Designation of unfit dwellings.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 27-28
in effectSec. 27-28. - Designation of unfit dwellings.
(1) Designation. The manager may, without prior notice or hearing, designate a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit as unfit for human habitation if such dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit, regardless of whether it is occupied, does not conform to the standards established by this article, or the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated under it, and by reason of the nonconformity presents an imminent hazard to public health or to the physical or mental health of current or future occupants.
(2) Placarding; order to vacate. A dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit designated as unfit for human habitation by the manager may be appropriately placarded as such and must be vacated by the occupants within the time specified in the placard. The placard constitutes an order directing occupants to vacate and may serve as an order prohibiting access for any period of time as determined appropriate by the manager based on the nature of the hazard presented.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to deface, move, remove or obscure any placard affixed under the provisions of this article.
(b) No dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit which has been placarded shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from, and the placarding removed by, the manager. The manager shall remove the placard whenever the defects upon which the placarding action were based have been eliminated and the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house or rooming unit conforms to the standards established by this article and the provisions of the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated hereunder.
(3) Order to provide relocation assistance. The manager may order the owner or operator in charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit designated as unfit for human habitation to offer assistance, in writing, in obtaining an equivalent alternative dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit for those occupying the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit if entry for repair has been granted. Such order may include additional requirements for relocation assistance, including, but not limited to, reasonable expenses and costs. Any such order issued pursuant to this subsection shall only require that assistance be provided until the defects upon which the action was based have been eliminated and the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit conforms to the standards established by this article and the provisions of the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated hereunder. The manager shall post the order in a conspicuous place on the property designated as unfit pursuant to this section.
(4) Failure to provide relocation assistance; lien. It shall be unlawful to fail or refuse to comply any order issued by the manager under this section. In addition to any other penalty authorized under this article, if a party ordered to provide relocation assistance fails to comply with such an order and the city subsequently provides the relocation assistance, the whole cost to the city of providing the relocation assistance, plus five (5) percent of the cost for the relocation assistance, any costs of collection, and other incidental costs in connection therewith shall constitute a debt owed to the city and be secured by a lien on the subject property until paid in full. In this event, the manager shall certify a statement thereof to the manager of finance, who shall record a notice of such lien with the clerk and recorder. The lien created thereby shall be superior and prior to all other liens, regardless of their dates of recordation, except liens for general taxes and special assessments. The manager of finance shall assess and charge the same against the property involved upon recordation, and such debt shall be immediately due and payable in full. If the debt remains unpaid, the manager of finance shall be authorized to collect the debt in the same manner as delinquent real property taxes.
(5) Modifications under special circumstances. Whenever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this article, the manager may grant modifications for individual cases, provided he shall first notify the owner of the building, structure or utility and then find that a special individual reason makes the strict letter of the article impractical, that the modification is in conformity with the intent and purpose of this article and that such modification does not lessen any health or safety, fire protection requirements, or any degree of structural integrity. The details of any action granting modifications will be sent to the owner and entered in the files of the department of public health and environment.
(Ord. No. 997-95, § 1, 12-4-95; Ord. No. 1110-96, § 1, 12-16-96; Ord. No. 500, § 14, 9-17-07; Ord. No. 427-18, § 16, 6-11-18; Ord. No. 469-25, § 1, 5-19-25)
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_CH27HO_ARTIIHOCO_S27-28DEUNDWFetched: 10/27/2026