permitting processes. Accordingly, nearly 300 employees who are responsible for permits across seven city departments will be aligned and integrated into a single facility. The idea is to streamline the convoluted bureaucratic process with an added focus to push for approvals more liberally while maintaining safety and community standards. 

Even more, the DPO will have an additional goal to improve transparency and communication for all clients with promised responses back to customers within two business days. The initiative doesn’t stop there with DPO, there will also be a newly established website offering a one-stop-shop for all client needs. And finally, In-person availability will return with more accessibility, opening a permit counter with hours 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday.

“Expert staff will serve as “project champions” who will lead the customer through each submittal, providing a central point of contact to give updates, answer questions and navigate potential challenges.”

Easing the Housing Crisis in Denver

Denver has long been facing an economic housing crisis, with skyrocketing costs and home prices, construction for residential buildings have been struggling. Mayor Mike Johnston has been vocal about this issue being a root concern of his platform and vowed to make necessary changes as quickly as possible. In the previous months, Mayor Johntson boasted department improvements for permit review by reducing times by 30% in 2024 as a part of the Mayor’s 2024 Citywide Goals. Still it hasn’t been enough and he says, “To make housing more affordable and make it easier to do business, we have to remove unnecessary obstacles and streamline city processes so builders can spend less time with permit reviews, and more time creating quality construction jobs that drive our economy,” [sic].  With the hopes of pairing down an oversaturated process, the roadblocks and delays will encourage residents and developers to return to construction of homes bringing affordability back in some sense to the market.

How long does it take to get a building permit in Denver?

“Currently in Denver, developers planning large-scale housing and commercial projects can experience two-plus years of waiting on site development plan approvals.”. This has unfortunately been the case for many years now, as Denver Average Plan Review Times until Permit have been recorded to reach an upwards number of 300+ days. In the most recent months, many have noticed improvements, albeit, intermittent results with some projects being carried through the permitting process faster than others. Still any change is welcome, and many general contractors, homebuilders, etc. like Sustainable Design Build are feeling positive about the initiative.

Reviewed in 180 Days or your Money Back

An interesting promise of Executive Order 151 is that it will require plans and other permits to be reviewed within a total of 180 days or less. If an application has been in the city’s review process for longer than that period of time, an executive committee member will be designated to review the project and push for a resolution. It has been stated that this extra review has a timeline of up to 14 days. The review process will then have an additional 30 days to expedite.If all else fails, the city has self-imposed accountability standards that would issue a partial application fee refund within certain criteria.

What does this mean for my custom home construction project?

For homeowners planning to build a custom home, home addition, ADU, or whole home remodel  in Denver, Executive Order 151 could mark a turning point. In the past, lengthy permit delays have often meant shifting project timelines, strained budgets, and a general sense of uncertainty. With the formation of the Denver Permitting Office (DPO), those pain points are being directly addressed.

If the initiative performs as intended, applicants can expect faster review times, more consistent communication, and a more streamlined experience overall. The DPO’s goal of responding to inquiries within two business days and assigning dedicated “project champions” means that navigating Denver’s permitting maze should no longer be a solo or confusing endeavor.

For those working with design-build firms like Sustainable Design Build, this shift could unlock a smoother project flow—from architectural design through final construction. Faster approvals allow custom homes to break ground sooner, stay on schedule, and reach completion without as many unexpected holdups. And of course, ultimately see great savings in cost with an overall shortened timeline in their custom home construction project.

While it will take time to see the full effects of Executive Order 151, the commitment to transparency, accountability, and improved timelines is a strong step forward—and a welcome development for anyone ready to bring their dream home to life.