June 30, 2025 marked a major compliance deadline for a package of housing and land use laws adopted by the Colorado Legislature in 2024. In response, local governments across the state have updated their codes to enable more homebuilding, diversify housing choices, and reduce costs. The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project’s new pro-housing and smart growth initiative, Housing Forward Colorado, published an updated report detailing the progress of cities, towns, and counties in meeting these state requirements.
The report’s findings are encouraging for those concerned about housing costs in Colorado. Many local governments are taking steps to align local codes with the state laws. In some cases, they are going beyond the minimum legislative requirements to allow for an even greater number and diversity of housing types. Because these laws serve as a policy floor rather than a ceiling, local code updates have been as wide-ranging and diverse as the communities themselves.
