New Colorado bill aims to eliminate parking minimums statewide

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Democrats announced a new bill Wednesday that would eliminate parking minimums statewide.

House Bill 24-1304 would prohibit municipalities or counties from creating or enforcing minimum parking requirements for residential or commercial properties.

This would make housing more affordable and reduce traffic congestion, according to a release.

“There are eight parking spaces for every vehicle on the road, and most municipalities require up to three parking spaces per unit, which can add millions to the cost of building new multifamily housing,” Rep. Steve Woodrow said in the release.

Eliminating parking minimums would also reduce greenhouse gas pollution in the state by lowering the number of vehicle miles traveled, according to Colorado Democrats.

“The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado, with cars contributing nearly 60% of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions,” the release said.

There are no uniform parking minimums for the state, and every municipality or county has its own. Denver, for example, has many different parking requirements outlined in its zoning code.

The bill would not impact parking spaces required as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The bill would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.