Criteria for designation of structures and districts for preservation.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 30-3
in effectSec. 30-3. - Criteria for designation of structures and districts for preservation.
A structure or district may be designated for preservation if, due to its significance, it meets the criteria listed in subsections (1), (2) and (3) below:
(1) The structure or district maintains its integrity;
(2) The structure or district is more than thirty (30) years old, or is of exceptional importance; and
(3) The structure or district meets at least three (3) of the following ten (10) criteria:
a. It has a direct association with a significant historic event or with the historical development of the city, state, or nation;
b. It has direct and substantial association with a recognized person or group of persons who had influence on society;
c. It embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style or type;
d. It is a significant example of the work of a recognized architect or master builder;
e. It contains elements of design, engineering, materials, craftsmanship, or artistic merit which represent a significant innovation or technical achievement;
f. It represents an established and familiar feature of the neighborhood, community, or contemporary city, due to its prominent location or physical characteristics;
g. It promotes understanding and appreciation of the urban environment by means of distinctive physical characteristics or rarity;
h. It represents an era of culture or heritage that allows an understanding of how the site was used by past generations;
i. It is a physical attribute of a neighborhood, community, or the city that is a source of pride or cultural understanding; or
j. It is associated with social movements, institutions, or patterns of growth or change that contributed significantly to the culture of the neighborhood, community, city, state, or nation.
In evaluating the structure's or district's eligibility for designation, the landmark preservation commission ("commission") shall consider the structure's or district's historic context.
(Code 1950, § 131.12(5); Ord. No. 333-82, § 1, 6-21-82; Ord. No. 934-94, § 1(a), 11-14-94; Ord. No. 419-01, § 2, 5-21-01; Ord. No. 616-12, § 3, 12-3-12; Ord. No. 914-19, § 3, 9-30-19)
Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH30LAPR_ARTIINGE_S30-3CRDESTDIPRFetched: 10/27/2026