The HBA Advocate Newsletter | October 8, 2025
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October 8, 2025 |
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In this edition:
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Metro Housing Coalition Offers Endorsements for 2025 Municipal Candidates |
 Download 2025 MHC Voter Guide This November, municipalities across Metro Denver will be holding elections with far reaching implications for the residential construction industry and our ability to meet the housing needs of Colorado residents. With attainable housing in Metro Denver consistently ranked as one of this year’s most critical issues, the Metro Housing Coalition has made a concerted effort to elect more pro-housing candidates up and down the ballot. Issues like inclusionary zoning, net zero energy, rent control, inclusive zoning, metropolitan districts, permitting delays and construction defects have been top of mind for policy makers over the past couple years and all will have a huge impact on residential construction for many years to come ? making this year’s election extremely important for our industry. To that end, The MHC Board just completed its outreach for the fall election cycle. In total, more than 100 questionnaires were sent to candidates in 12 different municipalities. Nearly 60 follow up candidate interviews were conducted and 45 candidates ultimately received our endorsement. While this process can feel a bit arduous, it is invaluable for the HBA to get to know the newly and returning elected officials that will be making important decisions and significantly impact our industry for years to come. We appreciate all of the MHC Board members who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in this important process. The full MHC 2025 Voter Guide is available here. |
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MHC Housing Coalition Hosts 2025 Annual Political Forum |
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On September 25, the Metro Housing Coalition hosted another successful Political Forum at the Highlands Ranch Mansion. The annual event allows the MHC to raise valuable resources to support pro-business and pro-housing candidates throughout the Denver Metro Area. It also gives the HBA an opportunity to highlight critical policy issues that impact the residential construction industry across our jurisdiction. This year, the forum highlighted the ongoing issues surrounding residential land-use policy and its impact on housing affordability. The MHC would like to than moderator Jeff Handlin and esteemed panelists Leisel Cooper, Dream Finders; Scott Dergance, KGA Studio Architects; and Mike Cooper, Boulder Creek Neighborhoods for participating in this year’s discussion. We would also like to thank all of this year’s volunteers and event sponsors for your generous support. It couldn’t have happened without your leadership and dedication.
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HBA of Metro Denver Holds Successful 4th Annual Clay Shoot Event |
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Last week, HBA members, colleagues, clients and friends gathered for a fun day of shooting and fundraising for a worthy cause. In total, nearly 100 participants registered for the event, directly benefiting the Metro Denver HBA’s Strategic Issues Fund to advocate on policy issues critical to our industry across the metro area. This tournament featured a 100-target clay shoot featuring 15 fully automated stations along a cottonwood creek bottom and included breakfast, lunch awards ceremony and prize giveaway. The HBA greatly appreciates the participation and support of our membership for this important event and can’t wait to organize it again next year! Click photo below to view more event photos |
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Commerce City to Consider Revisions to Fire Sprinkler Requirements |
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Commerce City will be considering a potential repeal of its fire sprinkler requirements at its October 20 Council meeting, making the mandate an option based on consumer preference. This hearing follows a July Council Study Session that included discussions with the HBA of Metro Denver and South Adams County Fire Department. As housing affordability has become a crisis in Commerce City and across the Front Range over the past several years, some local governments have begun to reconsider locally imposed mandates as a way to help alleviate costs on aspiring homeowners. The cost to install fire sprinklers in residential units is not insignificant. The total direct cost to the builder to install a sprinkler system is approximately $13,500 depending on the size of the home. When total overhead and profit are taken into consideration, new homeowners can pay approximately $16,000 for the system. The City has significantly increased impact fees in recent years, which has also added to the cost of housing in Commerce City. Fire-sprinkler requirements on new homeowners are just one of several new fees and mandates imposed by Commerce City since 2023. Over the past two years, Commerce City has implemented substantial increases to its Public Parks and Recreation Fee, Drainage Fee, and Road Impact Fee. The City has also implemented a series of new fees for public safety, general government, and public works. Collectively, new and existing fee increases have added $20,722.09 to the cost of building a home—a 400% increase. With the average price of a home in Commerce City well over $500,000, some members of the City Council have expressed interest in revisiting the fire-sprinkler mandate as a way to help offset the additional costs associated with escalated construction and impact fees to help improve housing affordability. Any active builders and developers in Commerce City interested in testifying at the upcoming council hearing on the potential fire-sprinkler repeal are encouraged to participate. Please reach out to Morgan Cullen at the HBA of Metro Denver for more details. |
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HBA of Metro Denver Issue Tracker Questions on what is happening in a specific city or county? The HBA is regularly monitoring the council and board activities in every political subdivision in the metro Denver area. Our Issue Tracker offers a great resource to learn about the issues being deliberated with links to agendas, packets and ordinances. The HBA of Metro Denver HBA Issue Tracker is available to all members here.
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