Overview

• Starting July 1, 2026, any city or county that updates its building codes must adopt Colorado’s model or a stricter standard.
• The code encourages heat pumps and other electric options through credits, does not ban new natural gas hookups, and offers compliant pathways for both all‑electric and mixed‑fuel buildings.
• New construction must be demand‑response capable for heating, cooling, water heating, and lighting so utilities can manage peak loads where customers opt in.
• Requirements scale by size: homes under 5,000 square feet meet the baseline, 5,000–7,499 square feet must perform 7%–10% better, and 7,500 square feet and larger must achieve net‑zero energy.
• Colorado dropped the international template’s mandatory on‑site solar for commercial buildings but kept solar‑, electric‑ and EV‑ready provisions, as state officials cite bill savings and an NAHB‑backed analysis showing potential upfront cost reductions while homebuilders warn of higher prices.