Denver eliminates minimum parking requirements citywide; council adopts text amendments after heated debate

Denver City Council on Aug. 4 adopted a package of zoning text changes and municipal code amendments that remove minimum vehicle‑parking requirements for most land uses across the city and the former‑Chapter‑59 transition areas. The package also consolidates and preserves bicycle parking standards, keeps existing maximum parking standards where present and eliminates the many exemptions and reduced‑ratio provisions that previously complicated parking compliance. The core items—Council Bills 25‑06‑84 and 25‑06‑85 (text/code changes) and the related Chapter 27 repeal item 25‑06‑86—were approved in sequence during the evening session; roll call votes on the principal bills recorded nine affirmative votes for each final passage.

City planning staff presented analysis prepared with Department of Transportation & Infrastructure and the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency showing that minimum parking requirements increase construction costs, consume development area, and can limit…