The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has reported that a significant number of local governments are complying with new state laws aimed at promoting strategic growth and increasing affordable housing. This announcement follows Governor Jared Polis’ Executive Order from May 2025, which required DOLA to assess the compliance status of local jurisdictions with seven key laws passed in 2024 and 2025.
According to DOLA, many local governments are not only meeting but in some cases exceeding the requirements ahead of the statutory deadlines. The department also noted that several jurisdictions not subject to these laws are voluntarily participating, seeking access to or priority for funding programs that support strategic growth efforts.
Governor Jared Polis stated, “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 at DOLA, highlighted specific examples: “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 commented on his city’s compliance: “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 added: “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 at Southwest Energy Efficiency Project said: “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 remarked: “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 Colorado’s housing supply by enabling construction near transit areas while reducing regulatory barriers such as minimum parking requirements or restrictive occupancy limits.
Compliance status affects how applications are scored or prioritized for 34 different grant opportunities managed by agencies such as DOLA itself as well as others like OEDIT (Office of Economic Development), CEO (Colorado Energy Office), and CDOT (Department of Transportation). However, non-compliance does not automatically disqualify applicants from receiving funds unless related solely to public health or disaster relief.
DOLA has provided extensive support since June 2024 by hosting webinars, offering technical assistance meetings, presentations for communities, answering questions online, conducting courtesy reviews, and developing resources for local governments.
Recent data from Colorado’s State Demography Office shows an estimated shortfall of 106,000 housing units as of 2023—an improvement since its peak in 2019 but still indicating ongoing challenges.
As outlined by DOLA’s Compliance Framework published on June 30th this year—and updated quarterly—jurisdictions are categorized as compliant if they meet all legal requirements on time; as ‘compliance in progress’ if they show good faith efforts; or noncompliant if they do not meet standards satisfactorily or on schedule.
More information about compliance status updates is available via DOLA’s public dashboard.
