Working Together: Regional Collaboration
Housing needs often extend across jurisdictional boundaries, making regional collaboration a valuable strategy for increasing the supply of affordable housing and addressing shared housing challenges. Proposition 123 allows local and tribal governments to work together and share unit credit for affordable housing produced through joint efforts.
Under C.R.S. § 29-32-105(3)(d)(II), the statute states:
“Regional collaboration and partnership is encouraged. Local governments and tribal governments may enter into written agreements with other local governments and tribal governments that allow each jurisdiction to receive partial credit towards the local government’s or tribal government’s growth requirement for the purpose of calculating whether a local government or tribal government has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section. The sum of the total units credited to the local governments and tribal governments shall not exceed the total number of units produced through the collaboration.”
Regional Collaboration Information Sheet (PDF)
How Unit Attribution Works in Regional Projects
Jurisdictions must establish a formal written agreement (e.g. IGA) that:
- Clearly identifies all participating jurisdictions
- Ensures the total credited units do not exceed the units actually produced
- Ensures that no one unit is counted twice
- Establishes a collaborative framework under which the jurisdictions will support the production of affordable housing and share unit credit toward each jurisdiction's Proposition 123 growth requirement
The written agreement must be submitted as part of the compliance document package.
Recommended Practices to Consider
- Define how unit credit will be shared (e.g., by funding, location, infrastructure, or other contributions)
- Use shared housing data or needs assessments to guide proportional credit distribution
- Document each jurisdiction’s roles and responsibilities including administrative, financial, permitting support, or a lead agency
- Include a process for redistributing surplus units
- Share relevant compliance documentation (e.g., permits, funding sources, unit details)
- Review and update the agreement annually or as needed
- Consult legal counsel early to ensure agreements meet local and statutory requirements
- Design agreements with a long-term view to support ongoing collaboration