House Bill could open church and school land for housing

Colorado House Bill 1169, known as “Housing Developments on Faith and Educational Land,” was introduced on Feb. 4, 2025, to the Colorado General Assembly by 14 Democrats as sponsors. It aims to make it easier to build housing on land owned by religious institutions, school districts, and state colleges or universities.

The sponsors say the bill is part of an effort to address Colorado’s growing housing affordability crisis by allowing residential development on these properties, even if current zoning laws would not normally permit it.

If passed, the bill would require local governments to allow housing projects on these sites starting Dec. 31, 2026. It also limits how much local zoning rules can restrict these developments, making it so the height, density, and other regulations are not stricter than those applied to housing projects on residential-zoned land. In addition to residential units, the bill allows for some community-oriented spaces, such as child care centers and service facilities, within reasonable limits.

Supporters argue that with land availability becoming a major barrier to new housing, this bill could unlock significant development potential. Many religious institutions own large pieces of undeveloped land. By cutting out lengthy rezoning processes, the bill aims to make housing projects more feasible, reducing costs and uncertainty for developers.

Several years ago the Niwot United Methodist Church, working with Habitat for Humanity, proposed building five to seven single-family homes on its property at 7405 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel. When approached, Boulder County’s Planning and Permitting Department responded that the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan would not allow such development, however.

If enacted, HB 1169 could reshape local zoning policies, opening the door for more housing in communities across Colorado, including unincorporated Boulder County.