The following is a Denver Residential Rental Property Informational Bulletin issues on May 11, 2023

After an extensive city education and outreach effort for Mile High City landlords, the City and County of Denver has begun issuing citations and fines for landlords not in compliance with city rules requiring licensing for multiunit residential rental properties.

Denver issues fines and citations only as a last resort and after efforts to notify unlawfully operating landlords of the licensing requirement. As of Jan. 1, it is the law in Denver for any property with more than one unit offered for rent for 30 days or more to have received a residential rental license.

Since February, the Department of Excise and Licenses has issued more than 1,000 notices of violation to landlords identified with a property not in compliance with Denver law, which is part of the City’s drive to achieve minimum housing standards. City investigators continue to identify additional unlicensed properties and issue new notices of violation on a daily basis.

This week, landlords who have not begun the process toward getting licensed since receiving a notice of violation in the past 60 days were issued an administrative penalty of $150. If landlords don’t begin the licensing process within the next two weeks, those landlords are subject to a $500 fine. If there is continued inaction by unlawfully operating landlords to get licensed within two weeks after the second citation, those landlords are subject to a $999 fine – that can be issued daily.

The application to get the license has been available for 14 months. Our team of technicians and investigators is available to work with landlords to get in compliance and to avoid fines.

The application fee for multiunit residential rental licenses now costs $50, and the licensing fee varies based on the number of units being licensed. The license is good for four years, but a new inspection and license is required if there is a change of ownership.

The property must pass an inspection by a qualified, third-party inspector. A list of nearly 50 qualified third-party inspectors is on our website. Inspectors have told the Department of Excise and Licenses that there is not a backlog to schedule and conduct inspections. A guidebook is available on the residential rental property webpage. More than two-thirds of applications are being processed by EXL staff within one week and more than 90% within 30 days.

Starting Jan 1, 2024, a license will be required for anyone offering, providing, or operating a residential rental property consisting of a single rental unit. Applicants for single-unit properties receive a 50% reduction in the application fee (reduced from $50 to $25) if they apply in 2023.

Share this message with any rental property owners/managers and encourage them to sign up for the residential rental property informational bulletin to receive news and updates about the program as they become available. Previous updates sent in informational bulletins are available on our website.

If you have questions or comments, email [email protected].