Denver's initiative to bolster living conditions has yielded tangible results, with the city confirming the issuance of over 25,000 residential rental licenses. Since the full licensing requirement was put into play, the milestone, reached on January 6, reflects an effort to ensure that rental properties meet safety standards for residents. According to the City and County of Denver, these measures are part of Denver's largest upgrade in residential rental property standards in history.
"We started from scratch with this new license type and to cross 25,000 at the end of the first year of the full licensing requirement is a big accomplishment for the city," Molly Duplechian, executive director of the Department of Excise and Licenses stated, as per City and County of Denver. The city's success not only reflects on its administration but also on "the responsible landlords who value following the law and offering a safe home to rent," said Duplechian. This process has strategically worked to possibly make Denver the "safest place to rent a residence in America."
The journey to this milestone began with 2,108 initial licenses in 2022, and escalated the following year with 12,825 licenses for multiunit properties, before the requirement expanded to cover all residential rentals in 2024, resulting in an additional 10,070 licenses. As of the present, a total of 25,017 licenses cover properties comprising more than 177,000 rental units. Beyond simply issuing licenses, Denver's Department of Excise and Licenses remains vigilant in its efforts to enforce compliance, sending out 2,339 warning letters to errant property owners and imposing fines totaling $94,084 to those bucking the regulations.
