Rural Resort Reclassification Petition Process

The Division of Housing (DOH) is responsible for classifying all Colorado counties as  “urban”, “rural”, or “rural resort”, based on the final report of the Colorado Strategic Housing Working Group as stated in House Bill 22-1304 and Senate Bill 22-159. These classifications allow different area median income (AMI) requirements for some housing programs that jurisdictions can access.

Proposition 123 states that “Coloradans should be able to live where they work and not have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs, especially in rural and rural resort communities where housing needs are unique.” The petition process helps to ensure that eligible rural resort communities are able to receive funding for affordable housing projects that meet the demonstrated needs of their communities.

Complete List of County, Rural, and Rural Resort Communities in Colorado

What does it mean to be classified as a Rural Resort community?

A "Rural Resort" community, as per the law, refers to counties designated by the Division of Housing under C.R.S. 29-4-1107 (1)(d), along with municipalities and housing authorities within these counties. A classification of a Rural Resort community makes a difference in four laws.

What is a Rural Resort Reclassification petition?

To illustrate the unique needs in rural and rural resort areas of Colorado, the 64 counties were designated urban, rural, or rural resort. A county or municipality may petition the Division of Housing (DOH) to change to their designation using the County and Municipality Reclassification Petition form.

Who does a Rural Resort Reclassification petition pertain to?

A Rural Resort reclassification petition pertains to counties and municipalities that are designated as rural or urban and want to be redesignated as rural resort.

Only authorized officials of county, municipal governments, and tribes, or officially designated persons acting on their behalf, may submit a petition.

Why submit a petition?

If the petition for re-designation as Rural Resort is approved, then a rural resort community may file a separate petition for approval to apply different percentages of area median income (AMI) towards applications submitted for Proposition 123 funding with OEDIT’s Affordable Housing Financing Fund (Land Banking, Equity, and Concessionary Debt).

What will the petition need to demonstrate?

The petition needs to demonstrate the economic circumstances and housing cost factors present in the jurisdiction leading to the request.

If possible, the petition should highlight:

• High and/or fast increasing housing costs
• Supply and demand gaps by income level
• Dominant industries
• Commuting patterns

The petition must provide documents supporting the description above.

How to file

Use this direct link: County and Municipality Reclassification Petition form

Alternatively:
1. Log in to your Colorado AccessGov account.
2. Go to Directory.
3. Open the County and Municipality Reclassification Petition
4. Follow the guidelines on the introductory page.

Review process and estimated timeline

• Jurisdiction contacts DOH to express interest in reclassification
• Jurisdiction submits petition (Day 1)
• Petition reviewed for completeness and basic statute requirements (Day 2-7)
• Committee reviews petition (Day 8-38)
• Determination sent to jurisdiction (or more information requested) (Day 39)
• Appeal process
  • DOH staff are committed to facilitating a dialogue and assisting in the resubmission process. The petitioner may appeal its determination by writing to the DOH Division Director.