Colorado YIMBY 2026 Endorsed Legislation: Building More Homes Near Opportunity
January 27, 2026
At YIMBY Denver, we support policies that make it easier to build more homes in the right places (near transit, jobs, and existing community assets). This year, we’re endorsing two bills (so far!) that remove unnecessary barriers and create smart tools to finance the infrastructure that makes housing possible.
🏗️ HB26-1001: Housing Developments on Qualifying Properties
The HOME Act
What it does:
HB26-1001 requires jurisdictions, starting at the end of next year, to allow housing on certain qualifying properties through an administrative approval process (no need to have a public hearing with NIMBYs yelling!). Qualifying properties include up to five acres owned by affordable housing nonprofits, school districts, state colleges and universities, housing authorities, and transit-related entities. This bill is similar to one from last year but is a bit narrower, no longer including religious entities.
Why it matters:
This bill unlocks underused public and community-serving land for homes people can actually live in, without forcing projects into long, expensive rezoning fights. It also limits cities from applying more restrictive standards than they apply to similar housing elsewhere, which helps keep these projects feasible.
🚆 HB26-1065: Transit and Housing Investment Zones
The Transit Investment Area Act
What it does:
HB26-1065 creates the Transit Investment Area Act, allowing local governments and transit agencies to apply for state approval to build transit investment projects and fund eligible improvements using a portion of state sales tax increment revenue from within the project area (with guardrails on size and duration). It also creates an affordable housing tax credit for qualified low- and middle-income housing projects in these zones, with credits available beginning in 2027. This would help projects “pencil,” or get banks to approve affordable housing near transit.
Why it matters:
Colorado cannot solve housing affordability without building the transit and infrastructure that allow more people to live near opportunity. This bill pairs transit investment with housing production tools so communities can grow in a way that reduces traffic, cuts household transportation costs, and supports walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods.
How you can help
Contact your legislators and ask them to support HB26-1001 and HB26-1065. You can find your lawmaker here.
Share this endorsement with neighbors who care about housing affordability and better transit.
Stay involved with YIMBY Denver for hearings, action alerts, and testimony opportunities as these bills move. You can sign up for emails below or become a member of YIMBY Denver here.
