Denver City Council has recently passed a new ordinance requiring any property with two or more rental units on a single parcel to have a residential rental license by January 1, 2023. This licensing program is part of the City of Denver’s effort to achieve minimum housing standards and hold property owners and managers accountable for providing a safe living space for their tenants. 

The Denver Department of Excise and Licenses is offering tips and suggested best practices for property owners and managers to get licensed in compliance with the law to avoid potential delays and/or citations or fines due to illegal operations. 

1 – Schedule an Inspection: The property MUST pass an inspection by a qualified, third- party inspector. Currently in the City of Denver there are only a handful of certified inspectors approved to conduct thousands of inspections and Axium is proud to be among them. It is recommended to begin the inspection process immediately to avoid delays due to an overwhelming number of applications and backlogs which could slow processing times. Starting the process early will also allow time for any repairs, if necessary. Any properties that fail inspections will need to be re-inspected until receiving a passing inspection.  

2 – Review the City’s Rental Inspection Checklist and Guidebook. 

3 – Common areas and shared utilities: A certification statement on the checklist must be completed. Inspectors must inspect all items, regardless of units that have been randomly selected. 

4 – Plan ahead: If more than one unit per property must be inspected, a random number generator must be used. Units are randomly selected by the inspector. It is advised to plan ahead and notify tenants if their unit will be inspected. 

5 – Adhere to Deadlines: Applications must be submitted within 90 days of a completed inspection. 

6 – Single vs. Multi Unit Deadlines: If more than one unit is offered for rent at a property, a license is required by Jan. 1, 2023. Single units are not required to have a license until Jan. 1, 2024. Single unit residential rental license applicants quality for the 50% application fee discount until Jan. 1, 2024. 

For additional information on Denver Rental Inspections, please visit our website or the City & County’s of Denver’s website.