Denver Building Codes in Effect for 2026
If you are building, remodeling, replacing structural components, preparing permit drawings, or checking an older Denver project, the code year matters. A common point of confusion is that Denver calls its current collection the 2025 Denver Building and Fire Code, even though it is the code being used for new projects in 2026.
Denver adopted the code on June 13, 2025. Updates that became the second printing were adopted November 24, 2025. For a current project, use Denver’s second-printing material and current policies rather than an older draft or first-printing copy.
Which Building Codes Has Denver Adopted?
The Denver code is not simply one book. Denver adopts national model codes and then adds local amendments for Denver conditions, administration, permitting, climate, fire safety, energy requirements, and other local needs.
| Code area | Edition used in Denver in 2026 | What it generally covers |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Building | 2024 International Building Code (IBC) + 2025 Denver amendments | Commercial buildings, multifamily projects, occupancy, structural, accessibility and life-safety requirements. |
| Residential | 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) + Denver amendments | Applicable one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses and related residential work. |
| Existing Buildings | 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) + Denver amendments | Repairs, alterations, additions and changes of occupancy in existing buildings. |
| Mechanical | 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) + Denver amendments | HVAC, ventilation and mechanical systems. |
| Plumbing | 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) + Denver amendments | Plumbing systems, fixtures, supply and drainage. |
| Fuel Gas | 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) + Denver amendments | Gas piping and fuel-gas appliances. |
| Fire | 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) + Denver amendments | Fire prevention, fire protection systems, hazardous conditions and operational safety. |
| Energy | 2021 IECC + 2025 Denver Energy Code amendments | Envelope, mechanical efficiency, lighting, testing and energy-compliance documentation. |
| Electrical | 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70) | Electrical installations. Denver states that it uses the same electrical code adopted by Colorado. |
| Green construction | 2022 Denver Green Code | Limited mandatory green-building provisions for applicable commercial and multifamily development, plus voluntary options. |
Denver’s official Building and Fire Codes page provides the current Denver code, code policies, ICC links, guides, Energy Code resources, Green Code information and archived editions.
Which Code Applies to Your Project in 2026?
For most people starting a new permit application in 2026, the answer is simple: use the 2025 Denver Building Code. Older projects need a little more care because Denver created transition rules for work designed under the 2019 or 2022 code.
| Your situation | Practical code answer |
|---|---|
| First complete construction-document submission occurs in 2026 | Design under the 2025 Denver Building Code. |
| Complete 2022-code documents were properly submitted by December 31, 2025 | The project may continue under the transition rules if Denver accepted the applicable submission and deadlines are satisfied. |
| A 2022-code submission made before the deadline was incomplete or rejected, then resubmitted after December 31, 2025 | Denver’s transition policy says the project must comply with the 2025 code in its entirety. |
| Revision or resubmittal for an older project that already had an accepted Building Log Application Intake | The December 31, 2025 initial-submission deadline does not automatically force the project onto the new code. |
| Deferred submittal or modified drawing for an older accepted project | It can generally remain under the prior design code when allowed by Denver’s transition policy. |
| Type Approved application submitted after December 31, 2025 | It must be based on a Master design compliant with the 2025 Denver Building Code. |
| Multiple buildings submitted separately | A separate building first submitted after December 31, 2025 must use the 2025 code, even when it belongs to the same larger development. |
For an older active project, use Denver’s official Code Transition Rules & Application Expiration policy. The code year shown on the approved project documents should not be changed just because a newer code now exists.
Important Denver Residential Design Values
Denver’s 2025 Residential Code updated several design references that matter to homeowners, designers, engineers and contractors. These numbers are especially useful when reviewing new homes, additions, garages, structural alterations, foundations and roof work.
| Design item | Denver residential value / rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ground snow load | 43 psf for the Denver prescriptive IRC table | Increased from 35 psf under the prior Denver code. A location-specific value may be available through the ASCE Hazard Tool as allowed by the code. |
| Residential wind speed | 115 / 125 / 140 mph, depending on location | Denver has locally amended wind criteria. The correct speed depends on the site’s location within the city. |
| Seismic Design Category | B | Used in structural design and prescriptive construction requirements. |
| Frost-line depth | 36 inches | Important for footings and foundations exposed to frost conditions. |
| Weathering | Severe | Affects material and durability considerations. |
| Winter design temperature | 1°F | Used in applicable mechanical and building design considerations. |
| Elevation used in Manual J table | 5,285 feet | Denver’s altitude affects HVAC sizing and performance assumptions. |
How to check the snow load for a Denver address
- Open the ASCE Hazard Tool. Visit the official ASCE Hazard Tool.
- Enter the project address. Use the actual construction location rather than a nearby ZIP-code estimate.
