Bill to allow more accessory dwelling units passes committee hearing

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- The House Committee of Transportation, Housing & Local Government passed HB24-1152 in a vote of 9-2 to legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU's) to address the housing crisis in the state of Colorado.

Centennial State Prosperity hosted a press conference in support of the bill before the hearing with bill sponsors, an ADU builder, an ADU owner, AARP Colorado, and the Boulder Chamber.

"In Colorado, many homeowners find themselves grappling with the challenges of maintaining their properties or coping with the rising costs of homeownership. In HB24-1152, I see a glimmer of hope – a chance to streamline regulations and make ADUs more accessible to those in need. I think of my own kids, in their early twenties, who won’t be able to afford to live in Colorado like my daughter who moved to Wyoming because she can’t afford to buy or rent here. I respectfully request lawmakers to continue to support HB24-1152 and its efforts to expand access to ADUs across our state."

Christy Silva | Denver ADU Owner

I am in support of this bill because of my personal experience with having an ADU built on my property. Like many Coloradans, we also faced the fact that, because of lack of affordable housing, we would be unable to stay in our neighborhood if we did not have this option. We did face challenges in building our ADU – the cost was quite high and we had to dip into our retirement savings. Additionally, the permitting process was lengthy and cumbersome. Our hope is that this bill will save others time and money and streamline the process to allow more homeowners to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.”

Gerald Horner | Denver ADU Owner

HB-1152 aims to create more housing supply by giving Colorado homeowners the right to build an ADU on their property. According to Centennial State Prosperity, the construction of more ADU's can help Colorado families remain in the homes and communities they grew up in by providing extra income in the form of rent, assisting an older family member age in place, or providing a family member with affordable housing.

An ADU is a smaller, separate living space on the same property as a main house – sometimes located above a garage or in a separate structure. They are also known as “granny flats” or casitas. A January poll released by Keating Research shows that 78% of Coloradans support a state law to allow ADUs to be built on single family home properties.