The Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation is the form the Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST) uses when an applicant asks to be released from the High Impact Development requirements of the city's Mandatory Affordable Housing (MAH) ordinance. It applies to projects that reach the High Impact threshold, and it is tied to the project record numbers logged with the city, so it travels with a Denver permit application. 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 Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation – Denver, CO?
The Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation is a two-page City and County of Denver form, issued by the Department of Housing Stability (HOST), that an applicant completes to ask HOST to waive the High Impact Development requirements of the Mandatory Affordable Housing (MAH) ordinance for a project.
The ordinance is codified at Article X, Chapter 27 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC). It treats a development as High Impact when it covers ten (10) acres or more, or when it uses a city-approved financing tool such as tax increment financing or metropolitan districts. The High Impact requirements are in Division 3 of that article. The Executive Director of HOST may waive them if the applicant asks and shows that circumstances unique to the proposed development limit or eliminate their practical application.
The form has six parts: applicant contact information, project information, a project description, the justification for the waiver, the applicant's certification, and a HOST decision block (approved or denied, with comments) that HOST completes.
A waiver does not end affordable housing obligations. The form states that the applicant must then comply with the mandatory affordable housing requirements for residential developments (Division 2, Article X, Chapter 27 of the DRMC) and the Linkage Fee Ordinance (Division 2, Article V, Chapter 27), as applicable. Other HOST forms for the same ordinance, such as the EHA Linkage Fee Exception Request and the Linkage Fee Waiver/Reduction Request, serve different requests.
Who needs to file Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation – Denver, CO?
Applicants whose project is a High Impact Development and who want the High Impact requirements waived complete this form. Under the ordinance as the form describes it, that means developments of ten (10) acres or greater, or developments that use a city-approved financing tool, such as tax increment financing (TIF) or metropolitan districts.
The applicant must be able to demonstrate that unique circumstances of the project limit or eliminate the practical application of the High Impact Developments division. The form asks about the site size, whether TIF or a metropolitan district is planned, and the market area, so have those facts ready.
- The applicant, or a duly authorized agent of the applicant, signs Section V.
- Projects that are not High Impact Developments have no need for this form.
- The waiver is not automatic: the Executive Director of HOST decides whether to approve or deny it.
If the waiver is granted, the applicant still follows the mandatory affordable housing requirements for residential developments and the Linkage Fee Ordinance, as applicable.
When to file Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation – Denver, CO
Complete the form when your project qualifies as a High Impact Development and you want to ask HOST to waive that designation. The form asks for the project record number(s) and their type (for example Project Master, Concept or Zoning), so the project is normally already logged with the city when you submit it. The form prints no separate due date. The City and County of Denver's page on the Expanding Housing Affordability ordinance says that a project that qualifies as a High Impact Development must select that option in its application unless HOST waives the designation, so raise the waiver request early. The form does not state a processing time; HOST records its decision in Section VI.
Documents you need
- Supporting documentation that demonstrates the unique circumstances of the project that limit or eliminate the practical application of the High Impact Developments division; the form asks you to return it to HOST along with this documentation.
- Additional pages for Section III, Project Description, if the space on the form is not enough; the form says to attach additional documentation if needed.
- Additional pages for Section IV, the description of the waiver request and justification, if the space on the form is not enough; the form says to attach additional documentation if needed.
How to fill out Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation – Denver, CO
Enter applicant contact details
In Section I, enter your Name, Phone Number, Email, Applicant Business Address and, if applicable, Applicant Business Name.
Identify the project
In Section II, enter the Project Name and Project Address. In Project Record Number(s) and Type, give each record number and indicate its type, such as Project Master, Concept or Zoning.
State site size and financing
Enter the Development Site Size. Check Yes or No for whether the development plans to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and whether it plans to use a metropolitan district.
Select the market area
Check Typical Market Area or High Market Area. The form links to the Market Area Map to help you decide.
Write the project description
In Section III, describe the project. Attach additional documentation if the space is not enough.
Justify the waiver request
In Section IV, describe your request for a waiver of High Impact Development requirements and explain the unique circumstances that limit or eliminate their practical application. Attach additional pages if needed.
Sign the applicant certification
In Section V, print your name, sign and date. You certify that the information is true and correct to your actual knowledge, as the applicant or a duly authorized agent.
Leave the HOST decision blank
Section VI, HOST Decision, is completed by the Department of Housing Stability with its approval or denial, comments, name, signature and date.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every section and gather your supporting documentation. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and return it to HOST as described under How to submit.
How to submit Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation – Denver, CO
The form says to complete it and return it to HOST together with supporting documentation for review. It names no portal or other delivery method.
- Return to HOST: the form's footer prints the Department of Housing Stability's address as 201 W. Colfax Avenue #1101, Denver, CO 80202, with the telephone number 720.913.1999. Call that number to confirm how HOST wants the package delivered.
- What to include: the signed form, plus any additional pages for the project description and the justification, plus the supporting documentation that shows the unique circumstances of the project.
- More information: the footer points to www.denvergov.org/affordablehousingfee.
Section VI is for HOST; do not complete it. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the HOST channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the form without supporting documentation; the form says to return it to HOST along with documentation for review.
- Leaving Section IV thin. The applicant must demonstrate that unique circumstances limit or eliminate the practical application of the High Impact Developments division.
- Filling in Section VI, HOST Decision. That block (approved or denied, comments, HOST signature) is for the Department of Housing Stability.
- Leaving out the record number type next to the Project Record Number(s), such as Project Master, Concept or Zoning.
- Skipping the TIF, metropolitan district or market area checkboxes in Section II; each asks for a Yes/No or Typical/High choice.
- Signing Section V when you are neither the applicant nor a duly authorized agent of the applicant.
- Assuming an approved waiver removes all affordable housing duties; the applicant must still comply with Division 2 of Article X and the Linkage Fee Ordinance, as applicable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Request for Waiver of High Impact Designation?
It is a Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST) form used to ask HOST to waive the High Impact Development requirements of the Mandatory Affordable Housing ordinance for a project. The Executive Director of HOST decides whether to approve or deny the request.
Which projects count as High Impact Developments in Denver?
According to the form, developments of ten (10) acres or greater, or developments that use a city-approved financing tool such as tax increment financing or metropolitan districts. The Denver Expanding Housing Affordability page repeats that definition and says metropolitan districts and TIF count regardless of acreage.
What do I have to show to get the waiver?
You must demonstrate that circumstances unique to the proposed development limit or eliminate the practical application of the High Impact Developments division. Explain this in Section IV and return supporting documentation with the form for HOST's review.
What happens if HOST grants the waiver?
You then comply with the mandatory affordable housing requirements for residential developments (Division 2, Article X, Chapter 27 of the DRMC) and the Linkage Fee Ordinance (Division 2, Article V, Chapter 27), as applicable, instead of the High Impact requirements.
Where do I return the waiver request form?
Return it to HOST with supporting documentation. The form's footer lists the Department of Housing Stability at 201 W. Colfax Avenue #1101, Denver, CO 80202, telephone 720.913.1999. The form names no other delivery method, so call to confirm how HOST accepts it.
Who signs the form?
The applicant, or a duly authorized agent of the applicant, prints their name, signs and dates Section V. By signing, they certify that the information is true and correct to their actual knowledge. HOST signs Section VI.
Can I fill out the waiver request online on FillingPDF?
Yes. 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 it does not submit the form to HOST.
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