A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the requirement that certain building codes
Page 1, Line 102have accessibility standards that are at least as
Page 1, Line 103stringent as international building codes.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill requires a local government that adopts or substantially amends a building code to ensure that the building code meets or exceeds the accessibility standards in international building codes.
The bill also requires the division of fire prevention and control within the department of public safety to ensure that, when certain building codes pertaining to public school and heath facilities are substantially amended, the codes meet or exceed accessibility standards in international building codes.
The bill requires the state housing board to ensure that, when the uniform construction and maintenance standards for hotels, motels, and multiple dwellings in jurisdictions with no local building code are substantially updated, the standards meet or exceed the accessibility standards in international building codes. The bill also requires the state housing board to ensure that, when the recommendations for uniform housing standards and building codes to the general assembly and local governments are substantially updated, the codes meet or exceed the accessibility standards in international building codes.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly
Page 2, Line 3finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 4(a) Accessibility in building design is a fundamental right that
Page 2, Line 5fosters inclusivity and equal opportunity for all individuals, particularly
Page 2, Line 6those with disabilities. In alignment with article 9 of the United Nations
Page 2, Line 7Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which emphasizes
Page 2, Line 8the need for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate
Page 2, Line 9fully in all aspects of life, Colorado recognizes the importance of creating
Page 2, Line 10an accessible built environment.
Page 2, Line 11(b) It is crucial that Colorado's building codes incorporate
Page 2, Line 12"Americans with Disabilities Act" and "Architectural Barriers Act"
Page 2, Line 13standards, which require that buildings and facilities be accessible to
Page 2, Line 14persons with disabilities;
Page 2, Line 15(c) Aligning local building codes with the internationally
Page 2, Line 16recognized standards set forth by the International Building Code and
Page 2, Line 17existing federal laws is crucial to ensure that all new constructions,
Page 2, Line 18renovations, and alterations adhere to minimum accessibility
Page 3, Line 1requirements;
Page 3, Line 2(d) This House Bill 25-1030 requires local governments to adopt
Page 3, Line 3or amend local building codes to meet or exceed these necessary
Page 3, Line 4international building code accessibility standards:
Page 3, Line 5(e) By identifying and eliminating obstacles to accessibility, the
Page 3, Line 6general assembly can create a built environment that is welcoming and
Page 3, Line 7accessible to everyone; and
Page 3, Line 8(f) By prioritizing accessibility in Colorado building codes, state
Page 3, Line 9and local governments can promote the participation of persons with
Page 3, Line 10disabilities in all aspects of community life, thereby enhancing the quality
Page 3, Line 11of life for all Colorado residents.
Page 3, Line 12(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that establishing
Page 3, Line 13uniform accessibility standards in building codes is of mixed local and
Page 3, Line 14statewide concern to ensure that all individuals may access the physical
Page 3, Line 15environment, transportation, information, and communications on an
Page 3, Line 16equal basis.
Page 3, Line 17SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 30-28-204 as
Page 3, Line 18follows:
Page 3, Line 1930-28-204. Amendment of building code. (1) The board of
Page 3, Line 20county commissioners from time to time by resolution may alter and
Page 3, Line 21amend any county building code after public hearing, notice of which
Page 3, Line 22hearing shall be given by at least one publication in a newspaper of
Page 3, Line 23general circulation in the county at least fourteen days prior to said
Page 3, Line 24hearing. In no case shall the area covered by the building code be
Page 3, Line 25extended or changed unless the same has been proposed by or is first
Page 3, Line 26submitted for the approval, disapproval, or suggestions of the county
Page 3, Line 27planning commission. Unless the county planning commission acts within
Page 4, Line 1thirty days, approval shall be assumed. The opinion of the county
Page 4, Line 2planning commission shall be advisory only and not binding upon the
Page 4, Line 3board of county commissioners.
