What are Denver building permit times at the end of 2025

A home addition project by Sustainable Design Build in the Denver Metro Area.

What are Denver building permit times at the end of 2025?

As of 2025, the City and County of Denver has overhauled its permitting system to reduce approval times that once exceeded 300 days. The new Denver Permitting Office (DPO) now targets a 180-day review period, adds public tracking dashboards, and streamlines coordination among city departments. This means faster approvals and clearer timelines for homeowners and builders planning remodels, additions, or custom homes with firms like Sustainable Design Build (SDB).

When homeowners and remodelers in the Denver region are planning projects, staying on top of updates from the Denver Permitting Office (DPO) and the Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is essential for keeping schedules realistic and avoiding surprises. SDB offers this overview of recent changes and what they mean for clients considering a remodel, addition, ADU or whole-home renovation.

New 180-Day Review Timeline and Dashboard Coming

The DPO was established following Executive Order 151 signed by Mike Johnston in May 2025, with the goal of coordinating multi-agency reviews and improving customer service. (CPD) Staff aim to complete submittals within 180 days of the city receiving them. (Constant Contact)
A public-facing dashboard to track that 180-day timeline is expected soon; in the meantime, permit-holders can email the DPO with the record ID to check status. (Constant Contact)

For SDB clients this means: when your project is submitted, allow time not only for plan review but for multi-department coordination. The dashboard will provide a useful transparency tool for setting realistic start dates and managing expectations.

Counter Operations & Meeting Access Simplified

The DPO now offers in-person and virtual appointments Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Webb Municipal Building (2nd floor counter). Departments participating include CPD, the Denver Fire Department (DFD), the Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI), the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), and Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR). (Constant Contact)
Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made online for various services including commercial zoning, residential building and zoning, solar PV electrical, architectural/structural, mechanical & plumbing. (Constant Contact)

For SDB clients this means: early coordination is increasingly important. If your project involves solar, structural changes, or both, scheduling a pre-submission meeting or counter appointment can help identify issues early and avoid delays.

Plan Review Time Transparency

Denver’s website now publishes average review times for building and zoning permits via a dashboard. (Constant Contact)
For homeowners and remodelers: you can check the latest data before submitting to help align the construction schedule accordingly. This transparency helps avoid projecting too-optimistic start dates.

New Recycling & Composting Ordinance Requirements

The city approved updates to the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance (known on the ballot as “Waste No More”) originally passed in 2022. The ordinance covers multi-family residential buildings, food businesses, events, and non-residential construction/demolition. (Constant Contact)
The enforcement date is September 1, 2026. Prior to that date the city is releasing fact sheets aimed at property owners, renters, contractors, and event operators to support compliance. (Constant Contact)

In the context of an SDB project: if your remodel involves multi-family units, large-scale demolition, or a significant change of use, be aware of these upcoming compliance requirements. Even for single-family or ADU projects, if you’re removing large quantities of material or changing use types, you may need to account for these requirements in your permitting and construction budget.

Zoning Code Changes & Grace Period Ended

In December 2024 the Denver City Council adopted a bundle of text amendments to the Denver Zoning Code, which took effect February 25, 2025. Applications submitted before that date had a grace period to use the older code, ending October 17, 2025. (Constant Contact)
If a project was submitted under the older code but did not secure approval by the deadline, it must now comply with the current zoning code for affected portions. (Constant Contact)

For SDB clients: if you began design under the older code, verify with your SDB project manager that the zoning basis remains valid. If your project straddles the code change, early identification of potential zoning adjustments will help avoid re-working plans or facing unexpected requirements.

Why This Matters for SDB Clients

At Sustainable Design Build we prioritize clear communication and schedule confidence from the earliest phases of your project. Because permitting and municipal reviews are significant path-factors in any remodel, addition or ADU, staying current with the permitting environment in Denver helps to:

• Set realistic timelines from design through construction

   

• Avoid surprises that might delay starts or add costs

   

• Provide transparency so clients feel informed and able to make decisions

   

We encourage clients to schedule an early-phase meeting with our team so we can map out permit timing, coordinate required reviews, and integrate known municipal review trends into the project schedule. For our ADU construction services page, click here: SDB ADU Services.

References

City and County of Denver. (2024). Development news from Community Planning and Development. Retrieved from https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Updates-from-the-Denver-Permitting-Office.html?aid=f2vf_W9STzU (Original newsletter) (Constant Contact)