Colorado Planners Craft Forward-Thinking Housing Policy

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed the Regional Planning Roundtable Commission into law, a landmark measure that prohibits local governments from enforcing occupancy limits based solely on familial relationships.

The APA Colorado Chapter was instrumental in the development of this legislation, authoring the bill and working closely to move it through the legislative process.

Update Occupancy Rules to Support Diversity

Family-based occupancy limits have long restricted co-living housing options for unrelated individuals, such as roommates, multigenerational households, and caregiving arrangements. To meet the variety of housing needs in our communities today, occupancy limits must be modernized and adapted to allow residents access to housing that accommodates diverse living situations.

"This bill doesn't change any of [Colorado Department of Local Affairs] DOLA's work or requirements, it gives them a tool to bring communities together and potentially create some efficiency across Colorado, particularly in how they implement housing legislation like SB24-174," says APA Colorado Legislative Committee Chair, Shaida Libhart, AICP.

"By creating a framework for integrated planning, it supports more thoughtful coordination on issues like housing, transportation, water, and economic development — all of which are impacted by outdated local regulations like restrictive occupancy limits."
— Shaida Nashat, AICP, APA Colorado Legislative Committee chair

Planners Advance Flexible Housing Policy

Thanks to their leadership, planners ensured that this bill remains grounded in planning principles while removing a critical barrier to housing access. With this legislation, the state affirms the need for more flexible housing arrangements to support the diverse household types that exist today.

As Colorado continues to confront housing affordability and supply challenges, the Regional Planning Roundtable Commission law offers a clear example of how state-level action — led by planners — can drive meaningful change.

The APA Colorado Chapter's leadership on this bill underscores the essential role planners must play in crafting forward-thinking policy solutions.

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