- Select ASCE/SEI 7-22. Denver’s current snow-load guidance is based on the updated ASCE 7-22 approach.
- Select the correct risk category and Snow as the load type. For prescriptive IRC use, Denver’s guidance discusses Risk Category II. Engineered IBC work must use the category applicable to the building.
- Use the correct result in your design. Denver warns that the allowable-stress value used for prescriptive IRC work is not automatically the value to use for engineered ASCE 7-22 calculations.
If you are preparing structural drawings, read Denver’s official 2025 snow-load changes guide. It explains the shift to risk-targeted snow loads and common design mistakes.
Denver Energy Code Requirements in 2026
The energy code is the main exception to the 2024 I-Code cycle. Denver’s current Energy Code is based on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code with Denver’s 2025 amendments.
For residential projects, energy compliance is not only a plan-review issue. Depending on the selected compliance path and project, final documentation can include:
- Residential Energy Efficiency Certificate of Compliance;
- blower-door air-leakage test results;
- duct-leakage testing where applicable;
- mechanical ventilation testing where applicable;
- final performance or ERI compliance reports when those compliance paths are used.
Denver updated its residential Energy Code policy effective May 19, 2026. The current requirements are available through the city’s Building Codes, Policies and Guides page.
Denver Green Code and Green Buildings Ordinance
Building-code compliance is not the end of the review for every project. Denver also maintains green-building requirements.
The Denver Green Code is based on the International Green Construction Code. Denver requires limited mandatory provisions for applicable commercial and multifamily projects while also allowing additional voluntary green-code options.
The separate Green Buildings Ordinance can apply to:
- new buildings of 25,000 square feet or more;
- building additions of 25,000 square feet or more; and
- roof permits for existing buildings of 25,000 square feet or more.
Large commercial and multifamily owners should check this early because roof, energy, site and sustainability requirements can affect design before the normal building permit is ready to submit.
Building Code Is Not the Same as Zoning
A project can satisfy the building code and still fail zoning review. Building codes focus primarily on construction safety and performance. Zoning regulates issues such as permitted uses, setbacks, building form, lot coverage, height and placement.
Denver’s development rules can also involve:
- Denver Zoning Code or Former Chapter 59 zoning;
- landmark and historic-district review;
- design-review districts;
- view-plane restrictions;
- floodplain requirements;
- parkway and street-tree rules;
- sewer use and drainage permits;
- right-of-way requirements; and
- fire-department review.
The city’s Regulations, Codes and Standards page is useful when a project has more than a basic building-code question.
Do You Need a Denver Building Permit?
Denver requires permits for most construction, alteration and repair work, but the building code contains exemptions. An exemption from a building permit does not automatically exempt the work from zoning, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, landmark, floodplain or other rules.
Examples found in Denver’s code and current guidance include certain minor repairs and limited work such as some like-for-like residential window or door replacements where there is no structural alteration or opening-size change. Historic properties and hazardous glazing locations can have additional requirements.
Roofing has its own practical threshold. Denver states that roof repairs covering more than 10% of the roof area or two roofing squares, whichever is smaller, require a roof permit.
How to Use Denver’s Code for a Real Project
You usually do not need to read hundreds of code pages from beginning to end. A better approach is to identify the code path for your exact project.
- Confirm the property is actually under Denver jurisdiction. The 2025 Denver Building Code applies to the City and County of Denver, not automatically to Aurora, Adams County, Boulder or other nearby jurisdictions.
- Identify the project type. Decide whether the work is a one- or two-family residential project, commercial or multifamily project, existing-building alteration, change of occupancy, demolition, trade replacement, roof project or another category.
- Confirm the code year. A new 2026 application normally uses the 2025 Denver code. Older active applications should be checked against Denver’s transition policy before redesigning anything.
- Read both the model code and Denver amendment. Do not stop at the 2024 IRC or IBC. Check whether Denver replaced or amended the section that applies to your work.
- Check related local rules. Review zoning, Energy Code, Green Code, landmark, floodplain, right-of-way, fire and sewer requirements as applicable.
- Prepare the permit documents. Plans may need site information, dimensions, construction details, structural calculations, energy documentation and licensed-design-professional information depending on the scope.
- Use Denver e-permits for the live action. Sign in, open Development Services, choose Apply for a Permit, then select the permit type that matches the project.
Open Denver’s official e-permits system →
2026 Electrical Code: Denver Uses the 2026 NEC
Denver’s current Building and Fire Codes page states that the city adopts and enforces the 2026 National Electrical Code, also known as NFPA 70. Denver describes it as the same electrical code adopted by the State of Colorado and adopted without Denver amendments.
