Denver Launches New Permitting Office to Tackle Backlogs and Break Ground Faster

If you’ve ever tried pulling a permit in Denver, you know it’s… not quick. But change might finally be on the way.

Mayor Mike Johnston just signed Executive Order 151 to create the Denver Permitting Office (DPO), a new agency bringing together 280 employees from 7 departments to simplify and speed up the city’s notoriously clunky development review process.

Denver is now publicly committing to completing every permit review within 180 days. If they miss that deadline, you can immediately appeal, and if it’s still not resolved within 30 days, the city could owe you up to $10,000 in refunded application fees.

Also coming are expanded permit counter hours (Mon–Fri, 8AM–4PM), a “one-stop-shop” website: DenverGov.org/dpo, an in-person help from new “Project Champions” who will guide your permit from start to finish, and the city says this will cut red tape, accelerate housing creation, and help more businesses open doors.

The DPO launches in mid-May. Fingers crossed it does what it says on the tin.