Overview
Subject jurisdictions (“Transit-Oriented Communities”) must analyze areas near high-frequency transit to identify a Housing Opportunity Goal based on a formula in the law, then locally designate Transit Centers (i.e., areas that allow denser residential uses) and ensure that their local land use laws within those areas cumulatively allow sufficient Zoning Capacity to meet the Housing Opportunity Goal.
Please note:
- This law is about Zoning Capacity in transit-oriented areas, not housing unit production.
- This law includes a number of aspects of the review process that localities retain existing authority over, as well as numerous flexibilities for where and how to designate Transit Centers in order to meet the Housing Opportunity Goal. Please see Guidance in the Tools and Resources section for more detail.
- Legislation (HB 24-1313) implementation work is ongoing. Please check back regularly for updates.
The law states that its goals are to “(a) increase opportunities to construct housing near transit in order to provide benefits including Regulated Affordable Housing, accessible housing, regional equity through a balance of jobs and housing, improved and expanded transit service, and multimodal access to daily needs within Mixed-Use Pedestrian-Oriented Neighborhoods; and (b) increase opportunities for housing production by providing appropriate Zoning Capacity Buffers.” (C.R.S. 29-35-203(2))
Subject jurisdictions (termed “Transit-Oriented Communities” in the law) include those within metropolitan planning organizations that are:
- Municipalities with more than 4,000 residents AND more than 75 acres of Transit Areas
- Counties with more than 4,000 residents AND more than 75 acres of Transit Areas
- Unincorporated areas (a) within ½ mile of light rail or commuter rail stations and (b) within ¼ mile of transit corridors and surrounded by municipalities
- Local governments that are not Transit-Oriented Communities can opt in by designating Neighborhood Centers to be eligible for the TOC infrastructure grant program.
List of Transit-Oriented Communities
Based on the Transit Area maps published by DOLA and directed by the statute, the following 32 jurisdictions are Transit-Oriented Communities based on the criteria listed above:
- Adams County
- Arapahoe County
- Arvada
- Aurora
- Boulder
- Boulder County
- Broomfield
- Centennial
- Cherry Hills Village
- Colorado Springs
- Commerce City
- Denver
- Douglas County
- Edgewater
- Englewood
- Fort Collins
- Glendale
- Golden
- Greenwood Village
- Jefferson County
- Lafayette
- Lakewood
- Littleton
- Lone Tree
- Longmont
- Louisville
- Northglenn
- Sheridan
- Superior
- Thornton
- Westminster
- Wheat Ridge
The main components of the TOC law include (please review the TOC Guidance for more in-depth information on all of these topics):
- The law establishes a formula to calculate a jurisdiction's Housing Opportunity Goal (HOG), based on acreage of Transit Areas. The Housing Opportunity Goal is a target for Zoning Capacity, not built housing units.
- The Zoning Capacity of a jurisdiction's Transit Centers must equal or exceed its HOG.
- Jurisdictions have various flexibilities with respect to where and how they designate Transit Centers (areas with dense residential or mixed use zoning).
- Transit Centers must have an Administrative Approval Process, and meet certain other criteria in the law.
- Transit-Oriented Communities must identify a certain number of affordability and displacement mitigation strategies from menus for implementation.
Grants and Incentives
- DOLA will certify Transit Oriented Communities that meet the requirements of the Housing Opportunity Goal report as directed in statute.
- Certified Transit Oriented Communities are eligible for an Infrastructure Grant Program.
- Non-subject jurisdictions can opt in to become eligible for the Infrastructure Grant Program by designating Neighborhood Centers.
- CHFA has also established a new Transit-oriented Communities tax credit for affordable housing projects in Transit Areas (in 2025-2027) and in Transit Centers (in 2028-2029).
Key Dates
Local Governments
- June 30, 2025 Preliminary Transit-Oriented Communities assessment report due to DOLA
- December 31, 2026 Water insufficiency notice due to DOLA, if applicable (and every 3 years if applicable)
- December 31, 2026 Final Housing Opportunity Goal report due
- December 31, 2027 State law requires meeting the Housing Opportunity Goal by this date, DOLA gives notice of any non-compliance
- December 31, 2029 First three-year status report due
Please note: For draft reporting templates (what the law calls the “form and manner” of reporting), please email DOLA.
State
- September 30, 2024 DOLA published Transit Area and walkshed maps
- February 28, 2025 DOLA published complete guidance, the Transit Center calculation model, and the Housing Opportunity Goal calculation tool
- June 30, 2025 DOLA publishes affordability menus, displacement risk assessment guidance and strategies
Tools and Resources
- HB24-1313 Transit-Oriented Communities Guidance (includes technical tool user guides)
- HB24-1313 Transit-Oriented Communities Technical Tools
- Housing Opportunity Goal Calculation Tool (Excel download)
- Transit Center Calculation Model (Excel download)
- Housing Opportunity Goal Calculation Tool Walk-Through: Workshop Recording and Workshop Slides
- HB24-1313 Transit-Oriented Communities Geospatial Resources
- HB24-1313 Transit-Oriented Communities Interactive Map
- HB24-1313 Transit-Oriented Communities Map Documentation
- HB24-1313 Transit-Oriented Communities Geospatial Files for Download
- HB24-1313 Transit-Oriented Communities Mapping Data Spreadsheet
- Housing Opportunity Goal Parcel Shapefile and Data Dictionary
- Potential Transit Areas Map and Memo
We're Here to Help!
Do you have questions about the new laws and impacts to your jurisdiction? Check out our FAQ page or get one-on-one support below:
