This collection includes Denver building permits from 1889 through 1892, and 1900 through 1955 (the permits from 1893 through 1899 have never been found). Early permits to 1914 have been transcribed and digitized with three indexes - name, street name, and legal description. These will give names of original owners and costs, and may indicate names of builders or architects. Many are missing or incomplete. Most permits issued before 1915 did not show an address and must be searched by Legal Description. Permits for the years 1915 to 1955 are arranged by address on microfilm in the Western History and Genealogy Department and some are online, with more being added. More recent permits (from the 1970s to the present) may be obtained from the Denver Building Permit Records office. For more information see the Denver Building History Tutorial.
Denver Assessor Records - late 1950s to the early 1980s
The Master Property Record cards show the chain of ownership of Denver property by Parcel Number, from the late 1950s to the early 1980s. The Parcel Number can be found on the Denver Assessor’s Office Real Property Search website. Try searching them by address or parcel number. If you have trouble finding the card online, please see our tutorial or ask for assistance at the Western History and Genealogy Reference Desk.
Guide to Digitized Denver Building Permits
Regularly updated list of currently available Denver building permit documents available in our Digital Collections.