Definitions.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 27-219
in effectSec. 27-219. - Definitions.
The following words and phrases, as used in this article, have the following meanings:
(a) AMI or area median income means the median income for the Denver metropolitan area, adjusted for household size, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(b) Affordable housing plan means a plan approved by the executive director of the department of housing stability outlining the number and type of income restricted units to be provided when an applicant elects to build income restricted units on-site as required by this article.
(c) Affordable housing project means a residential rental or ownership development in which the number of affordable units for that project is at least equal to the number and affordability level of IRUs otherwise required under section 27-224(c).
(d) Applicant means any person, firm, partnership, association, joint venture, corporation, or any other entity or combination of entities, or affiliated entities and any transferee of all or part of the real property at one location that submits an application for a project that would provide a total of ten (10) or more new dwelling units at one location in Denver.
(e) At one location means all real property under common ownership or control by the applicant if:
(1) The properties are contiguous at any point;
(2) The properties are separated only by a public or private right-of-way or utility corridor right-of-way, at any point; or
(3) The properties are separated only by other real property owned by the applicant which is not subject to this article at the time of any building permit(s), site development plan, subdivision, or other zoning development application by the applicant.
(f) Building permit means any residential or commercial construction permit issued for the construction of any structure, foundation and/or superstructure or any similar term used to issue permits for such work as the terminology may be modified by the department of community planning and development. A building permit does not include permits for shoring or excavation and any associated permits for such work as electrical, mechanical, plumbing or similar permits.
(g) Comprehensive plan means the Denver Comprehensive Plan 2040 or its successor.
(h) CPI-U or Consumer Price Index means the United States Department of Labor Statistics (Bureau of Labor Statistics) Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, All items, for the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Colorado area (1982-84=100). In the event that the CPI-U is substantially changed, renamed, or abandoned by the United States Government, then in its place shall be substituted the index established by the United States Government that most closely resembles the CPI-U, as determined by the executive director of the department of housing stability.
(i) Director means the executive director of HOST or executive director's designee.
(j) Dwelling unit shall have the same meaning as defined in article 11 of the Denver Zoning Code.
(k) Eligible household means (i) a household whose income qualifies them to rent or purchase an IRU and who holds a valid verification of eligibility from HOST; and (ii) nonprofit organizations designated by the director and governmental or quasi-governmental bodies who rent or purchase an IRU for the purpose of renting or selling an IRU to a household whose income qualifies them to rent or purchase the IRU.
(l) High market area means census tracts in the City and County of Denver with the highest land values compared to the citywide median land value. Classification of high market areas shall be periodically updated as set forth in the rules and regulations.
(m) High impact development means any combination of residential, non-residential, or mixed-use structures that are built as a part of a development where the development:
(1) Will be built on ten (10) or more acres; or
(2) Is using a city-approved financing tool, such as tax increment financing or a metropolitan district.
(n) HOST means the department of housing stability of the City and County of Denver or its successor.
(o) HOST strategic plan means the three- to five-year strategic plan or its successor as required by section 27-164(a).
(p) IRU or income-restricted unit means a dwelling unit required by this article to be affordable as set forth in section 27-224, a negotiated alternative, or a high impact development compliance plan.
(q) On-site means at the same location of a residential development.
(r) Ownership development means a residential development where dwelling units are offered for sale.
(s) Rental development means a residential development where dwelling units are offered for rent.
(t) Residential development means any project that would create ten (10) or more new dwelling units at one location by (i) the construction or alteration of structures or (ii) the conversion of a use within an existing structure to a residential use containing dwelling units from any other non-residential use. If a project has both residential and non-residential uses, the residential portion of a project shall be considered a residential development if it would create ten (10) or more new dwelling units.
(u) Typical market area means census tracts in the City and County of Denver that are not identified as high market areas. Classification of typical market areas shall be periodically updated as set forth in the rules and regulations.
(v) Townhouse shall have the same meaning as defined in the International Residential Code (IRC).
(Ord. No. 426-22, § 2, 6-6-22; Ord. No. 1154-24, § 2, 9-30-24)
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_ARTXMAAFHO_DIV1GE_S27-219DEFetched: 10/27/2026