Denver council postpones votes on bills to repeal minimum parking requirements

Denver City Council on Monday postponed three bills that would repeal the city's minimum vehicle parking requirements, delaying the measures until a June 30 meeting so absent sponsors can participate. The items — council bills 25-0684, 25-0685 and 25-0686 — were placed on the floor in a block for publication and then called out for a postponement vote.

Councilmember Sawyer spoke at length opposing the repeal, saying the state is "making us do this" and characterizing the package as "a massive overstep by our state government." She warned that removing parking minimums would undermine enforcement of Denver's transportation demand management ordinance and "inconvenience the residents of Denver," noting the city does not operate regional transit and that developers expect parking as part of market feasibility. "I will be a very loud no on this tonight," Sawyer said, while also voting to postpone so sponsors can be present at a later hearing.

Councilmember Flynn said he agreed with Sawyer and would also vote to postpone, adding "If I could postpone it to the next century, I would do that." The madam secretary called the roll and announced eight ayes; the council recorded the motion carried and the three bills were postponed to Monday, 06/30/2025.

A council staff member indicated the hearing on the measures will be held Aug. 4. The postponement does not change the ordinance texts that were ordered published for public review; it delays further consideration so councilmembers who were absent or who requested more time can participate in debate and a future hearing.

The debate highlighted tension between a state-level directive to change parking rules and local officials' concerns about enforcement, transit capacity and development market responses. Councilmembers said they expect more discussion at the scheduled hearings in which sponsors and additional stakeholders can participate.