Denver developers and owners who know they will be breaking ground or replacing roofs on buildings larger than 25K SF have until the end of the year to get their site plans and roof permits in if they want to avoid installing a green roof.

NAIOP highlighted the deadline in an email blast to its members. Voters approved the green roof ordinance in November.

Under terms of Denver's green roof ordinance, projects larger than 25K SF must submit a complete, formal phase site plan and pay the associated review fees by Dec. 29 to be exempt from the green roof requirement. The city’s website recommends the site plan be submitted no later than Dec. 22 to guarantee it can be logged in and an invoice issued and paid before the deadline.

If a building owner needs to replace a roof and wants to avoid installing a green roof, the permit application must be submitted by Dec. 31. For all permits, work must start within 60 days of the date the permit is issued.

The ordinance dictates a percentage of any building more than 25K SF must be dedicated to solar or green, vegetative space. Developers can do a combination of green space and solar. The ordinance applies to any new building with a gross floor area of 25K SF or more or a building addition that results in the building becoming 25K SF or more. It also applies to any existing building over 25K SF that needs a roof replacement.

Leading up to the election, the Green Roof Initiative stirred controversy, with developers saying many buildings are not structurally capable of supporting green roofs and that Colorado’s arid climate and limited water resources makes it difficult to achieve a green roof.