Colorado passed a construction-defects law nearly 10 years ago that critics now blame for a steep decline in new condo projects. Last week, Lakewood became the first community in the state to roll back some of its provisions.

Despite protests that the revisions would make Lakewood “the mecca of poorly built condos,” the city council voted 7-4 on Oct. 13 to give developers and builders the right to fix defects before they can be taken to court. The measure also requires condo association boards to get the OK from a majority of homeowners, rather than a majority of the board, before going to court, according to a report published in The Denver Post.

Sign-carrying protesters said the ordinance was “anti-homeowner and anti-consumer” and that it would weaken protections from shoddy construction practices.

But Lakewood mayor Bob Murphy said the ordinance should ease several problems that have haunted the state’s condo market. For one, it will help homeowners who have been unsuccessful in trying to renfinance or sell their condos because of litigation they didn’t support.

It may also spur more condo construction, which has fallen from 26% of new housing starts in the metro Denver area in 2008 to 4.6% in the second quarter of this year.

“The construction boom is awesome, but you can’t buy anything,” Chuck Ward, vice president of public affairs at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, told the newspaper. “For that first generation of new home buyers, we’re kind of keeping them from having that opportunity to start their wealth-building.”

The state’s construction-defects law has been controversial. An effort to amend the law failed last year, but the issue is likely to pop up in the legislature again in 2015, the Post said. Lakewood is a city of about 140,000 just west of Denver. 

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Affordable IR Camera

This camera is super useful for tracking down air leaks in buildings. The one-hand pistol grip arrangement frees your other hand for steadying yourself while maneuvering tricky job sites.

Buy at Amazon

Handy Heat Gun

This heat gun is great for drying joint compound, primer and paint when patching drywall and plaster walls. Plus it can soften adhesive, get a very cold small engine to start, and shrink heat-shrink tubing.

Buy at Amazon

Reliable Crimp Connectors

These reliable, high-quality connectors from Wirefy work on 10-22-gauge wire have heat-shrink insulation to keep out water and road salt.

Buy at Amazon