The Housing Linkage Fee - Request for Reduction or Waiver is the form on which an applicant or owner asks the Executive Director of the Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST) to reduce or waive the affordable housing linkage fee that would otherwise be imposed on new development. It is one of the Denver permit forms that, for projects subject to the prior linkage fee schedule, goes in with the building permit (LOG) application. You must show that the required fee exceeds the amount needed to mitigate the actual demand for affordable housing the project creates. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the City and County of Denver.
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What is Housing Linkage Fee - Request for Reduction or Waiver – Denver, CO?
The Housing Linkage Fee - Request for Reduction or Waiver is the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) form an applicant or owner completes to ask HOST to reduce or fully waive the affordable housing linkage fee on a development. The printed title reads "Reduction or Waiver Request From The Affordable Housing Linkage Fee."
The form rests on the Affordable Housing Permanent Funds Ordinance, codified at Article V, Chapter 27 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC). The form states that the ordinance requires the linkage fee for all new non-residential or residential development up to nine units, and that the HOST Executive Director may reduce or waive it. The applicant must demonstrate that the required fee exceeds the amount needed to mitigate the actual demand for affordable housing created by the development, using the actual characteristics of the project. The form gives three examples:
- the unique characteristics and space utilization of the workforce in a non-residential development;
- a non-residential structure built for and suitable solely for a specific use with few or no employees;
- residents of a residential development whose disposable household income or spending patterns will not drive additional employment requiring affordable housing.
The form has seven parts: contact information, project information, project description, the reduction or waiver requested, the exception request, the applicant's certification, and a HOST decision block completed by HOST. The city's page lists this form among the application forms for projects subject to the prior linkage fee schedule, and separately lists an EHA Linkage Fee Exception Request, which is a different document.
Who needs to file Housing Linkage Fee - Request for Reduction or Waiver – Denver, CO?
The main group is the applicant or owner of a new development who believes the linkage fee exceeds what is needed to offset the affordable housing demand the project actually creates. The form asks anyone to whom one of its three examples applies (a particular workforce, a single-use structure with few or no employees, or residents unlikely to drive new employment) to complete it and return it to HOST with supporting documentation.
- Applicants and owners: Section I collects the name, contact details and business information of the applicant or owner.
- Authorized agents: the certification in Section VI is signed by the Applicant or a duly authorized agent of the Applicant.
- Projects under the prior schedule: the city's page says the forms in its prior-linkage-fee section may be used only for projects subject to the prior linkage fees.
The form does not apply where no linkage fee is imposed. The city's page says the fee applies to all new development except new residential development of 10 or more units subject to the mandatory affordable housing requirement. Filing this form also does not replace the exceptions listed in DRMC Sec. 27-154, which have their own documentation.
When to file Housing Linkage Fee - Request for Reduction or Waiver – Denver, CO
File the form when you want HOST to consider a reduction or waiver of the linkage fee on your project. No separate due date is printed on it. The city's page says the linkage fee is due before a building permit is issued, except for excavation and shoring, so the request should be ready before then.
For projects subject to the prior linkage fees, the city says the application forms in that section must be submitted with a building permit (LOG) application for staff review, and that staff give determinations as part of plan review. The city's exception list adds one timing rule: where HOST reduces the fee for a non-residential project, the reduced fee is still due when the building permit is issued. The form does not state a processing time.
Documents you need
- Supporting documentation showing the reduced affordable housing impacts of the development, based on its actual characteristics (for example the workforce, a specific use with few or no employees, or the residents); return it with the form.
- Additional project description pages, if the space in Section III is not enough; the form says to attach additional documentation if needed.
- Any additional documentation in support of the request for a waiver or reduction, as Section V invites.
- The project record number(s) and their type (for example Project Master, Concept or Zoning), entered in Section II.
How to fill out Housing Linkage Fee - Request for Reduction or Waiver – Denver, CO
Confirm the request fits your project
The form is for showing that the required linkage fee exceeds the amount needed to mitigate the affordable housing demand your development actually creates. Check the three examples printed at the top before you start.
Enter applicant and owner contact details
In Section I, enter the Name(s), Phone Number, Email(s) and Applicant/Owner Business Address. Add the Applicant/Owner Business Name only if applicable.
Enter the project information
In Section II, enter the Project Name and Project Address. Under Project Record Number(s) and Type, give each record number and its type, such as Project Master, Concept or Zoning.
Leave the market area block to city staff
The Applicable Market Area (Typical Market Area or High Market Area) and the Date of Market Area Determination are filled out by city staff. Do not complete them.
