For many Colorado Springs homeowners, selecting a new exterior paint color is not just a matter of personal preference. In neighborhoods governed by homeowners associations, covenants and design guidelines dictate permissible colors and materials, making HOA approval a critical first step before any work begins. According to The Colorado Division of Real Estate's 2024 HOA Information and Resource Center Annual Report, there are 8,362 active common interest community registrations in Colorado. The report estimates that approximately 2.7 million people, or about 46 percent of Coloradans, live in such communities.
Rules about exterior appearance are a core function of many HOAs, and disputes over them can escalate to the state level. The same report notes that the HOA Center received 3,811 inquiries and complaints from 300 individuals in 2024. Among complaint categories, improper or selective enforcement of covenants and not following governing documents each appeared 67 times. However, the state office has limited authority. The Division of Real Estate states that its HOA Center does not mediate or arbitrate on behalf of homeowners, board members, or community association managers, and does not investigate or intervene in disputes between homeowners and associations. This means homeowners must rely on their governing documents as a practical safeguard before undertaking projects.
Tom Reber, founder of Simplify Painting, one of the painting companies colorado springs homeowners have worked with since 2015, said association approvals frequently arise in newer neighborhoods. "In a lot of the communities we work in, the color question gets answered by the HOA before it gets answered by the homeowner," Reber said. "We'd much rather see the approved palette at the first walkthrough than find out after the first coat is on."
Exterior projects are the most visible and often require association approval. Simplify Painting's exterior painters colorado springs crews schedule work only after any required association approval is in place. "My advice to a neighbor is to pull the design guidelines and submit the request before booking a painter," Reber said. "A few weeks of approval time is a lot easier to plan around than repainting a house twice."
Interior work typically falls outside association review, so homeowners waiting on exterior approval often proceed with colorado springs interior painting projects in the meantime. The same applies to kitchens, where cabinet painting colorado springs projects can usually move forward on their own schedule while exterior plans are reviewed.
The implications for homeowners are clear: with nearly half of Colorado's population living under HOA covenants, understanding and following design rules is not optional. Failure to do so can lead to enforcement actions, fines, or the expense of repainting. For the painting industry, this dynamic adds a layer of planning and communication with clients. Companies that proactively ask about HOA requirements can help homeowners avoid costly mistakes and delays. As Reber noted, the key is to treat HOA approval as a first step, not an afterthought.
