More than 9,000 building permits were issued in Denver during September, making it the busiest month on record.
The previous highest-volume month on record was August 2004, when the city issued 8,194 permits.
"People want to live in Denver, stay in Denver and reinvest in their homes and businesses," says Brad Buchanan, executive director of
Denver Community Planning and Development. "This record is a sign of how much of that investment and reinvestment is happening all over the city and how hard our staff is working to keep pace with that demand."
Sustained high demand going back two years, a normal seasonal surge and a spike in demand for roofing permits after the June hail storms all contributed to the busy September. A strong economy, low interest rates and a growing population also were factors in the high volume of permits. The city is on pace to rival 2014's total permit volume for the year (67,800), which was 23 percent higher than 2013 and 63 percent higher than 2009.
Community Planning and Development has taken steps to keep pace with the demand, including hiring more staff, paying overtime, outsourcing some plan reviews and making business process improvements. In addition, some minor permits are now available via email.
Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.
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