Contractors in Colorado will now be required to include accessibility features in the structures they are building as the result of a new state law.
Passed earlier this year by members of the Colorado State Legislature, House Bill 25-1030, otherwise known as the Accessibility Standards in Building Codes, mandates that local government and school districts must incorporate international building codes governing accessibility measures.
In signing the legislation, Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera remarked that “every Coloradoan deserves the freedom to live in spaces they can navigate and enjoy.”
Continued Primavera: “By aligning our building codes with the current international accessibility standards, we’re not just meeting legal requirements, we’re reinforcing Colorado’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.”
The new law will also impact State Housing Board and Division of Fire Protection building codes. According to a fiscal analysis of the legislation, the bill will additionally govern the reviewing of “construction plans for public schools, district college and certain health facilities.”
An additional feature of the legislation, noted Primavera, is that it eliminates barriers to those with disabilities, “including those aging into disabilities,” allowing such residents to “live in spaces designed for everyone no matter where in the state they choose to reside.” The bill is scheduled to go into effect on January 1 of next year.
March 13, 2025
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
