HB26-1114 • 2026

Allowed Minimum Lot Size for Subject Jurisdictions

The bill requires that, on or after October 1, 2031, a subject jurisdiction shall not require: That a parcel lot have an area larger than 2,000 square feet if the parcel's lot's residential use is lim

Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Rep. R. Stewart, Rep. S. Woodrow, Sen. M. Ball, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. Mabrey, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. E. Sirota
Last action: 2026-03-02
Official status: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the consequences of non-compliance by local governments.

Allowed Minimum Lot Size for Housing Jurisdictions

This bill requires that, starting October 1, 2031, local governments cannot require a lot to be larger than 2,000 square feet if it is used only for single-family homes.

What This Bill Does

Requires local governments not to make lots bigger than 2,000 square feet mandatory for single-family home use starting October 1, 2031.
Exempts certain types of lots from this requirement based on specific conditions like water and sewage systems or historic property status.
Allows local governments to still enforce safety codes, infrastructure standards, and environmental regulations.

Who It Names or Affects

Local governments in Colorado
Home builders and developers

Terms To Know

Subject jurisdiction: A local government that must follow the new lot size rules.
Exempt lot: Certain lots that are not required to meet the minimum lot size requirement due to specific conditions like water and sewage systems or historic property status.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a local government fails to comply with the new rules.
It is unclear how this will affect housing affordability in practice.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment to HB26-1114 adds specific conditions for common interest communities and clarifies the use of terms like 'lot' instead of 'parcel'.

Adds a new section (d) that allows minimum lot sizes smaller than 2,000 square feet if the lot is part of an existing common interest community within a subject jurisdiction.
Clarifies that the residential use limitation applies to single-family homes and does not restrict accessory dwelling units or group homes.
Replaces 'parcel' with 'lot' in several places throughout the bill.

The amendment text is technical, but it focuses on specific changes rather than a broad overview of the bill's intent.

L.002

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes a bill to allow smaller lot sizes for single-family homes in certain jurisdictions.

Changes the requirement that lots must be larger than 2,000 square feet if they are used only for single-family homes.
Adds new rules about not requiring minimum frontage, setbacks, open space, or maximum lot coverage dimensions that prevent building a single-family home on a 2,000-square-foot lot.

The amendment text is complex and may have additional implications not fully explained here.
It's unclear how this will affect accessory dwelling units or group homes.

L.003

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes specific terms in the bill to include definitions from another section of law.

Replaces 'PROPERTY' with 'PROPERTY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 29-35-402 (11)' on page 4, line 9.
Replaces 'DISTRICT.' with 'DISTRICT, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 29-35-402 (10).' on page 4, line 10.

The amendment does not explain what the definitions in Section 29-35-402 mean, so readers need to look those up separately.
It is unclear how these changes will affect the overall meaning of the bill without knowing the specific definitions.

L.005

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the bill's language to allow a local government to consider requiring that a parcel lot have an area larger than 2,000 square feet if it is used for residential purposes.

Changes 'shall not require' to 'consider requiring', allowing local governments more flexibility in setting minimum lot sizes.

The amendment text does not provide details on how or when local governments would consider these requirements, leaving some aspects unclear.

Bill History

2026-03-02 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing
2026-02-25 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-02-24 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
2026-02-23 House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-02-18 House
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-02-03 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Official Summary Text

The bill requires that, on or after October 1, 2031, a subject jurisdiction shall not require:
That a
parcel

lot
have an area larger than 2,000 square feet if the
parcel's

lot's
residential use is limited to a single family home;
or

Minimum lot frontage, setbacks, open space, or maximum lot coverage dimensions that have the practical effect of preventing the construction of a single family home on a lot that has an area of 2,000 square feet and that has a residential use limited to a single family home.
The bill exempts certain types of
parcels

