Denver Makes Space for Tiny Homes

A law approved by the Denver City Council this week makes it much easier to build tiny homes in Denver.

1 minute read

October 9, 2019, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Tiny House Prefab

Jon Callas / Flickr

"The Denver City Council voted on Monday to make it easier to build tiny-home communities in most of Denver," reports Andrew Kenney.

"The new city law allows tiny home villages to be built across industrial, commercial and mixed-use sites, along with certain sites in residential neighborhoods. Villages could appear on future development sites, spare city land, or even church properties," according to Kenney.

The city's first sanctioned tiny home village, Beloved Community Village, set the context of the new law. The village opened in 2016, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, but has been unable to expand or to duplicate its successes elsewhere in the city. The new law would make it easier to build similar villages.

Much of Kenney's focus in the wake of the City Council's action to approve permissive regulations for tiny homes is the possibility that the new law could pave the way looser regulations on mobile homes. Eventually, Kenney also ties the approval of new regulations for tiny homes to the city's recent approval of Blueprint Denver and the Comprehensive Plan 2040, which guide housing production until the year 2040.

Monday, October 7, 2019 in The Denver Post

Few passengers waiting in subway station with multiple platforms and "North Station" signs in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns

Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

September 18, 2023 - Hoodline

View of Interstate 205 bridge over Columbia River with Mt. Hood in background.

The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project

The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.

September 19, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Wood frame house under construction

Houston Lot Size Reforms Yield Positive Results

New research shows that reducing lot size requirements helped create thousands of new homes.

September 17, 2023 - Pew Trusts

High-rise modern apartment buildings with green space in front courtyard with outdoor exercise equipment.

Architecture and the Housing Crisis

A new book brings architects into the housing discussion.

7 hours ago - Next City

Aerial view of Koreatown neighborhood in Los Angeles with downtown skyline in background.

New Los Angeles Rent Relief Program Targets Pandemic Debt

The program prioritizes the lowest-income tenants who accrued debt during the early part of the pandemic.

September 25 - LAist

Roadside city limit sign for Santa Clara, California.

‘Agrihood:’ An Urban Farm With Affordable Housing

California’s largest urban farm also provides 165 units of affordable housing for seniors and veterans.

September 25 - ABC 7 News