For much of the American West, this winter has been historically warm and dry. Due to the resulting snow drought, many experts are predicting an intense wildfire season in Colorado and across the West more broadly. Colorado legislators have taken notice. As in recent legislative sessions, there is currently a tranche of wildfire mitigation and
housing
National Zoning Atlas: Colorado Report Updated
The National Zoning Atlas (NZA) team is digitizing, demystifying, and democratizing information about zoning conditions in more than 33,000 jurisdictions in the United States. Fully comprehending the zoning conditions of a particular state, and therefore housing and development opportunity, is often stifled by lack of standardization. Which jurisdictions have the authority to exercise powers is…
Colorado Cities Sue State Over 2024 Housing Density and Parking Reforms
Several Colorado municipalities have sued the state challenging the constitutionality of landmark zoning reforms enacted in 2024. The lawsuit specifically concerns two new laws passed by the legislature and one executive order issued by Governor Polis related to those measures. The first law, HB 24-1313, is aimed at increasing housing density around transit. Under…
Governor and Municipalities in Dispute over Implementation of Strategic Growth Legislation
On May 16, 2025, Governor Jared Polis signed Executive Order D 2025 005 (“Order 005”) to address implementation of recently-passed strategic growth legislation. As discussed below, Governor Polis has ordered certain state agencies to consider whether municipalities are compliant with the requirements of seven laws when awarding millions of dollars of discretionary funding. Three days after…
Prospective Impacts of President Trump’s Tariffs on the Real Estate Market
On March 4th, President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, the United States’ two largest trading partners. Two days later, those tariffs were largely lifted as President Trump signed separate executive orders granting relief to goods from Mexico and Canada covered by the United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (an…