Denver is seeing increasing demand for non-traditional housing. With the evolving needs of our residents in mind, along with recent changes to other housing regulations, city planners will work with an advisory committee to evaluate the Denver Zoning Code’s rules for “group living.” This evaluation will include a review of land uses and definitions for: households, community corrections facilities, shelters for the homeless, residential care homes, new uses like tiny home villages, and more. Based on this evaluation, planners will recommend updates to the zoning code for some or all of these housing types.

Learn about potential changes to residential use rules at open houses

What are the proposed changes?

• Allow more unrelated people to live together, as is already possible in most other cities, and provide flexibility and affordability.
• Allow residential care and group homes in more places and reduce inequity by no longer categorizing them by types of people or needs they serve. This will eliminate many barriers that facilities addressing community needs like shelters and halfway houses currently face, and it will allow residents to live closer to transit and services.
• Improve predictability for providers and neighbors by standardizing permitting processes and regulations, such as spacing between facilities.
• Require Community Information Meetings for larger residential care uses to notify and educate neighbors and foster positive relationships.

DOWNLOAD AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL

GET ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS HERE

READ THIS RECENT ARTICLE IN DENVERITE 

How do I weigh in?

A Community Planning Board meeting on the proposals is expected in April followed by a City Council vote, part of the process at which the public will have opportunities to comment on the possible changes.  Community members can learn about the proposal and share their thoughts at these public open houses in February and March: