Denver Unlocking Housing Choices
Last Updated: August 24, 2026
Understanding proposed zoning changes and what they could mean for Mayfair Neighborhood.
What is Unlocking Housing Choices?
While the proposal applies citywide, Mayfair residents may have questions because our neighborhood includes predominantly single-family homes, established commercial corridors, nearby transit investments, and a mix of existing housing types. This page aims to answer those questions.
Have a question? VBrowse our FAQs addressing common questions from Mayfair residents.
Unlocking Housing Choices is a proposed update to Denver's zoning code intended to allow a wider variety of housing types in residential neighborhoods. The initiative focuses on expanding "missing middle" housing—including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and townhomes—while updating building design standards intended to better fit neighborhood character. The proposal is one of several recommendations stemming from Blueprint Denver and other adopted city planning documents.
Key Takeaways for Mayfair Neighbors
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This is a proposed citywide zoning update — it has not been finalized.
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Existing homes will not automatically change if the proposal is adopted.
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Property owners would not be required to redevelop their property.
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Any redevelopment would still require permits and compliance with Denver's zoning and building regulations.
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The proposal is intended to encourage more housing choices while introducing design standards aimed at helping new development fit within existing neighborhoods.
Why is Denver proposing these changes?
Denver has grown significantly over the past several decades, and with that growth has come higher home prices, rising rents, and fewer housing options for many residents. City officials say that while Denver has added thousands of apartments and single-family homes, there are relatively few housing choices in between those two types of development.
Through the Unlocking Housing Choices initiative, the City is exploring updates to the Denver Zoning Code that would allow more "missing middle" housing in residential neighborhoods. According to the City, the proposal has several primary goals:
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Increase housing choices. Provide more options for people who may not need—or be able to afford—a detached single-family home but who want something smaller than a large apartment building.
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Improve housing affordability over time. While the proposal is not expected to solve Denver's housing affordability challenges on its own, City officials believe that increasing the variety and supply of housing can help provide more attainable housing opportunities over the long term.
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Encourage preservation of existing homes. Rather than encouraging demolition and replacement with much larger single-family homes, the proposal includes incentives to retain existing homes while allowing additional housing units on the property.
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Promote neighborhood compatibility. The City is also proposing updated design standards intended to help new housing better fit the scale, height, and character of surrounding neighborhoods.
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Support changing household needs. More housing types can provide options for first-time homebuyers, older adults looking to downsize while staying in their neighborhood, multigenerational families, and households whose housing needs change over time.
What is "Missing Middle Housing"?
"Missing middle housing" is a planning term used to describe housing types that fall between a traditional single-family home and a large apartment building. These homes are generally similar in size and appearance to houses already found in many neighborhoods but contain multiple homes or ownership opportunities on one property.
Examples include:
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Duplexes (two homes in one building)
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Triplexes
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Fourplexes
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Townhomes and rowhomes
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Cottage courts (small homes arranged around a shared courtyard)
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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), sometimes called backyard cottages or carriage houses
These housing types were commonly built in many American neighborhoods before modern zoning regulations became more restrictive. Today, they make up a relatively small share of Denver's housing stock. The City's proposal does not seek to replace neighborhoods with large apartment buildings. Instead, it focuses on allowing more small-scale housing that is intended to remain similar in height and overall scale to surrounding residential development. Proposed design standards would also regulate building size, setbacks, and architectural features to help new construction better fit within existing neighborhoods.
What could it mean for Mayfair?
Because Unlocking Housing Choices is a citywide zoning proposal, it could affect neighborhoods throughout Denver, including Mayfair.
Mayfair is primarily made up of detached single-family homes, but it also includes duplexes, apartment buildings, condominiums, and commercial corridors such as East Colfax Avenue (currently undergoing improvements through the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project). Learn more about Mayfair's history, boundaries, school, parks, and neighborhood character in our New to Mayfair Guide.
If adopted, the proposal could make it possible for additional missing middle housing to be built on some residential properties over time. However, any changes would occur gradually and only when individual property owners choose to redevelop their property. Existing homes would not automatically change, and property owners would not be required to build additional housing.
The City also expects redevelopment to occur primarily in areas where redevelopment is already economically feasible rather than uniformly across every neighborhood. Factors such as lot size, market demand, construction costs, financing, and existing zoning conditions would continue to influence whether redevelopment occurs.
For Mayfair residents, the proposal could result in:
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More housing choices over time.
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More opportunities for homeowners to add additional housing units where allowed.
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New homes that are subject to updated design standards intended to better fit surrounding neighborhoods.
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Gradual neighborhood change over many years rather than immediate widespread redevelopment.
As with any zoning change, the long-term effects will depend on the final ordinance adopted by City Council, future housing demand, and decisions made by individual property owners.
Even if the proposal is adopted, the following things will not change:
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Existing homes would not be required to change.
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Property owners would not be required to redevelop their property.
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Denver's building permit and review process would still apply.
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Historic district protections (where applicable) would remain in effect.
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Neighborhood organizations such as Mayfair Neighbors Inc. would continue to share updates as new information becomes available
Will every single-family home be allowed to become a duplex or fourplex?
No. If the proposal is adopted, it would expand what may be allowed on certain residential properties, but existing homes would not automatically change. Any redevelopment would still require a property owner to decide to build, comply with zoning and building regulations, obtain permits, and meet all applicable development standards. Many homes may never be redeveloped.
Will these changes affect every neighborhood equally?
Probably not. The City expects redevelopment to occur more frequently in areas where market conditions make new construction financially feasible. Neighborhoods experiencing little redevelopment today may continue to see relatively little change, while areas already seeing redevelopment could experience more activity. The pace of change will also depend on factors such as construction costs, interest rates, lot sizes, and housing demand.
Will older homes be demolished?
Some may be, but one goal of the proposal is actually to encourage preservation. City data found that many smaller homes demolished in recent years have been replaced by much larger single-family houses. The proposed zoning changes include incentives intended to encourage retaining existing homes while adding additional housing units, rather than replacing them entirely. However, some demolitions would still occur depending on individual redevelopment projects.
Could this change property values?
No one knows for certain. Property values are influenced by many factors, including location, the local housing market, interest rates, neighborhood amenities, and economic conditions. The City has not stated that the proposal will increase or decrease property values, and it is not possible to predict how individual properties may be affected.
Will there be more traffic or parking demands?
Additional housing could increase the number of people living in some neighborhoods over time, which may increase demand for on-street parking and local transportation. At the same time, the City notes that redevelopment would occur gradually over many years rather than all at once. The overall impact would likely vary from block to block depending on where redevelopment occurs and how much housing is ultimately built. Parking and transportation were common topics raised during the City's public engagement process.
Will affordable housing be required?
Potentially, in some situations. The City is exploring incentives that would allow additional housing when at least one unit is provided as deed-restricted affordable housing. The details are still being refined, and any affordability requirements would depend on the final ordinance adopted by City Council. City staff have indicated that some affordability provisions may be most feasible for nonprofit or mission-driven housing developers.
What happens if my neighbor redevelops their property?
Any redevelopment would still have to follow Denver's zoning code, building code, and permitting process. New construction would be required to comply with applicable development standards, including building height, setbacks, lot coverage, and any new design standards adopted through the Unlocking Housing Choices proposal. The proposal would not eliminate the City's review and permitting requirements.
How does this relate to Blueprint Denver?
Unlocking Housing Choices is one way the City is implementing recommendations already included in Blueprint Denver and other adopted neighborhood planning documents. Blueprint Denver identifies expanding housing choices and encouraging a wider variety of housing types as long-term planning goals. The zoning proposal is intended to help implement those adopted policies through changes to the zoning code.
Does this have anything to do with the East Colfax BRT project?
No. The East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and Unlocking Housing Choices are separate City initiatives with different purposes. The BRT project is a transportation improvement intended to improve transit service along East Colfax Avenue. Unlocking Housing Choices is a proposed update to Denver's zoning regulations. While both are part of Denver's broader long-term planning efforts, one project does not depend on the other. If you'd like to learn more about the transit project, visit our East Colfax BRT Updates page.
Can residents still provide feedback?
Yes. As the proposal moves through Denver's public review process, residents will continue to have opportunities to learn about the proposal, attend public meetings, provide comments, and speak during Planning Board and City Council hearings before any final zoning changes are adopted. The City encourages residents to stay informed through the official Unlocking Housing Choices project page for meeting schedules and project updates. Mayfair Neighbors Inc. also shares updates about major City initiatives through our monthly member newsletter.
When would these changes take effect if adopted?
The proposal is still under review. Before any zoning changes become effective, they must complete Denver's public review process, including Planning Board review and approval by Denver City Council. If adopted, the new regulations would apply prospectively to future development projects—they would not require existing homeowners to make changes to their property.