Yes. Weld, Pitkin, Denver and Broomfield.
A Home Rule Charter provides the flexibility to address address local challenges at the local level.
Colorado law provides 43 topics of authority for home rule counties, including limits on debt, tax and the use of parks and open space, for example. Ultimately, if approved by voters, the elected Home Rule Charter Commission would determine the topics included in the Charter.
There is a cost for the special election, which could be as much as $500,000. Because the Nov. 4 Coordinated Election is already scheduled, there is no additional cost to the County.
All cities and towns in Douglas County are home rule municipalities, including the City of Castle Pines, City of Lone Tree, Town of Castle Rock, Town of Larkspur, and Town of Parker. Highlands Ranch is a metro district located in unincorporated Douglas County.
Voters will elect Charter Commission members during a Special Election on June 24. To appear on the ballot, you must submit a Candidate Nomination Petition, acquire 25 valid voter signatures, and deliver the petition to the Douglas County Elections office by 5 p.m. on April 24, 2025. Learn more at www.douglas.co.us/election
There are several ways to stay engaged in this process. Any eligible voter can follow the process to appear on the June 24 Special Election ballot. Visit douglasvotes.com for details. There is an upcoming Live Town Hall on May 28, and if voters vote to move forward with the Home Rule Charter on June 24, at least 3 additional public meetings will be held. In addition, you can submit comments and questions on our Home Rule Charter page.
How to Join the Live Town Hall on May 28 at 6 p.m.
Colorado law permits a Home Rule County to design its structure of government and its function as it relates to the internal affairs of the county, where such function is not prohibited by the Constitution or state law.
Ultimately, the Charter Commission will determine what laws, issues, and topics are included in the County Charter. However, property rights including some laws related to guns could be included.
No. Becoming a Home Rule Charter will not affect Douglas County’s ability to receive state funding
Home Rule Charter will be drafted by the elected Home Rule Charter Commission. The Board’s goal is to give the Douglas County Community a chance to draft their own foundational document and allow the County to be free from some state laws.
No.
Yes. Highlands Ranch is an unincorporated area within Douglas County, and is not served by a city. Instead, Highlands Ranch is served by Highlands Ranch Metro District, Highlands Ranch Community Association and Douglas County.
The role of Home Rule Charter Commission Members includes preparing the first charter for the county, gathering community ideas and information, and presenting the charter to the citizens for a vote.
The Home Rule Charter Commission will draft the charter, which will include the structure of government for Douglas County. It will be up to the elected Commission to establish checks and balances.
The elected Home Rule Charter Commission would write the County’s charter – which would then go to voters for approval.
Certified language is required 60 days before the election. The proposed charter will be posted on the County website and in a newspaper of record. Voters will have months with the charter before voting.
Home Rule Counties and Home Rule Municipalities are separate and distinct types of local government; the two forms of local government should not be confused. Home Rule Municipalities are governed by Article 20, Section 6 of the Colorado Constitution, while Home Rule Counties are governed by Article 14, Section 16 of the Colorado Constitution. Home Rule municipalities have broader authority and discretion, while Home Rule Counties are given the authority to self-regulate and address internal matters of local concern; Home Rule Counties must still perform mandatory county functions.
Yes. The next Live Town Hall will be on Wednesday, May 28 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock. If voters decide to move forward with Home Rule, there will be an additional three meetings before the November election.
How to Join the Live Town Hall on May 28 at 6 p.m.
Pursuant to Colorado law, the Home Rule Charters process requires two separate elections. Absent a special election, the earliest Douglas County could become a Home Rule County is 2027.
While Colorado’s economic growth fell from 5th to 41st among states in the nation and Denver experienced a decade of increased violent crime, Douglas County remains the healthiest, safest, and most prosperous county in Colorado. The goal of Home Rule is to protect Douglas County from these trends affecting the rest of the state.
Weld County became a Home Rule County in 1975, decades before the advent of the internet, e-mail, social media, or video conferencing. Communication and public involvement in Douglas County’s process to become a Home Rule County is going to look very different than the process Weld County used a half a century ago.
Douglas County has already had two public meetings about the process. County leaders are answering questions and discussing the process across the County. After the Charter Commission is elected, it is required by law to schedule public meetings and the public will have modern means of communication with the Charter Commission.
Ultimately, the elected Home Rule Charter Commission will determine what topics get included in the Charter. However, a Home Rule Charter permits the voters to define the structure of county government. Home Rule Counties can make laws related to local concerns that are not prohibited by the State Constitution and Colorado Ordinance.
Other Home Rule counties have used to their charter to solidify their county’s identity and priorities, including limits on debt, tax, and the use of parks and open space. Colorado Revised Statute §30-35-201 provides 43 topics of authority, including local rules for licenses, franchises, and land use that are unique to Home Rule Counties. Numerous Colorado laws exclude Home Rule Counties from state regulation on a broad range of subjects, including county employee unions. Find all 43 topics of authority here.
This question is premature. Pursuant to Colorado law, the elected Charter Commission are charged with conducting a comprehensive study of the operation of county government and of the ways in which the conduct of county government might be improved or reorganized.
Legal action has been filed against Douglas County Commissioners by Lora Thomas, Rep. Bob Marshall, and Julie Gooden. Commissioners are confident that the people of Douglas County will prevail in this attack on their right to vote on issues of independence and local control.
The legal action seeks to stop the upcoming Special Election and infringe on the rights of voters to vote on whether Douglas County should exercise more local control by becoming a Home Rule Charter County. A judge will rule on the case.
There will be a Live Town Hall on Wednesday, May 28 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock.
How to Join the Live Town Hall at 6 p.m.
If voters decide to move forward with Home Rule, there will be an additional three public meetings before the November election.
The only cost for the process to become a Home Rule Charter County is the election. If there is a Home Rule Commission elected and their charter includes additional government functions or ideas, there may be an additional cost.
This would be up to the elected Charter Commission to consider including in the Home Rule Charter. Then, voters would be asked to vote on that Charter.
This depends on how the elected Charter Commission writes the Charter. Currently, elected salaries are set by the state. Salaries are set at the beginning of each term and locked in for that term.
This depends on how the elected Charter Commission writes the new charter. The current Board is not interested in expanding terms.
As with all elections, campaigns on the issue of Home Rule must register with the Secretary of State, where anyone can see reported campaign contributions. For candidates who are running to be on the Charter Commission, campaign finance reporting does not apply because serving on the Charter Commission is not a statutory elected office.
The voters of Douglas County can petition, or the Board of County Commissioners can pass a resolution to have a charter amendment added to the ballot and voted on by the people of Douglas County.
No. Other counties have placed additional limitations on debt.
No, the Board could not make this change. It would be up to the Charter Commission to include appointed offices in the Charter.
No. The Board’s decision to initiate the nine-step process to become a Home Rule Charter was made during a public meeting on March 25.
There will be a Live Town Hall on Wednesday, May 28 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock. Additionally, if voters decide to move forward with Home Rule, there will be three public meetings before the November election.
How to Join the Live Town Hall at 6 p.m.
Yes. Commissioners Abe Laydon, George Teal, and Kevin Van Winkle all support Home Rule for Douglas County.
Yes. All candidates who appear on the ballot followed the same process and were required to submit a petition with 25 valid voters’ signatures to appear on the ballot.
Per state statute, C.R.S. 30-35-103, the home rule law would govern.
