The HBA Advocate Newsletter | December 2, 2025

By Paige Roemmich | December 4, 2025 |

December 2, 2025

In this edition:

Commerce City Council Repeals Fire Sprinkler Mandate - Other Front Range Communities Reconsider Requirements Amid Rising Housing Costs
HBA of Metro Denver Partners with Metro Mayors Caucus on Building Bridges Event
Get Involved: 2026 HBA Advocacy Committee & Task Forces

Commerce City Council Repeals Fire Sprinkler Mandate - Other Front Range Communities Reconsider Requirements Amid Rising Housing Costs

On November 17, the Commerce City Council voted to repeal its current fire-sprinkler requirements for new single-family, duplexes and townhomes on a 5-3 vote. The repeal follows extensive outreach efforts by the HBA of Metro Denver and numerous builders and developers within the municipality, citing the excessive fees and mandates within the city and their impact on housing affordability.

The repeal couldn’t have come at a better time for active builders in Commerce City that are currently operating on razor thin margins in today’s building environment ? and for aspiring homeowners who are finding it more difficult than ever to qualify for a loan to make their dreams a reality.

As housing affordability continues to challenge communities across the Front Range, Commerce City isn’t the only municipality reconsidering their fire-sprinkler requirements. The Town of Erie is also revisiting its local mandates for new residential construction. These repeal efforts come as part of a broader priority to ease regulatory costs on builders and homebuyers amid escalating impact fees, tap fees and construction expenses.

The cost of installing residential sprinkler systems has become a significant point of contention. Builders estimate that installation costs average $13,500 per home, with total homeowner costs reaching approximately $15,000 once design, permitting and inspection costs are factored. In both communities, these expenses add to an already growing list of local fees and mandates. Commerce City, for instance, has implemented fee increases totaling more than $20,000 per home since 2023 - a 400% increase - while Erie recently approved a $20,397 increase in its water tap and raw water dedication fees. Local leaders and industry advocates argue that removing the sprinkler mandates could help offset these costs and improve affordability for first-time buyers.

The HBA of Metro Denver emphasized that most Front Range jurisdictions have already amended similar sprinkler requirements out of their codes. With both communities seeing declines in new residential permits- Erie reporting a 45% drop from last year - industry leaders warn that rising costs are pricing thousands of Coloradans out of the market.

Additionally, as many municipalities in our jurisdiction begin adopting the 2024 International Residential Code, the question of whether to mandate fire sprinklers in new residential construction has become a recurring issue that will likely remain a point of debate throughout the code-update process. The HBA has been actively voicing concerns about the significant cost implications for housing affordability and emphasizing that Colorado’s existing building codes already provide strong fire-safety standards. We will continue to monitor and engage in these discussions wherever sprinkler mandates are being considered, including in Adams County, Arvada, Bennett, Brighton, Louisville and Wheat Ridge.

HBA of Metro Denver Partners with Metro Mayors Caucus on Building Bridges Event

The HBA of Metro Denver was proud to host the Building Bridges - Home Builders and Construction Partners Roundtable on November 12, bringing together the Metro Mayors Caucus, industry leaders, and community partners for an open and solutions-oriented discussion on housing affordability. As part of the broader Building Bridges initiative, the session aimed to strengthen communication, build trust and identify common ground between local government leaders and the homebuilding community. Moderator Ted Leighty led a dynamic discussion with panelists Tyler Jones (Oakwood Homes), Peter Benson (Koelbel), Peter Lifari (Maiker Housing Partners), and Tim Craft (Craft Companies). Each panelist shared on-the-ground insights into current challenges and opportunities in today’s housing market.

The conversation continued with local government leaders - including mayors Marissa Harmon, Andrew Moore, Joshua Rivera, and Wendi Strom - who highlighted community needs and policy considerations shaping housing decisions across the region. Attendees also received an informative presentation from Tom Hayden, Founder and CEO of Peak Economics Research & Consulting, offering valuable context on market trends and affordability pressures.

We appreciate everyone who participated and contributed to this meaningful dialogue as we continue working collaboratively toward more attainable housing solutions for Colorado communities.

Get Involved: 2026 HBA Advocacy Committees & Task Forces

As we approach the end of the year, we would like to invite all members to participate in our advocacy committees for 2026. Our committees play a key role in shaping industry collaboration, strengthening relationships with local jurisdictions, and ensuring our members stay informed on the issues that directly impact homebuilding and development across the Metro Denver region.

Joint Task Forces
Our Joint Task Forces bring together members with representatives from the highest-growth building and planning departments in our region. These meetings provide valuable insight into municipal priorities, planned initiatives, and opportunities to ask questions directly to staff. In 2026, we will host Joint Task Force meetings with Arapahoe County, Aurora, Commerce City, Denver, Erie and Thornton.

Permitting Committee
The Permitting Committee serves as a roundtable forum for networking and best-practices discussions related to all aspects of permitting. Topics often include municipal code adoptions, fee updates, process changes, and more. Four times a year, we also host dedicated “municipal update” meetings where representatives from many high-growth municipality building departments join us to provide updates on their codes, permitting processes and upcoming changes.

Regulated Utilities Committee
The Regulated Utilities Committee offers members a venue to discuss land development, homebuilding and utility coordination. Representatives from major dry utility providers - such as Black Hills Energy, Xcel Energy, Core Electric, United Power and others - attend to answer member questions and provide updates on timelines and processes.

For information or to be added to the Joint Task Force invite lists, please contact Morgan Cullen at mcullen@hbadenver.com.

For more information or to be added to the invitation lists for the Permitting or Regulated Utilities Committees, please contact Albert Bozoki at abozoki@hbadenver.com.

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.

HBA is looking for Members to Participate in Advocacy, Regulatory and Technical Committees in 2026

As a volunteer-driven organization, the HBA's Jobsite Safety Committee, Permitting Committee, Regulated Utilities Committee and Stormwater Management Committee help guide the HBA's events and activities throughout the year. Consider joining one, or more, if you want to build strong, long-lasting relationships and make a difference to your fellow HBA members, while sharpening your leadership skills. Please visit the HBA website for more information or reach out to Morgan Cullen if you are ready to participate.