This matters when reviewing electrical service upgrades, panel work, EV charging, solar, new construction, remodeling and other projects that include electrical permits. Do not assume plans prepared under the previous 2023 NEC are automatically current for a new 2026 electrical application.
Existing Buildings and Remodeling
An existing building is not automatically required to be rebuilt to every new-construction requirement simply because Denver adopted a newer code. The Denver Existing Building Code provides compliance paths for repairs, alterations, additions and changes of occupancy.
The scope of work matters. For example, a small interior alteration is evaluated differently from an addition, structural modification or change from one occupancy classification to another.
One 2025-code issue worth noticing is roof loading. Denver’s snow-load guidance explains that adding roof insulation can change thermal factors and, in some existing-building situations, can trigger structural evaluation when load effects increase enough to cross the Existing Building Code threshold.
2026 Construction and Demolition Recycling Note
Denver’s Building and Fire Codes page now includes a notice that Construction & Demolition requirements under the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance became effective September 1, 2026.
Projects subject to these requirements may need to divert construction or demolition debris through recycling or reuse and may have associated administrative-fee and performance-security requirements before permit issuance. This is separate from the structural code but can affect a 2026 permit workflow.
Is Your Property Outside Denver?
Colorado does not use one local building code for every city and county. Nearby jurisdictions can adopt different code editions, amendments, permit exemptions and electrical transition dates.
If your project is not within the City and County of Denver, use the authority that actually has jurisdiction. These nearby guides may help:
- Adams County, Colorado building permits and codes
- Aurora, Colorado building permits and adopted codes
- Boulder, Colorado building permits and codes
A postal address alone is not always enough to identify the permitting authority. Confirm municipal or county jurisdiction before designing to a code.
Official Denver Building Code Resources
Current code downloads, amendments, policies, Energy Code, Green Code, ICC links and archived Denver codes.
Open Denver Building and Fire Codes →Use this when zoning, landmark, floodplain, transportation, parks or other development rules may also apply.
Open Regulations, Codes and Standards →Used for site-specific hazard data including Denver snow-load information. Do not substitute it for Denver’s locally amended wind criteria.
Open ASCE Hazard Tool →Apply for development permits, search records, check plan-review status and schedule eligible inspections.
Open Denver E-Permits →Denver Building Code FAQs
1. What building code is Denver using in 2026?
Denver uses the 2025 Denver Building and Fire Code for new 2026 projects. It incorporates the 2024 International Codes with Denver amendments, except the Denver Energy Code is based on the 2021 IECC with 2025 local amendments.
2. Is Denver using the 2024 IBC?
Yes. The Denver Commercial Building Code incorporates the 2024 International Building Code, but Denver amendments must be applied with it. Using the unamended IBC alone is not enough for a Denver project.
3. What residential building code does Denver use?
Denver’s current Residential Code is based on the 2024 International Residential Code with Denver-specific amendments. It applies to qualifying one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses and related residential projects.
4. What electrical code does Denver use in 2026?
Denver currently lists and enforces the 2026 National Electrical Code, or NEC/NFPA 70. The city states that this is the same electrical code adopted by the State of Colorado.
5. What is Denver’s residential ground snow load?
The 2025 Denver Residential Code lists a 43 psf ground snow load for its prescriptive table, increased from 35 psf under the prior code. Denver also allows applicable location-specific snow data from the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool.
6. What is the frost depth in Denver?
Denver’s current residential design criteria list a 36-inch frost-line depth. Project-specific foundation and engineering requirements still need to be followed.
7. What wind speed should I use for a Denver project?
Denver’s residential table lists location-dependent wind speeds of 115, 125 or 140 mph. The correct value depends on where the property is located. Denver’s code locally amends wind criteria, so designers should use the Denver code rather than assuming an ASCE Hazard Tool wind value controls.
8. Can a project submitted under the 2022 Denver code continue in 2026?
Some projects can. Denver’s transition policy allows qualifying older applications, revisions and deferred submittals to remain under the prior code when the required submission and acceptance conditions were met. A new first-time complete submission in 2026 must use the 2025 Denver Building Code.
9. Where can I download the official Denver building code?
Use the City and County of Denver’s Building and Fire Codes page. It links to the current 2025 Denver Building Code second printing, Fire Code, ICC model codes, policies, guides, Energy Code resources and archived editions.
10. Does following the Denver Building Code mean my project is automatically approved?
No. A project may also need zoning, energy, fire, sewer, floodplain, landmark, right-of-way, Green Code or other approvals. Permit issuance occurs only after the applicable reviews and requirements are satisfied.
Information checked: October 2026. Building codes, policies and permit procedures can change. This guide is an independent explanation of publicly available requirements and is not an official City and County of Denver publication. For a project-specific interpretation, approved plans and written direction from the applicable Denver code official control.