County attorney to ask Colorado Counties Inc. to fix zoning-enforcement statute

An assistant county attorney told the Grand County Board of Commissioners she has drafted a memorandum documenting how Colorado statutes governing zoning enforcement create procedural conflicts that make practical enforcement “functionally impossible.” She asked for the board’s approval to submit the memo and proposed statutory edits to Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) as a legislative priority.

“What I’ve got for you is a Memo that I’ve written up for potential presentation to CCI with your approval,” the assistant county attorney said. She explained the problem stems from two related statutes—one that makes zoning violations civil infractions under civil-infraction procedural rules, and a second that permits county attorneys to pursue civil actions in county court but lacks the same enforcement tools. She told commissioners Boulder County attorneys had drafted proposed statutory changes to make enforcement workable and that several county attorneys across the state support taking the issue to CCI for legislative consideration.

Commissioners agreed that CCI is an appropriate forum and asked the attorney to coordinate with Boulder and Clear Creek counties before submitting the materials. The board directed staff to prepare a shorter, signature-ready cover letter and authorized all three commissioners to sign the submission, contingent on final legal review.