lots
from this requirement.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0572.01 Caroline Martin x5902 HOUSE BILL 26-1114
House Committees Senate Committees
Transportation, Housing & Local Government
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING AN ALLOWED MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR SUBJECT101
JURISDICTIONS.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill requires that, on or after October 1, 2031, a subject
jurisdiction shall not require that a parcel have an area larger than 2,000
square feet if the parcel's residential use is limited to a single family
home. The bill exempts certain types of parcels from this requirement.
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
February 25, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
February 24, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Stewart R. and Woodrow, Boesenecker, Froelich, Lindsay, Mabrey, Nguyen, Rutinel,
Sirota
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Ball,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 5 to article2
35 of title 29 as follows:3
PART 54
MINIMUM LOT SIZE5
29-35-501. Legislative declaration.6
(1) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT:7
(a) HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ALL8
COLORADANS. HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AFFECTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE9
ABLE TO LIVE , WHICH IN TURN AFFECTS TRANSIT , COMMUTING , THE10
WORKFORCE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT , THEREBY AFFECTING THE11
WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE ACROSS COLORADO;12
(b) R ISING LAND COSTS ARE A SIGNIFICANT DRIVER OF13
UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING IN COLORADO, WITH LAND VALUES RISING FROM14
THIRTY-ONE PERCENT OF COLORADO HOME VALUES IN 2012 TO15
FIFTY-EIGHT PERCENT IN 2024, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN16
ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE;17
(c) L AND VALUE MODELING SHOWS THAT , IN THE MAJORITY OF18
CORE-BASED STATISTICAL AREAS IN COLORADO, IT IS FEASIBLE TO BUILD19
A SINGLE FAMILY STARTER HOME THAT CAN BE SOLD FOR LESS THAN FIVE20
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A LOT THAT IS TWO THOUSAND SQUARE21
FEET OR SMALLER;22
(d) THE SMALLER THE LOT SIZE , THE MORE AFFORDABLE SINGLE23
FAMILY STARTER HOMES CAN BE . IN ORDER FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD24
STARTER HOMES THAT COLORADANS CAN AFFORD, THEY MUST BE ABLE TO25
BUILD ON SMALLER LOTS. IN MANY JURISDICTIONS, DEVELOPERS ARE NOT26
ABLE TO BUILD ON SMALLER LOTS DUE TO UNNECESSARILY LARGE27
1114-2-
MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS; AND1
(e) T HERE IS COLORADO-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE FOR SUBJECT2
JURISDICTIONS TO FOLLOW IN IMPLEMENTING THE NEW MINIMUM LOT SIZE3
ALLOWANCE. THE COLORADO STARTER HOME INITIATIVE IS PUBLISHING4
A STARTER HOME ZONING TEMPLATE, WHICH IS A FLEXIBLE ROADMAP THAT5
WILL HELP COMMUNITIES CREATE CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF6
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND INCLUDES GUIDANCE RELATED TO LOT7
SIZES.8
(2) THEREFORE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS, DETERMINES, AND9
DECLARES THAT:10
(a) A LLOWING A CONSISTENT MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR SINGLE11
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS WILL HELP TO INCREASE HOUSING12
AFFORDABILITY, THEREBY HELPING ALL COLORADANS;13
(b) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES NOT INTEND TO CREATE ANY14
ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON SUBJECT JURISDICTIONS IN ALLOWING MINIMUM15
LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS , AND THEREFORE HAS PROVIDED THAT16
IMPLEMENTATION MAY HAPPEN AT ANY POINT BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2031,17
WHICH ALLOWS SUBJECT JURISDICTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENT18
AS A PART OF AN EXISTING PROCESS; AND19
(c) A LLOWING A CONSISTENT MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR SINGLE20
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS IS A MATTER OF MIXED STATE AND LOCAL21
CONCERN. THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING IN ONE COMMUNITY AFFECTS22
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, AND COLORADO'S HOUSING SUPPLY IMPACTS23
TRANSIT, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMY, ENERGY, WATER,24
AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND REQUIRES COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS.25
29-35-502. Definitions.26
AS USED IN THIS PART 5, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE27
1114-3-
REQUIRES:1
(1) "EXEMPT LOT" MEANS A LOT THAT IS:2
(a) NOT SERVED BY A DOMESTIC WATER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT3
SYSTEM, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-65.1-104 (5);4
(b) S ERVED BY A WELL THAT IS NOT CONNECTED TO A WATER5
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 25-9-102 (6);6
(c) SERVED BY A SEPTIC TANK, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 25-10-1037
(18); 8
(d) L OCATED WITHIN A COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITY , AS9
DEFINED IN SECTION 38-33.3-103 (8), THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN A SUBJECT10
JURISDICTION AND WAS CREATED BEFORE THE SUBJECT JURISDICTION11
CAME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PART 5; OR12
(e) A HISTORIC PROPERTY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 29-35-402 (11),13
THAT IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT, AS DEFINED IN14
SECTION 29-35-402 (10).15
(2) "S UBJECT JURISDICTION " HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN16
SECTION 29-35-402 (21).17
29-35-503. Permitted minimum lot size for subject18
jurisdictions.19
(1) O N OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2031, A SUBJECT JURISDICTION20
SHALL NOT REQUIRE:21
(a) T HAT A LOT HAVE AN AREA LARGER THAN TWO THOUSAND22
SQUARE FEET IF THE LOT 'S RESIDENTIAL USE IS LIMITED TO A SINGLE23
FAMILY HOME; OR24
(b) M INIMUM LOT FRONTAGE, SETBACKS, OPEN SPACE, OR25
MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE DIMENSIONS THAT HAVE THE PRACTICAL EFFECT26
OF PREVENTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON A LOT27
1114-4-
THAT HAS AN AREA OF TWO THOUSAND SQUARE FEET AND THAT HAS A1
RESIDENTIAL USE LIMITED TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.2
(2) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A LOT WITH A RESIDENTIAL USE THAT3
IS LIMITED TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE4
RESIDENTIAL USE ALLOWS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS OR GROUP HOMES,5
BUT DOES NOT APPLY TO AN EXEMPT LOT.6
(3) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION PREVENTS A SUBJECT JURISDICTION7
FROM:8
(a) A PPLYING AND ENFORCING A LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE9
STANDARD , INCLUDING A STANDARD RELATED TO UTILITIES ,10
TRANSPORTATION, OR PUBLIC WORKS CODE;11
(b) A PPLYING AND ENFORCING A LOCAL LIFE SAFETY CODE ,12
INCLUDING A BUILDING, FIRE, UTILITY, OR STORMWATER CODE;13
(c) APPLYING AND ENFORCING A REGULATION RELATED TO HUMAN14
AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY , INCLUDING OIL AND GAS15
SETBACKS, FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS, AND AIRPORT INFLUENCE AREAS;16
(d) ADOPTING GENERALLY APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE17
PAYMENT OF IMPACT FEES OR OTHER SIMILAR DEVELOPMENT CHARGES IN18
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 29-20-104.5, OR THE MITIGATION OF IMPACTS19
IN ACCORDANCE WITH PART 2 OF ARTICLE 20 OF THIS TITLE 29;20
(e) R EQUIRING A STATEMENT BY A WATER OR WASTEWATER21
SERVICE PROVIDER REGARDING THE PROVIDER'S CAPACITY TO SERVICE A22
LOT; OR23
(f) A PPLYING THE DESIGN STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES OF A24
HISTORIC DISTRICT TO A LOT LOCATED WITHIN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.25
SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,26
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate27
1114-5-
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for1
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state2
institutions.3
1114-6-