Housing (Local Government)

HB 2847 changes how certain cities can adjust zoning rules. It requires a two-thirds vote of a city council to approve zoning changes if 30% of landowners protest (covering either the affected land area or a 185-foot buffer zone). The bill also bans cities from allowing public referendums or votes to challenge zoning changes. This applies only to home rule cities located in counties with 260,000-300,000 residents.

HB 2291 requires local governments (like cities or counties) to approve or deny development permit requests - such as for new buildings or renovations - within 30 days. If no decision is made within that timeframe, the request is automatically approved. Denials must include specific written reasons, such as citing code violations or detailing why professional work was rejected. The bill also sets rules for incomplete applications, requiring local governments to specify missing information and giving applicants 10 days to resubmit.