Thank you to all who attended our monthly engagement meeting on State Land Use and Housing Legislation held on June 27, 2025. A recording of this webinar and slides are now available. You can find slides and recordings from past monthly meetings on our Tools, Guidance, and Engagement page.
Action Items
Key relevant local government action items in the coming weeks, will be to:
- Contact Ashley Basham if your local government or regional entity is interested in the Housing Planning Grant Program. The second round of funding closes on Friday, July 11th.
- Complete Land Use Survey by Friday, July 11th and be entered to win a FREE APA membership!
- Register for the Housing Strategies Peer Exchange webinar on Thursday, July 17 at 9:00 a.m. Topic: Accessory Dwelling Units - Policies, Programs, and other Financial Assistance.
- Comment by Thursday, July 31st on draft versions of the Statewide Strategic Growth Report and Policy Scan
- Register for Housing Action Plan webinar on Thursday, July 31 at 10:30 a.m.
- Consider applying for the first round of the ADU Grant Program. (Friday, August 1 - Friday, August 29th)
- Consider applying for the Local IMPACT Accelerator program. Current round closes Friday, August 1
- Contact Kyle Sohner about DOLA’s Housing Opportunity Goal (HOG) Calculation tool if you have questions or would like technical assistance calculating your Housing Opportunity Goal.
Updates
Land Use Survey Closes Friday, July 11
DOLA launched the 2025 Land Use Survey in partnership with CML, CCI, and CO APA. We use the responses to inform funding decisions, direct services, inform legislators and other policy leaders, and inform planning research. County/Municipal Planners: Please complete the survey by Friday, July 11th for a chance to win a FREE APA membership!
Feedback Opportunity: DRAFT Introduction and Policy Scan for Statewide Strategic Growth Report
Senate Bill 24-174 requires DOLA to create a statewide Strategic Growth Report (due October 30, 2025). This legislation directs DOLA to develop a report that analyzes policy-driven land use scenarios, the impact of existing state policies and programs, and regional context. This will inform recommendations that encourage environmentally and fiscally sustainable growth. We are excited to release the first draft documents that will inform the Strategic Growth Report. Find the draft documents and a feedback form on our website. Comments are due by Thursday, July 31. We also want to thank the Rock Mountain Land Institute for hosting a webinar about the report.
Executive Order Compliance Framework and Guidelines Published
DOLA has published new Compliance Framework and Guidelines as required by an Executive Order (EO) Regarding Strategic Growth through Compliance with State Laws (D 2025 005) issued by Governor Polis on May 16, 2025. The Compliance Framework and Guidelines apply to seven state land use and housing laws passed in 2024 and 2025.
The purpose of the Compliance Framework and Guidelines is to ensure that Local Governments have a clear understanding of the statutory requirements that DOLA will be evaluating, and the process that DOLA will use to designate a Local Government as Strategic Growth Compliant, Strategic Growth Compliance-in-Progress, or Strategic Growth Non-Compliant by October 6, 2025, in accordance with the Executive Order.
New Guidance Documents Published!
DOLA is excited to announce the publication of several new guidance documents as required by SB24-174 and HB24-1313. These will serve as excellent resources for Local Governments. Thank you to everyone who contributed feedback to help shape these important documents!
- Housing Action Plan Guide for Colorado Communities and Appendices
- Colorado Affordability and Displacement Mitigation Strategies Directory
- Displacement Mitigation Strategies Guidance: Regional Resources Study
Announcing Neighborhood Centers Guidance and Pilot Designation Opportunity!
On June 30, DOLA published Version 1 of our Guidance for Neighborhood Centers and announced a Pilot Designation Opportunity. As identified in SB24-174 and HB24-1313, Neighborhood Centers are voluntarily designated by local governments in areas that meet criteria established by DOLA, as outlined in the newly published Criteria and Guidance.
The Pilot Designation Round will be an opportunity for communities to participate in assisting the State in refining Neighborhood Center criteria so that the criteria is responsive to local and regional contexts. This will also be an opportunity to achieve early designation of Neighborhood Centers for upcoming grant funding rounds as early as October 2025.
DOLA seeks approximately 9-12 jurisdictions with Existing Neighborhood Centers (see Guidance for more details) that are interested in participating in an initial round where the Neighborhood Center program will be piloted. This Pilot Designation Round of Neighborhood Centers will run July 7, 2025 through October 31, 2025.
Fact Sheets Now Available
We are pleased to announce the availability of new downloadable and printable fact sheets covering four key state land use and housing laws. These user-friendly resources provide clear overviews of HB24-1313 Transit Oriented Communities, HB24-1304 Minimum Parking Requirements, HB24-1152 Accessory Dwelling Units, and SB24-174 Housing Plans. Designed for both digital and print use, the fact sheets serve as accessible tools that local communities can use to introduce these important topics and laws across various settings and audiences.
Funding Opportunities
Our new Land Use and Housing Grants page is a great place to find grant opportunities!
2nd Round of the Housing Planning Grant
The second round of the Housing Planning Grant Program closes on July 11th. Reach out to Ashley Basham if you are interested in applying for grant funds and/or learning about how this program can support your community. This program supports SB24-174-compliant housing needs assessments, housing action plans, and comprehensive plan elements (water supply and strategic growth).
DOLA’s New Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program
The Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant (ADUG) Program will open on August 1st and close August 29th! The ADUG Program will offer reimbursement-based grants to ADU Supportive Jurisdictions for activities that promote the construction of ADUs. These activities include but are not limited to, offsetting costs incurred in connection with developing pre-approved ADU plans, providing technical assistance to persons converting or constructing ADUs, or waiving, reducing, or providing financial assistance for ADU associated fees and other required costs.
Other Funding Opportunities
Proposition 123 Local Planning Capacity (LPC) Grant Program
LPC Grants are available to local governments that have opted in to Proposition 123. Local Governments can also use LPC funds towards some components of state land use and housing legislation compliance. Examples of projects include adopting ADU strategies or displacement mitigation strategies, calculating Housing Opportunity Goals or designating Neighborhood Centers, and updating land use codes to address parking minimums and occupancy limits. DOLA is currently offering a $50,000 incentive if fast track is adopted by 12/31/25!
The Local IMPACT Accelerator program has launched!
$50M grant program through the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) will fund activities to support policy adoption & implementation in land use, transportation, buildings, and waste sectors. The current round of letters of interest closes August 1, 2025.
Webinars and Events
Housing Strategies Peer Exchange webinar
Thursday, July 17 at 9:00 a.m. Topic: Accessory Dwelling Units - Policies, Programs, and other Financial Assistance. Learn more and register for the July 17th webinar.
Housing Action Plan webinar
Thursday, July 31 at 10:30 a.m. Learn more and register for the July 31 webinar.
Monthly State Land Use and Housing Laws Engagement Meeting
Friday, July 25th at 10:30 a.m. Register online
Thank you to all who have participated in these monthly meetings and helped with our engagement and implementation efforts. We look forward to seeing you at the next one! You can find slides and recordings from past monthly meetings on our Tools, Guidance, and Engagement page.
We're Here to Help!
Do you have questions about the new laws and impacts to your jurisdiction? Check out our FAQ page or get one-on-one support below:
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