2025 Building and Fire Code Adoption Process

Overview

On June 13, 2025, the City and County of Denver adopted new building and fire codes, which incorporate the following international codes (I-codes).  

  • 2024 International Building Code (IBC)
  • 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
  • 2024 International Residential Code (IRC)
  • 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
  • 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC)
  • 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
  • 2024 International Fire Code (IFC)
  • 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

Except for the IECC, Denver adopted the 2024 I-Codes and significantly reduced the number of amendments to these codes, with limited new amendments being added. For the IECC, Denver again adopted the 2021 IECC and made limited changes to Denver’s current amendments.

The overall goal for this amendment cycle was to align Denver’s codes more closely with the I-codes by deleting amendments not specific to Denver, with new amendments added only for items deemed necessary.

Process and Timeline

Process and Timeline (Except for IECC)

  1. March 2024: Committees for each I-code were established that consist of City and County of Denver staff that are subject matter experts for a particular code. 
  2. April and May 2024: Committees completed baseline updates to Denver’s current amendments to align the amendments with the 2024 I-codes. No substantive changes were made to Denver’s amendments with these baseline updates.
  3. May through September 2024: Committees completed an amendment reduction effort where every amendment was evaluated to determine if it was specific to Denver and necessary to retain, with amendments being deleted if not.
  4. September and October 2024: Committees developed and voted on a limited number of new amendments deemed necessary at this time.
  5. Mid-February to Mid-April 2025: Public review and comment period opens. Comments will be reviewed by the committees and incorporated into Denver’s amendments where appropriate.
  6. Spring 2025: Final 2025 Denver Building and Fire Code will go to City Council for legislative review with the following anticipated schedule. Visit the City Council website for information on how to watch and participate in meetings. 
    1. Tuesday, May 20 - Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure (LUTI) Committee
    2. Monday, June 2 - City Council first reading
    3. Monday, June 9 - City Council second reading and final vote

  7. Summer 2025: Once adopted, there will be an approximately 6-month transition period where either the 2022 or 2025 Denver Building Code may be used.

Process and Timeline (IECC)

  1. November 2024: Limited revisions were made to Denver’s current amendments to the 2021 IECC. These revisions were made primarily to align the Denver Energy Code with the Colorado State Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, as required by the State of Colorado.
  2. Further advancement of the Denver Energy Code will take place later in 2025, after adoption of the 2025 Denver Building and Fire Code. 

Project Archive

Use the links below to view the legislative review draft, along with a summary of significant changes to Denver's amendments and presentation slide deck, which highlights the process and significant changes.

The draft version is shown in “strikethrough” format, with new text shown underlined and deleted text shown with a strikethrough. Baseline updates to align Denver’s amendments with the 2024 I-codes are not shown since there were no substantive changes with these updates.

If you use assistive technology and need help accessing or reading the content in any of these documents, please contact CPDCommunications@denvergov.org.

Follow the Code Adoption Process

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