Marketplace · Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Denver has eliminated parking minimums for new apartment buildings, a move estimated to add over 400 housing units annually. The city council's decision aims to spur housing development by reducing construction costs, as each parking spot can add up to $50,000 to building expenses.
“Denver required that most apartment buildings provide at least one parking spot per unit. But last August, the City Council voted to eliminate those requirements in an effort to spur more housing.”
“A single parking spot can add as much as $50,000 to the cost of construction. It also leaves less space for housing.”
“In a study published before the vote, Chavez Norgard and a colleague estimated the change could add up to 406 more housing units per year, almost 13%.”