STATEWIDE ~ The Colorado Department of Local Affairs' (DOLA) Division of Local Government (DLG) has announced a new incentive program aimed at encouraging early adoption of fast-track policies for development review. The program, which has set aside up to $2 million in grant funding, is designed to help local governments reduce housing costs and increase supply by streamlining the development review process.

According to Governor Jared Polis, "The quicker that applications get processed for housing, the better, and this incentive helps local governments turn around applications even faster." This sentiment was echoed by DOLA Executive Director Maria De Cambra, who stated that "speeding up review processes will have a transformative impact on housing supply and affordability across our state."

Under the program, local governments that adopt a Proposition 123-compliant expedited review process by December 31, 2025 will be eligible to receive up to $50,000 in grant funding. This is one year ahead of the December 2026 deadline set by Proposition 123. The funds can be used for various planning-related expenses such as personnel, software, consultants, and professional development.

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To be eligible for the grant funding, local governments must receive a notice of award from DOLA after their eligibility has been verified. The next funding cycle for these grants will open on May 1, 2025 and close on Friday, May 30, 2025 at noon. However, these funds are only available to local and tribal governments who have filed a Proposition 123 commitment and are eligible for Proposition 123 funds.

The grant program also supports local government implementation of Proposition 123 requirements related to fast-track policies. These policies aim to expedite the development review process for affordable housing projects by eliminating delays that drive up project expenses. According to Proposition 123, in order to remain eligible for the State Affordable Housing Fund, local governments must demonstrate they have implemented an expedited review process by the end of 2026 for housing projects where at least half of the units are affordable.

In recognition of the fact that revising local regulatory processes takes time, some incentives will also be available for local governments that adopt a compliant expedited development review process by June 30, 2026. For more information on the program and its requirements, interested parties can refer to the Proposition 123 Fast Track early adoption incentive fact sheet and general information about the Fast Track Requirements in Proposition 123. With this new incentive program in place, it is hoped that more local governments will take steps to streamline their development review processes and contribute to increasing affordable housing supply in Colorado.

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