CREMATORIES AND CREMATIONS

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 24, art. VI, div. 5

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-211 Construction and maintenance.

Sec. 24-211. - Construction and maintenance. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, operate or maintain, or cause or suffer to be erected, constructed, operated or maintained, any crematory within the city except as otherwise provided in this division. (b) All existing crematories and newly constructed crematories shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of the building code of the city. The crematory furnace shall be constructed in such a manner so that smoke or noxious gases will not be emitted therefrom in excess of that permitted by article III of chapter 57. (Code 1950, §§ 744.1, 744.1-1)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-212 Licensing required.

Sec. 24-212. - Licensing required. It shall be unlawful to operate a crematory without first having obtained from the manager of licensing and consumer protection a license therefor. Fees shall be as prescribed in section 32-66. Medical hospitals, duly licensed pursuant to the laws of the state and the ordinances of the city, shall be exempt from licensing under the provisions of this division. All duly licensed medical hospitals shall, however, comply with all other terms and conditions of this division and shall be required to have an accord of inspection services as provided herein. (Code 1950, § 744.3; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 14, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-213 Inspection services—Required.

Sec. 24-213. - Inspection services—Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a crematory except as provided in and authorized by this division without first having been accorded inspection services by the director of building inspection. (Code 1950, § 744.2)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-214 Same—Application.

Sec. 24-214. - Same—Application. (a) The application for inspection services required by this division shall contain the name of the person desiring such inspection services, the residence of the applicant, the type of crematory for which inspection services are required, the street address or location where the crematory is located or to be located, and any other relevant information required by the director of building inspection with respect to the undertaking proposed to be conducted or the facilities and equipment used in connection with the operation of any crematory licensed hereunder. (b) It shall be necessary to submit to the building inspection department detailed plans and specifications before any crematory is constructed, modified, remodeled, extended or enlarged. Before such work commences, such plans and specifications shall be approved by the building inspection department. (Code 1950, §§ 744.4, 744.4-1)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-215 Same—Accord.

Sec. 24-215. - Same—Accord. An accord of inspection services shall issue to any applicant to build, construct and operate a crematory or hospital crematory upon compliance with the provisions of this division. The director of building inspection shall, upon seven (7) days' written notice to whom the privilege of inspection services have been accorded, stating a contemplated action and in general the grounds therefor, and upon reasonable opportunity to be heard, revoke the privilege of the accord of inspection services if the director finds that: (1) The applicant for inspection services or the person licensed under the terms of this division to operate any crematory has violated any of the provisions of this division; or that (2) Any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed or had been known to exist at the time of the application for inspection services, would have warranted the director or any duly authorized representative, to refuse originally to accord such inspection services. (Code 1950, § 744.4-2)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-216 Inspections.

Sec. 24-216. - Inspections. (a) The director of building inspection shall conduct reasonable inspection or investigation of all crematories licensed under the provisions of this division and it shall be unlawful to hinder, prevent or refuse to permit any lawful inspection or investigation performed in connection with the provisions of this division. (b) The director of building inspection shall inspect, at least annually, all crematories governed under the provisions of this division. (Code 1950, §§ 744.6, 744.7)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-217 Permit for cremations required.

Sec. 24-217. - Permit for cremations required. It shall be unlawful for any person to cremate or permit to be cremated any stillborn, newborn or human body without first having obtained a permit therefor. The manager of public health and environment shall issue all permits required hereunder prior to cremation. (Code 1950, § 744.5; Ord. No. 1110-96, § 1, 12-16-96; Ord. No. 427-18, § 14, 6-11-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 24-218 Restrictions on cremations by hospitals.

Sec. 24-218. - Restrictions on cremations by hospitals. (a) Any hospital duly licensed by the state and the city may operate a crematory in conjunction with the hospital upon the same terms and conditions as provided for in all other crematories, provided however, that only abortive material, newborns, stillborns, human tissue and body parts may be cremated in a hospital crematory. (b) Any hospital crematory governed hereunder may dispose of fetal deaths and deaths of live births, if such deaths occur in the hospital, by cremation, provided such hospital shall first obtain written consent for such disposition from the next of kin. (c) Any hospital crematory governed under the provisions of this division may dispose of the amputated part or any other body part of a living person which is recovered in the course of an operation providing such person shall authorize the disposition; or, if the person is a minor or mentally incompetent, the authorization must first be obtained from the parents, guardian or conservator. (Code 1950, §§ 744.1-2, 744.8)

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_CH24HESA_ARTVIBIDE_DIV5CRCRFetched: 10/27/2026