Sidewalk Construction, Reconstruction and Repair
The construction, reconstruction and repair of sidewalks was, historically, the responsibility of adjacent property owners in Denver. In November 2022, a citizen-led ballot initiative approved by voters, known as Denver Deserves Sidewalks and Ordinance 307, shifted the responsibility of sidewalk construction and maintenance to the city and established a fee the city is to charge property owners to fund the sidewalk work. Take The Survey Now and Provide your Feedback: www.denvergov.org/sidewalks.
Here’s a link to the full ordinance language.
THE REVIEW IS SUGGESTING FLAT RATES FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT WOULD BE MORE TENABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS. Please read through this Ordinance and planned changes which would be more fair and equitable to all.
NOTICE: The Denver Sidewalk Ordinance 307 Stakeholder Committee, established by Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) and composed of residents from each of the City Council Districts, representatives from the DOTI Advisory Board and proponents of the citizen-initiated ordinance, has been meeting to make recommendations on refinements to the sidewalk ordinance to:
- address concerns community members have raised regarding fees assessed to residential properties (particularly properties that would be assessed fees substantially higher than the average under the original ordinance) and the potential burden on lower-income households
- ensure the ordinance remains compliant with TABOR requirements, and
- ensure DOTI is able to successfully implement a sustainable program for the construction, reconstruction, and ongoing repairs of sidewalks citywide.
After careful consideration, the sidewalk task force is recommending three amendments to the ordinance and is seeking community feedback on the proposed amendments. Please read these first, then take the survey via link below
| Residential property type | Fee per residential unit |
|---|---|
| Single Family residential
(Defined as properties classified by the Denver Assessor’s Office as “Residential” with exactly 1 residential unit located on the parcel) |
$148.64 |
| Multifamily residential
(Defined as properties classified by the Denver Assessor’s Office as “Residential” with 2 or more residential units located on the parcel) |
$27.83 |
For example, a 10-unit multi-family complex would have a fee of $278.30 ($27.83*10).
For all other properties, the Committee recommends keeping the sidewalk fee per linear foot of property frontage outlined in Section 49-148(a) of the ordinance.
The Committee recommends replacing the 20% discount on the fee for properties located in neighborhoods identified through the city’s Neighborhood Equity & Stabilization (NEST) with the following:
- A 20% instant rebate on the fee for properties with income-restricted housing, where at least 25% of the residential units are available only to households meeting certain low income criteria; and
- An instant rebate program for income-qualified property owners that is aligned with Denver’s Solid Waste Service Rebate program. Currently under this program, property owners that receive trash and recycling collection services from Denver’s Solid Waste division (a single family home, townhome, duplex or apartment in a complex with 7 or fewer units), are eligible to apply for the following-income based rebates:
| Income | Instant Rebate |
|---|---|
| <60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) | 50% |
| <50% of the AMI | 75% |
| <30% of the AMI | 100% |
The Committee recommends revising the timeline for implementation to “within nine years of the effective date of this section, or as soon thereafter as determined feasible by the manager of transportation and infrastructure.”
The Task Force further recommends revising this section of the ordinance to state that the initial capital investment plan should “prioritize the repair or reconstruction of all existing sidewalks that are in severe disrepair, that represent a safety hazard, or which do not minimally comply with legally mandated accessibility standards.”
Take The Survey Now and Provide your Feedback: www.denvergov.org/sidewalks.