Pitkin County says deed‑restriction employee housing program is in demand; staff will ask for $900,000 supplemental

Pitkin County housing staff told the county commissioners at a June 3 work session that demand for the county’s employee deed‑restriction program has risen sharply in 2025 and the county has already earmarked its full $800,000 annual budget for the year.

Program basics: the county’s employee deed‑restriction program was created in 2017 and moved onto the general fund in 2023. Under the program Pitkin County contributes up to 40% of a free‑market purchase price toward a participating employee’s home purchase but caps its contribution at $400,000 for homes purchased inside Pitkin County and $300,000 for homes purchased elsewhere within the Roaring Fork transit area. The deed restriction is a recorded instrument between the employee and Pitkin County and is conditional on the unit remaining the employee’s primary residence while employed; the county retains a right of first refusal on resale.

Use to date and recent trends: since 2017 the county has contributed about $5.5 million to buy or buy down 22 units (total free‑market transaction value…