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 47 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.
There are more than 200,000 people who live in unincorporated Douglas County, including residents of Highlands Ranch, Sterling Ranch, rural areas of the county and planned developments like Stonegate (near Parker.) For them, Douglas County is their most local government, providing services like public safety, road maintenance, parks, land use and zoning. Additionally, there are several services the County provides for all residents – regardless of whether they live in an incorporated city or town. These services include property tax assessments, public health, elections, recording, and local motor vehicle services.
Voters will elect Charter Commission members during a Special Election on June 24, 2025. See who is on the ballot on our Home Rule Charter page.
Candidates appearing on the June 24, 2025, Special Election ballot to become a Charter Commission Member completed the official Candidate Nomination Petition process. The deadline for completed petitions to be returned to the Douglas County Elections office was 5 p.m. on April 24, 2025.
There are several ways to stay engaged in this process. There is an upcoming Home Rule Q&A event on Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m., 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.
Finally, if formed, Charter Commission meetings will be open to the public. Meeting notices, agendas and minutes will be posted on our Home Rule Charter page.
How to Join the Home Rule Q&A Event
Why is this event being held virtually?
Colorado Election Law (C.R.S. 1-13-714) prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of polling centers and ballot drop box locations. This includes campaigning for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot. Because the ballot drop box in front of the Douglas County Government building, where the hearing room is located, is now open, our Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, who is responsible for the statutory conduct of elections, has advised of the potential for electioneering violations, whether intentional or not.
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
If elected, the Charter Commission will operate independently from the Board of County Commissioners. The goal is to tailor county governance to better reflect the unique needs and values of the Douglas County Community.
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.
If voters approve the formation of a Charter Commission in the June 24, 2025 Special Election, the Charter Commission will play a central role in shaping Douglas County’s potential Home Rule government.
The role of the Home Rule Charter Commission Members includes:
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.
If approved, Colorado law allows up to 240 days to draft a Home Rule Charter, with at least three public meetings during this period. The draft Charter would be posted for public review at least 10 days before the election.
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. On Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m. the Board will host a Home Rule Q&A event. To answer as many voter questions as possible, this event will be hosted online and via phone. Commissioners are prepared to go longer than one hour and answer your questions.
If voters decide to move forward with Home Rule, there will be an additional three meetings before the November election.
How to Join the Home Rule Q&A Event
Why is this event being held virtually?
Colorado Election Law (C.R.S. 1-13-714) prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of polling centers and ballot drop box locations. This includes campaigning for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot. Because the ballot drop box in front of the Douglas County Government building, where the hearing room is located, is now open, our Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, who is responsible for the statutory conduct of elections, has advised of the potential for electioneering violations, whether intentional or not.
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 47 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 47 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.
State Rep. Bob Marshall and Douglas County residents Lora Thomas and Julie Gooden filed legal action against the Board of Douglas County Commissioners on April 22, seeking to halt the Home Rule special election. They filed for a temporary restraining order on April 22, which the judge did not grant. On May 20, the judge denied a preliminary injunction, also seeking to halt the election while their legal action is pursued.
There is an upcoming Home Rule Q&A event on Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m. To answer as many voter questions as possible, this event will be hosted online and via phone. Commissioners are prepared to go longer than one hour and answer your questions.
If voters decide to move forward with Home Rule, there will be an additional three public meetings before the November election.
How to Join the Home Rule Q&A Event
Why is this event being held virtually?
Colorado Election Law (C.R.S. 1-13-714) prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of polling centers and ballot drop box locations. This includes campaigning for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot. Because the ballot drop box in front of the Douglas County Government building, where the hearing room is located, is now open, our Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, who is responsible for the statutory conduct of elections, has advised of the potential for electioneering violations, whether intentional or not.
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 is an upcoming Home Rule Q&A event on Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m. To answer as many voter questions as possible, this event will be hosted online and via phone. Commissioners are prepared to go longer than one hour and answer your questions.
Additionally, if voters decide to move forward with Home Rule, there will be three public meetings before the November election.
How to Join the Home Rule Q&A Event
Why is this event being held virtually?
Colorado Election Law (C.R.S. 1-13-714) prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of polling centers and ballot drop box locations. This includes campaigning for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot. Because the ballot drop box in front of the Douglas County Government building, where the hearing room is located, is now open, our Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, who is responsible for the statutory conduct of elections, has advised of the potential for electioneering violations, whether intentional or not.
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.
Yes, as an unincorporated aera in Douglas County, Roxborough would fall under Douglas County Home Rule.
The Douglas County Office of Clerk and Recorder is responsible for the conduct of each election, but individual candidates are responsible for providing information about themselves and their campaigns. Please search online for a candidate website or contact a candidate directly for information about the candidate.
The County’s Live Town Halls are typically one hour. On Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m., the Board will host a Home Rule Q&A event. To answer as many voter questions as possible, this event will be hosted online and via phone. Commissioners are prepared to go longer than one hour and answer your questions.
How to Join the Home Rule Q&A Event
Why is this event being held virtually?
Colorado Election Law (C.R.S. 1-13-714) prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of polling centers and ballot drop box locations. This includes campaigning for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot. Because the ballot drop box in front of the Douglas County Government building, where the hearing room is located, is now open, our Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, who is responsible for the statutory conduct of elections, has advised of the potential for electioneering violations, whether intentional or not.
The Charter Commission will have ultimate discretion on the content of the charter. Douglas County has a legal department which represents the County.
No.
It prevents the cost of a second special election and permits the County to gain local control a year sooner – before another state legislative session.
The Special Election is for nonpartisan Douglas County Home Rule Charter Commission Member seats. Serving on the Commission is not an elected office and campaign finance reporting does not apply to Commission candidates.
Yes. Home Rule provides different arguments to permit the County to challenge State regulation. In addition, historically the County has been forced to sue the State to challenge the legality of State laws; however, in matters included the Home Rule Charter, there is a burden shift and those outside the County will have to sue the County to comply with regulation outside the Charter.
Learn the positives and negatives of adopting Home Rule in Douglas County, as explained by parties on both sides, by visiting our Pros and Cons webpage.
No, that’s not true.
Colorado Revised Statutes Title 30, Article 35 provide Home Rule Counties powers and authority unique from other counties. There are dozens of Colorado laws and more adopted every year that exclude Home Rule Counties from state regulations.
In addition, the Colorado Supreme Court has held Home Rule Counties are empowered to control matters related to the structure of their government and the internal affairs of the county.
Finally, a Home Rule Charter adoption permits the voters of Douglas County to document priorities important to the county, including property rights, public safety, tax limits, and cooperating with the federal government and ensuring future county leaders adhere to these priorities.
The County has contingency dollars for initiatives not included in the Adopted Budget. The funding for Home Rule will come from these contingency dollars in the General Fund. No programs have been affected. As for any additional support costs, county staff will incorporate into their existing responsibilities so no additional costs will be incurred.
That would depend on the issues the Home Rule Charter Commission chooses to address, and then finding which Home Rule power the solution to each issue can be drafted under. For example:
Public Health
Homelessness
Immigration
Public Safety
Taxation
