2026 HBA Development Fee Study Edition 2
Download 2026 Metro Denver Development Fee Study Edition 2
2026 Impact Fee Studies - The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver has completed two 2026 comprehensive studies analyzing the development fees assessed on new housing construction across the 16 leading local governments in Denver metro the region. We also produced a supplemental fee study for the northern Colorado region that includes Fort Collins, Windsor and Johnston. As Colorado grapples with a growing housing affordability crisis, these studies highlight a key - but often overlooked - contributor to rising home prices: government-imposed development fees.
These fees - comprising building permit fees, use taxes, impact fees, and system development (water tap) fees are necessary to support local infrastructure but significantly increase the cost of new home construction. On average, builders in the metro Denver area pay approximately $73,000 in development fees for a single-family detached home and $57,000 for a single-family attached home. This is up considerably from the results of last year’s study that found the total fees paid per home about $67,000 and $52,000 respectively.
By providing side-by-side comparisons and detailed breakdowns, this study helps builders, policymakers, and stakeholders better understand how local development fees influence housing affordability - and where reform may be most impactful.
2026 Metro Denver Development Fee Study Edition 2