Denver Commercial Tenant Improvement Checklist

A commercial tenant finish can range from new flooring and partitions to a complete change in how a building is used.

Projects may involve zoning, building, fire, wastewater, public-health, electrical, mechanical and plumbing reviews. Denver also has energy, electrification and construction-waste requirements that can affect existing commercial buildings.

1. Define the proposed use

Identify:

• Business type
• Hours
• Employees
• Occupant load
• Customer traffic
• Food preparation
• Alcohol service
• Medical services
• Hazardous materials
• Manufacturing or storage
• Outdoor activity
• Deliveries
• Signage
• Parking demand

A former office may not automatically be approved for a restaurant, clinic, assembly use or industrial operation.

2. Confirm zoning

Before finalizing the lease or design:

• Confirm the zone district
• Verify that the use is allowed
• Identify parking requirements
• Review accessory uses
• Check outdoor-use restrictions
• Determine whether a zoning use permit is required
• Determine whether a site development plan is required
• Check for overlays and design-review areas

Projects involving a change of occupancy that creates new site impacts may require a site development plan before building permits.

3. Review the lease

The lease should address:

• Landlord approval
• Permitted use
• Tenant-improvement allowance
• Construction deadlines
• Required contractors
• Building-standard materials
• Utility capacity
• Roof penetrations
• Structural work
• Signage
• Work hours
• Insurance
• Ownership of improvements
• Restoration at lease end
• Rent commencement
• Delay responsibility

4. Research the property

Collect:

• Certificate of Occupancy
• Approved plans
• Past permits
• Zoning records
• Fire-protection plans
• Equipment schedules
• As-built drawings
• Environmental reports
• Roof warranty
• Utility information
• Landmark status
• Floodplain status

Denver notes that even interior work in a regulatory floodplain can require floodplain review.

5. Evaluate building systems

Assess:

• Electrical service
• Panels and distribution
• HVAC capacity
• Ventilation
• Plumbing
• Sewer capacity
• Gas service
• Fire sprinklers
• Fire alarms
• Emergency lighting
• Egress
• Restrooms
• Accessibility
• Structure
• Roof
• Grease interception
• Loading

6. Assemble the design team

Depending on scope, hire:

• Architect
• Structural engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Plumbing engineer
• Civil engineer
• Fire-protection designer
• Energy consultant
• Accessibility consultant
• Kitchen designer
• Permit consultant
• General contractor
• Construction manager

Denver states that commercial restaurant and kitchen plans must be prepared by licensed architects and engineers.

7. Identify applicable codes

Denver’s 2025 Building and Fire Codes have been effective since December 31, 2025. Confirm the currently adopted codes and any project-specific transition rules before submitting plans.

Potential requirements include:

• Building and fire codes
• Energy code
• Existing building code
• Accessibility
• Zoning
• Green Building Ordinance
• Energize Denver
• Waste No More
• Sewer-use and drainage
• Public health
• Landmark requirements

8. Determine the permit path

Denver requires permits for most construction, alteration and repair work.

Some limited trade work can use a quick permit. Most tenant-finish work requiring plan review should use the Building Log process in e-permits.

Possible approvals include:

• Zoning
• Building
• Electrical
• Mechanical
• Plumbing
• Boiler or commercial air conditioning
• Fire
• Wastewater
• Public health
• Right-of-way
• Signs
• Landmark approval

9. Review electrification requirements

Denver has special requirements for replacement of certain gas-fired and cooling equipment in commercial and multifamily buildings.

Examples can include:

• Gas-fired rooftop units
• Gas-fired forced-air systems
• Gas-fired water heaters
• Gas-fired make-up air units
• Certain cooling equipment serving heated spaces

Submissions may require an electrification feasibility report, gas-leak testing, equipment-sizing documentation or a licensed design professional.

10. Address fire and life safety

Evaluate:

• Occupant load
• Exit count and width
• Travel distance
• Exit signs
• Emergency lighting
• Fire-rated assemblies
• Door hardware
• Sprinklers
• Fire alarms
• Cooking suppression
• Hazardous materials
• Fire-department access
• Emergency-responder radio coverage

11. Consider landmark and design review

Exterior work on landmarks or properties in historic districts may require a certificate of appropriateness.

Potentially affected work includes storefronts, windows, doors, signs, rooftop equipment, vents, lighting, patios and additions.

12. Plan construction recycling

Denver’s updated construction and demolition diversion requirements take effect September 1, 2026. Until then, the city has paused recycling and reuse compliance-document submissions.

For permit applications on or after that date, a covered project may need:

• Recycling and reuse plan
• Material separation
• Identified facilities
• Weight tickets
• Donation records
• Final compliance documentation

Assign responsibility for these records in the construction contract.

13. Build a complete budget

Include:

• Architecture and engineering
• Surveys
• Permit fees
• Contractor work
• Utility work
• Fire-protection changes
• Hazardous-material testing
• Waste hauling
• Furniture and equipment
• Signage
• Data and communications
• Security
• Moving
• Temporary operations
• Contingency
• Rent during construction
• Financing and insurance

14. Select contractors carefully

Review:

• Legal business name
• Denver contractor licensing where applicable
• Colorado professional licenses where applicable
• Insurance
• Commercial experience
• References
• Safety program
• Subcontractors
• Schedule
• Exclusions
• Allowances
• Change-order terms
• Warranty
• Closeout requirements

Colorado and Denver regulate different trades through different systems. Verify the credentials needed for the specific work.

15. Compare proposals consistently

Every bid should be based on the same drawings and scope.

Compare demolition, finishes, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, data, security, signs, permits, testing, cleanup, waste documentation, schedule, warranty, exclusions and allowances.

16. Create a realistic schedule

Include:

• Due diligence
• Design
• Landlord review
• Zoning
• Site development review if required
• Permit review
• Corrections
• Long-lead equipment
• Construction
• Inspections
• Fire approval
• Public-health approval
• Punch list
• Certificate of Occupancy
• Move-in

Denver advises restaurant and commercial-kitchen applicants to plan for professional design and engineering work before permit review begins.

17. Manage occupied-building work

Prepare a logistics plan for:

• Work hours
• Noise
• Dust
• Odors
• Elevator use
• Loading
• Shutdowns
• Fire-alarm impairments
• Security
• Access credentials
• Worker parking
• Debris routes
• Daily cleanup
• Tenant communication
• Emergency contacts

18. Track inspections

Maintain a log showing inspection type, request date, scheduled date, result, corrections, reinspection and final approval.

Do not conceal work before required inspections.

19. Prepare for occupancy

Final requirements may include:

• Building final
• Electrical final
• Mechanical final
• Plumbing final
• Fire final
• Zoning approval
• Wastewater approval
• Public-health approval
• Waste No More compliance
• Certificate of Occupancy

20. Collect closeout documents

Before final payment, collect:

• Approved permits
• Final inspections
• Certificate of Occupancy
• As-built drawings
• Manuals
• Warranties
• Test reports
• Air-balance report
• Fire-system records
• Waste records
• Keys and access credentials
• Spare materials
• Final photos
• Emergency contacts
• Final change-order log

Find Denver commercial service providers

Denver Commercial Services helps owners, tenants and property managers identify commercial contractors and building-service companies across the metro area.

Use directory information as a starting point, then independently verify credentials, insurance, permitting experience and project fit.