Wins for affordable housing during the 2024 Colorado Legislative Session | Denver Nonprofit | Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver
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Jesselina Cordova

Advocacy Coordinator

Wins for affordable housing during the 2024 Colorado Legislative Session

During the 2024 session, the Colorado General Assembly included several bills that supported housing affordability and   affordable homeownership in Colorado communities. Because these are two of our advocacy priorities, we followed and supported the progress of these bills through the end of the session earlier this month. 

Progress for ADUs 

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have been a topic of consideration for many local municipalities and the state of Colorado as a way to increase the availability of affordable housing units. We partner with the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative to build ADUs in West Denver neighborhoods. These ADUs are used as affordable rentals, creating additional, affordable housing units within existing residential lots. ADUs also enable longtime homeowners to house extended family members, providing stability for homeowners and allowing older residents to age in place. If you want to learn more about the ADU program at Habitat Metro Denver please read the story here. During this legislative session, we supported House Bill 24-1152 Accessory Dwelling Units, which would allow accessory dwelling units to be built on most plots across Colorado in all zoning designations. The sponsors of this bill were Representatives Amabile and Weinberg and Senators Mulica and Exum. Below is a short summary of what the bill will do: 

  • Requires Colorado cities who have 1,000 residents or more to allow ADUs on the same property as a single-family home.  
  • Includes dozens of cities on the Front Range and Grand Junction but excludes most of rural Colorado and Western Slope resort towns.  
  • Makes it easier for builders like Habitat to build additional affordable units in  neighborhoods without a rezoning process.  

We believe that Colorado communities need more tools in their toolboxes to address the housing shortage, and that encouraging the construction of ADUs will provide much-needed units. This legislation will help provide more affordable housing opportunities in cities throughout the state.  

This bill was signed by Governor Polis on Monday May 13th, see below pictures from that bill signing.  

More housing near transit 

Another bill that will help increase the supply of affordable housing is HB24-1313 Housing in Transit Oriented Communities.  The prime sponsors of this bill were Representatives Jodeh and Woodrow and Senators Hansen and Winter. Below is a short summary of what the bill will do: 

  • 31 local governments that run along the Interstate 25 corridor would be required to change their zoning laws to allow more housing units near major bus and rail corridors.  
  • This bill includes incentives for local governments that comply to the requirements of changing their zoning laws,  
  • This rezoning makes it easier for builders like Habitat to build affordable homes  in transit-oriented communities.  

This bill was signed by Governor Polis on Monday May 13th, see below pictures from that bill signing.  

Other housing legislation this session 

During this session, we also supported other bills that would increase housing affordability and supply, including: 
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