Landlord Alert: Proposed Changes Could Increase Denver Rental License Fines by 400%!
I think we all knew the Denver Rental License Program in Denver would run off the rails – pretty much as soon as it was announced – and this new proposal just proves that to be true.
The City of Denver’s Department of Excise and Licenses (EXL) is proposing a major change to the fines for residential rental license violations. This could have a significant financial impact on landlords across the city.
What’s the Proposed Change?
Right now, the highest fine for a Denver rental license violation is $999. The city wants to increase that amount to $5,000 per violation, PER DAY!!
That’s not a typo. A simple mistake or oversight could potentially cost you thousands of dollars for every day it’s not resolved. The city’s goal is to align its fine structure with the one used by the Department of Public Health and Environment, giving both agencies similar enforcement power.
For small-scale landlords, a penalty of this size could be devastating. This makes it more important than ever to be diligent and ensure your properties are fully compliant with Denver’s licensing rules.
If you need any help or guidance with obtaining or renewing your rental license – reach out for a FREE, no obligation, consultation with me and I will help guide you through the process.
How to Make Your Voice Heard
The City Council’s Finance and Business Committee will be discussing this proposal, and there is an opportunity for public comment. If you have an opinion on this, I encourage you to share it.
Here are the meeting details:
You can join the meeting in person, watch it live on TV, or join online:
- When: Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
- Where: City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St, Room 391
- Join Online: You can also join via Zoom.
- Meeting ID: 874 3187 9029
- Phone: 720-928-9299
Important: If you want to speak at the meeting (either in person or on Zoom), you must sign up for public comment ahead of time.
Sign-up opens at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 23, and closes one hour before the meeting begins. You can find instructions on how to sign up on the city’s website.
What Should You Do?
My advice is to be proactive. Use this as an opportunity to perform a quick audit of your rental properties to ensure compliance with the Denver Rental License program. Double-check that your license is active, your contact information is correct, and you’re clear on all the city’s requirements.
This proposal is a stark reminder that the regulatory landscape is always changing. Staying informed and prepared is the best way to protect your investment.
If you have any questions about this or any other aspect of buying, selling, or managing investment properties in the Denver area, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
What is the Denver Rental License Program?
The Denver Rental License program was established to ensure that all rental homes in the city are safe, healthy, and meet basic living standards for tenants.
The program requires anyone renting out a residential property for 30 days or more to obtain the Denver rental license from the city. This applies to all types of rental properties, from single-family homes and condos to multi-unit apartment buildings.
The core requirement of the program is a property inspection. Before you can apply for a license, your rental unit must be inspected by a city-certified, third-party inspector. This inspection isn’t meant to be overly burdensome; it focuses on essential health and safety standards.
The inspector uses a specific checklist provided by the city to verify things like working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, safe and functional electrical and plumbing systems, adequate heating, and proper egress from sleeping areas.
Once your property passes this inspection, you can complete the license application online and pay the associated fee. The license is valid for four years, after which you will need to get a new inspection and renew it.
The goal of the program is to be proactive about tenant safety. By requiring these baseline standards, the city aims to ensure all landlords are providing safe housing.
Failure to comply can result in significant financial penalties, which is why staying informed about rule changes—like the proposed fine increase—is so critical for every Denver landlord.