Public Hearing for Safe Occupancy bill set for July 10

Denver City Council has requested a courtesy public hearing on Monday, July 10, at the first reading of the safe occupancy bill (17-0726). While this bill does not require a public hearing before a vote, the council members would like to hear from anyone who would like to speak on it, and July 10 is that opportunity. July 17 is the expected date of Council’s final vote on the bill. 

July 10, 5:30 p.m.
City Council first reading and courtesy public hearing
1437 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80202
Third floor council chambers
To speak, sign up with the council secretary either before the meeting beginning at 5 p.m., or during council recess mid-meeting

July 17, 5:30 p.m.
City Council second reading and vote
1437 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80202
Third floor council chambers

About the Safe Occupancy Program

Denver Community Planning and Development and the Denver Fire Department have proposed a conditional building occupancy program for unpermitted spaces that will ensure life safety, limit displacement, and allow extended deadlines and collaborative solutions to achieve code compliance. The program is designed to incentivize the owners and tenants of unpermitted spaces to come forward and work with the city to make their buildings safe — thereby increasing safety for occupants, visitors, neighbors and the general public.

This week a City Council committee advanced the proposal to City Council.

The program would make Denver the first city in the country with a law explicitly granting legal occupancy of unpermitted spaces while a building is being brought up to code voluntarily. Life safety hazards must be addressed up front. 

While first and foremost ensuring public safety, the program offers three key benefits:
• Allows people to remain in place 
• Offers an extended deadline for compliance
• Encourages collaboration for creative and potentially cheaper solutions

As property values rise, displacement is a very real concern, for the arts community and for other vulnerable groups in Denver. This program can make it safer, easier and less expensive for people to continue living and working in their neighborhoods.

The safe occupancy program was designed with creative spaces in mind but is applicable to many other uses of existing buildings. It allows building improvements to progress at a pace that makes sense for the property owner and the city, increasing the affordability of the project by distributing construction costs over a longer time. City code officials will work with building owners, tenants and contractors to identify reasonable and more affordable ways to meet the intent of building and fire codes.