By Quincy Midthun
Earlier this month, Denver, Colorado eliminated minimum parking requirements from its zoning code for all developments across the city. We’ve promoted the benefits of reforming outdated parking policies, including lower construction costs and better traffic management. In Denver and many other cities, changes at the state level helped catalyze the city’s reforms.
In May of 2024, Colorado’s legislature passed HB 1304. The ordinance prohibits cities from enacting or enforcing parking minimums for multifamily residential properties, majority–residential mixed-use properties, and properties within a quarter–mile of a transit stop. In addition to mandating certain changes to Denver’s parking laws, it also created an opportunity for the city to have a conversation with residents and take the changes further. A Denver survey showed that 78% of respondents supported the elimination of parking minimums, affirming support for the city to extend the elimination of parking minimums for new projects citywide.
Things played out similarly in Washington state where legislation passed earlier this year restricted parking mandates for new developments. The law gives cities over a year to change their zoning code, but Bothell and Bremerton implemented reforms early, citing benefits like reduced housing costs and the incentivization of transit, biking, and walking.
As Chicago recently showed us, even failed legislation and pending bills can help build momentum and spur dialogue for cities to implement parking reforms. In 2024, the Illinois State Legislature proposed HB4368, a law restricting local government’s ability to impose or enforce parking minimums near public transit hubs. That bill died in committee, and a similar bill was reintroduced in 2025. Though that bill also stalled, Chicago succeeded in eliminating parking minimums for “transit-served locations,” representing nearly 65% of the city. As more states revisit local parking policies, cities continue seizing the moment to advance reforms of their own.
Photo credit: Josh Berendes on Unsplash. License.