How Denver reviews solar on historic properties
The City and County of Denver lists solar panels among the projects that need design review on landmark and historic-district properties, alongside roof replacements, window changes and additions. Most solar projects are reviewed under the chapter of Denver’s design guidelines covering the preservation of historic buildings; Lower Downtown properties also follow that district’s own guidelines.
The application asks for more than a normal permit: current color photos of the roof and the street-facing façades, a scaled roof plan showing existing and proposed conditions, and section drawings of the panels with dimensions and materials. We prepare those as part of the job.
What tends to pass
Denver’s guidelines point solar toward side and rear roof slopes, with front slopes possible only where visibility from the street is limited. Low-profile, flush-mounted, all-black panels that follow the roof plane are the easiest to approve. Racking that tilts panels up off the roof, or conduit run across the front, invites objections.
Many of Denver’s historic neighborhoods have bungalows and Denver Squares with hipped roofs, where a rear or side face may be small. We’ll show you what fits on the approvable faces and what it produces, so you know the economics before you apply.
Outside Denver
Other Colorado cities with local landmark programs — Boulder, Golden, Fort Collins and others — run their own reviews under their own rules. A property on the National Register of Historic Places without local designation is often not subject to local design review at all. Check which designation actually applies to your address before assuming the strictest case.
What to do next
- 1Confirm whether your home is an individual landmark, in a designated historic district, or neither — the city’s landmark map or staff can tell you.
- 2Have us design a layout on side and rear slopes first, and model its production.
- 3We assemble the photos, roof plan and panel section drawings the review requires.
- 4Submit for design review, then pull the building and electrical permits once it’s approved.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Does the HOA solar law protect me in a historic district?
The HOA statute covers private covenants. Historic design review is a government process under a different ordinance, so don’t assume the HOA law’s 10% limits apply. This isn’t legal advice.
How long does historic design review add?
Denver doesn’t publish a fixed timeline for solar reviews, and it can vary with whether staff or the commission handles it. Plan for extra weeks, not days, and ask Landmark Preservation staff about current turnaround when you apply.
Are solar shingles or tiles easier to approve?
Denver reviews solar tiles alongside panels under the same guidelines. They can look more integrated, but they cost considerably more per watt, and we don’t install them. A well-placed flush panel array is usually the practical route.
Can I put a ground mount in the backyard instead?
Possibly, if the lot has room and sun. Ground mounts on landmark properties may still need review because they’re a visible site change. We can price both options.