The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has reported a high rate of compliance among local governments with state laws focused on strategic growth, with many jurisdictions meeting requirements ahead of deadlines. This assessment follows Governor Jared Polis’ Executive Order from May 2025, which tasked DOLA with evaluating local governments’ adherence to seven laws passed in 2024 and 2025 related to housing and land use.
There has also been notable voluntary participation from local governments not required to comply with these laws. These jurisdictions are seeking to access or prioritize funding for local strategic growth projects.
Governor Jared Polis commented on the progress: “Coloradans want more housing we can afford in the communities we want to live in, and we have taken important steps forward over the last few years. It’s clear that communities across the state are removing obstacles and regulations that prevent housing from being built and expanding housing options. I applaud these local leaders and look forward to this continued work to make housing more affordable in our state. I’m particularly excited that a number of cities have gone above and beyond the state law including by eliminating parking requirements altogether.”
Maria De Cambra, Executive Director of DOLA, highlighted the efforts of several cities: “We are seeing local governments, like Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Longmont, Wheat Ridge, Larimer County and Fort Collins to name a few, implement these strategic growth laws at a high level, which showcases the sheer amount of work already done by these communities to build more housing for Coloradans. We know that getting this right is so crucial for Colorado, and we will continue working closely with local governments to support them in the successful implementation of these programs that will have positive effects for generations to come.”
Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade stated: “We are pleased that the City of Colorado Springs is in compliance with the state’s executive order. This confirmation maintains our eligibility for state funding for the projects that help make housing more affordable and attainable for our residents. Our ongoing partnership with the state has been vital in driving these initiatives forward. Much of this progress began years ago through our own efforts and code changes, even before my time in office, and we’ll continue to collaborate with the state while leading with solutions that reflect our community’s values and our home rule authority.”
Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally noted: “There is no silver bullet when it comes to solving the affordability crisis in our state. Addressing this crisis requires strong partnerships and utilization of an array of planning tools and development approaches. Here in Larimer County, we saw the promise of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and wanted to take advantage of the state’s grant program to incentivize the building of these housing units.”
Matt Frommer from Housing Forward Colorado commented: “As advocates for efficient and climate-friendly urban growth, we are heartened to see so many municipalities embracing planning best practices by aligning their codes with the state’s 2024 housing and land use laws. Expanding housing choices and removing excessive parking mandates are smart moves that will make Colorado communities more affordable and environmentally sustainable.”
Peter LiFari, Executive Director of Maiker Housing Partners added: “Homebuilding is a costly endeavor – fraught with risk and cultural pushback – but zoning and building code innovations, once adopted at the local level, can help reduce that risk and, in turn, the cost of housing. When state and local governments align to create clear, reliable pathways, they make it possible for builders to deliver mortgage- and rent-capacity-aligned homes that meet the needs of Colorado families. The communities that have embraced these land use laws are helping to de-risk the very act of building homes – especially the affordable and attainable homes Coloradans can truly afford.”
The new legislation aims to increase available housing across Colorado by reducing regulatory barriers such as minimum parking requirements, occupancy limits, and lengthy review processes for solutions like Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). These measures also encourage construction near transit options.
Compliance status influences scoring on 34 different grant opportunities managed by agencies including DOLA, OEDIT (Office of Economic Development and International Trade), CEO (Colorado Energy Office), and CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation). However, compliance is not required as a condition for eligibility or funding withholding; it serves as a factor in prioritization.
The State Demography Office recently reported an estimated shortfall of 106,000 housing units statewide as of 2023. While there has been progress since a peak gap in 2019, challenges remain.
As required by executive orders issued in May and August 2025, DOLA must update compliance statuses quarterly via its public dashboard.
Compliance definitions include:
– Compliant: Timely completion of all legal requirements.
– Compliance in Progress: Good faith effort underway but not yet fully compliant.
– Not Compliant: Requirements not met.
– Voluntary Compliance: Jurisdictions not subject to requirements taking action anyway.
For HB24-1152 on ADUs due June 30, 2025, 9% were compliant, 73% were making progress toward compliance, while 18% were not compliant; five non-subject jurisdictions reported voluntary compliance. For HB24-1313 regarding Transit-Oriented Communities preliminary reports due June 30, 2025, 60% were compliant; for SB24-174 on Housing Needs Assessments due December 31, 2026, 24% were compliant.
DOLA continues supporting local governments through technical assistance including webinars, direct meetings, presentations, courtesy reviews, online resources, and guidance materials.
A full overview is available on DOLA’s public compliance dashboard, which will be updated quarterly.
