HB 24-1267 Summary

• Metropolitan districts providing covenant enforcement and design review services must adopt written policies by January 1, 2025, governing the imposition of fines, including fair and impartial fact-finding procedures and schedules for continuous or repetitive violations.

• Metropolitan districts are prohibited from foreclosing liens arising from covenant violation fines or design review service fees, though they may certify delinquent amounts to the county treasurer for collection like property taxes.

• Metropolitan districts cannot prohibit renewable energy devices, energy efficiency measures (including solar panels, heat pumps, and clotheslines), xeriscape landscaping, rain barrels, or reasonable disability modifications on residential units.

• Metropolitan districts cannot regulate flags or signs based on message content (except commercial messages), must allow emergency service vehicles on driveways meeting specified criteria, and cannot restrict defensible space vegetation removal for fire mitigation purposes.

• Unit owners prevailing in covenant violation disputes receive reasonable attorney fees and costs, while the metropolitan district cannot recover costs from non-prevailing defendants unless justified by building codes or safety standards.