For the First Time Ever, Denver Has Issued Fines for Rental Properties Without Licenses

The City of Denver has issued fines to 36 rental properties that still haven’t begun the process of getting a residential rental license after being told two months ago that they were out of legal compliance.

Each of the 36 landlords that didn’t heed that warning now owes an administrative penalty of $150 — marking the first time in city history that a punishment has been handed out for unlicensed rental properties.

If they don’t begin the licensing process within two weeks, the fine jumps to $500.

After that, those that go another two weeks without working toward a license will catch a $999 fine. That boosted penalty can then be issued daily — but the Department of Excise & Licenses, which is in charge of the program, says it hopes landlords don’t ever actually reach that…