Describe the project
In Section III, describe the development. Attach additional documentation if the space is not enough.
Choose reduction or full waiver
In Section IV, check either the reduction option or the full waiver option, then enter the requested linkage fee reduction amount or waiver amount on its line.
Write the exception request
In Section V, describe the request and justify how the required fee exceeds the amount needed to mitigate the actual demand for affordable housing created by the development. Base it on the project's actual characteristics.
Gather the supporting documentation
Provide any additional documentation that supports the reduction or waiver. It goes back to HOST with the form.
Certify with name, signature and date
In Section VI, the Applicant or a duly authorized agent prints a name, signs and dates the certification that the information is true and correct to the signer's actual knowledge.
Leave the HOST decision section blank
Section VII (approved or denied, amounts, comments, HOST signature and date) is completed by the Department of Housing Stability.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check each section, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble it with the supporting documentation as described under How to submit.
How to submit Housing Linkage Fee - Request for Reduction or Waiver – Denver, CO
You return the completed form with supporting documentation to HOST; for projects subject to the prior linkage fees, the city also directs that it go in with the building permit (LOG) application.
- To HOST: Department of Housing Stability, 201 W. Colfax Avenue #615, Denver, CO 80202. The form lists phone 720.913.1999 and the website www.denvergov.org/affordablehousingfee.
- With the building permit (LOG) application: the city's page says forms in its prior-linkage-fee section are submitted with that application and reviewed by staff during plan review.
- Questions: the city asks you to email [email protected] and include the LOG record # for your project.
The form names no other channel and states no fee for the request itself. Linkage fees are due before building permit issuance, except for excavation and shoring. If HOST reduces the fee for a non-residential project, the reduced amount is still due at issuance. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Asking for a reduction or waiver without justifying how the required fee exceeds the amount needed to mitigate the actual demand for affordable housing the development creates.
- Sending the form without supporting documentation; the form says to return it to HOST along with that documentation.
- Filling in the market area block (Typical or High Market Area and the determination date); the form reserves it for city staff.
- Marking both the reduction and the full waiver options, or leaving the requested dollar amount blank for the option you chose.
- Leaving out the record number type (for example Project Master, Concept or Zoning) next to the project record number(s).
- Submitting the form unsigned, or signed by someone who is neither the Applicant nor a duly authorized agent of the Applicant.
- Writing in the HOST Decision section; HOST completes it.
- Using this form for a project that is not subject to the prior linkage fees, when the city says its forms in that section are only for such projects.
- Assuming a reduced fee need not be paid at permit issuance; for a non-residential project the reduced fee is still due then.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Housing Linkage Fee reduction or waiver request?
It is the Denver form for asking the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) to reduce or waive the affordable housing linkage fee on a development. The applicant must show that the required fee exceeds the amount needed to mitigate the actual demand for affordable housing the project creates.
Who decides a linkage fee reduction or waiver in Denver?
The Executive Director of the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) may reduce or waive the linkage fee, according to the form. Section VII, the HOST Decision block, records whether the requested reduction or waiver was approved or denied, with comments.
What do I have to prove to get a reduction or waiver?
You must demonstrate that the required fee exceeds the amount needed to mitigate the actual demand for affordable housing created by the development. Use its actual characteristics, such as a specific workforce, a single-use structure with few or no employees, or the residents' spending and income patterns.
What do I attach to the request?
Attach supporting documentation showing the reduced affordable housing impacts of the project. The form also says to attach additional documentation if the project description needs more space, and Section V invites any further documents that support the request.
Where do I send the Housing Linkage Fee reduction or waiver form?
Return it to the Department of Housing Stability, 201 W. Colfax Avenue #615, Denver, CO 80202. For projects subject to the prior linkage fees, the city also says its forms in that section are submitted with the building permit (LOG) application.
Do I still pay the linkage fee if HOST reduces it?
Yes, for the reduced amount. The city's exception list says that when HOST reduces the fee for a non-residential project, the reduced fee is still due at building permit issuance. A full waiver means no fee for that amount; the HOST decision shows what was approved.
Can someone sign the request for me?
Yes. The certification in Section VI is made by the Applicant or a duly authorized agent of the Applicant, who prints a name, signs and dates it. The signer certifies that the information is true and correct to the signer's actual knowledge.
Can I fill out this form online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not connected to the City and County of Denver, and does not submit the request; you return it to HOST through the agency's channels.
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