Page 4, Line 4(2) When a board of county commissioners adopts or
Page 4, Line 5substantially amends any county building code, the board shall
Page 4, Line 6ensure that the building code meets or exceeds the accessibility
Page 4, Line 7standards adopted in one of the two most recent versions of the
Page 4, Line 8international building code, as adopted by the International
Page 4, Line 9Code Council or a successor organization.Adoption of the
Page 4, Line 10energy-efficient building codes in accordance with section
Page 4, Line 1124-38.5-401 (5) does not constitute a substantial amendment to
Page 4, Line 12the building codes for purposes of this subsection (2).
Page 4, Line 13SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 31-15-604 as
Page 4, Line 14follows:
Page 4, Line 1531-15-604. Building codes - minimum accessibility standards
Page 4, Line 16required - international building codes.When a governing body of
Page 4, Line 17a municipality adopts or substantially amends any municipal
Page 4, Line 18building code, the governing body shall ensure that the
Page 4, Line 19building code meets or exceeds the accessibility standards
Page 4, Line 20adopted in one of the two most recent versions of the
Page 4, Line 21international building code, as adopted by the International
Page 4, Line 22Code Council or a successor organization.Adoption of the
Page 4, Line 23energy-efficient building codes in accordance with section
Page 4, Line 2424-38.5-401 (5) does not constitute a substantial amendment to
Page 4, Line 25the building codes for purposes of this section.
Page 4, Line 26SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1203,
Page 4, Line 27amend (1)(p) and (1)(p.5) as follows:
Page 5, Line 124-33.5-1203. Duties of division. (1) The division shall perform
Page 5, Line 2the following duties:
Page 5, Line 3(p) Conduct construction plan reviews and inspect public school
Page 5, Line 4and local district college buildings and structures and enforce the codes
Page 5, Line 5adopted in accordance with sections 22-32-124 (2),
andPage 5, Line 6
C.R.S., and sectionsPage 5, Line 7shall ensure that when the codes adopted in accordance with
Page 5, Line 8sections 22-32-124 (2), 23-71-122 (1)(v), 24-33.5-1213, and
Page 5, Line 924-33.5-1213.3 are substantially amended, the codes meet or
Page 5, Line 10exceed the accessibility standards adopted by one of the two
Page 5, Line 11most recent versions of the international building code, as
Page 5, Line 12adopted by the International Code Council or a successor
Page 5, Line 13organization.
Page 5, Line 14(p.5) When there is no local building department or fire
Page 5, Line 15department, or for facilities certified or potentially eligible for
Page 5, Line 16certification by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services,
Page 5, Line 17conduct construction plan reviews and inspections of health facility
Page 5, Line 18buildings and structures, enforce the codes in accordance with sections
Page 5, Line 1924-33.5-1212.5 and 24-33.5-1213, and issue certificates of compliance
Page 5, Line 20for such buildings and structures. The division shall ensure that
Page 5, Line 21when the codes adopted in accordance with sections
Page 5, Line 2224-33.5-1212.5 and 24-33.5-1213 are substantially updated, the
Page 5, Line 23codes meet or exceed the accessibility standards adopted by one
Page 5, Line 24of the two most recent versions of the international building
Page 5, Line 25code, as adopted by the International Code Council or a
Page 5, Line 26successor organization.
Page 5, Line 27SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-32-707, add (1.5)
Page 6, Line 1as follows:
Page 6, Line 224-32-707. Powers of board. (1.5) The board shall ensure
Page 6, Line 3that when the standards and codes prescribed in subsections
Page 6, Line 4(1)(b) and (1)(c) of this section are substantially updated, the
Page 6, Line 5standards and codes meet or exceed the accessibility
Page 6, Line 6requirements in one of the two most recent versions of the
Page 6, Line 7international building code, as adopted by the International
Page 6, Line 8Code Council or a successor organization.
Page 6, Line 9SECTION 6. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 6, Line 10takes effect January 1, 2026; except that, if a referendum petition is filed
Page 6, Line 11pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this
Page 6, Line 12act or an item, section, or part of this act within the ninety-day period
Page 6, Line 13after final adjournment of the general assembly, then the act, item,
Page 6, Line 14section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the
Page 6, Line 15general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take
Page 6, Line 16effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the
Page 6, Line 17governor.