A quiet change in Colorado law gives small behavioral health providers a faster, cheaper path to fire-safety compliance.
Most Colorado outpatient behavioral health facility owners don't realize that a provision buried in HB1116 just changed how they'll handle fire-safety inspections for their licenses—and the change could save them time and money.
Until now, any outpatient behavioral health facility seeking or renewing a Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) license had to obtain a fire-safety certificate of compliance exclusively from the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control. That meant scheduling with a state-level inspector, waiting for availability, and managing a state-level process.
What changed: Effective August 12, 2026, outpatient behavioral health facilities may now use a locally certified fire department inspector instead. This is a meaningful shift because local fire departments typically have faster turnaround times, lower costs, and greater accessibility than state-level inspections.
The change appears in Section 2 of HB1116, which amends the licensing statute at 27-50-501(3)(a)(II). The law allows facilities to choose: they can still use the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control if they prefer, but they're no longer required to.
Who this affects: Any outpatient behavioral health facility in Colorado that holds or is applying for a BHA license. This includes clinics, counseling centers, and other outpatient settings providing behavioral health services. It does not apply to inpatient facilities or residential treatment centers, which have different licensing requirements.
Why it matters: Fire-safety compliance is a mandatory part of the BHA licensing process. Before this change, the state monopoly on inspections created a bottleneck—especially for smaller providers in rural areas or regions with limited state inspector availability. Using a local fire department inspector removes that constraint. Most local fire departments have inspectors trained and certified to conduct fire-safety reviews, and they're often more familiar with local building codes and conditions. The result: faster turnaround, lower inspection fees, and less disruption to operations.
Timeline: HB1116 was signed into law during the 2026 legislative session (which ended May 13, 2026). The fire inspection provision takes effect 90 days later, on August 12, 2026—assuming no referendum petition is filed to delay implementation.
What you should do now: If your facility is planning to seek or renew a BHA license after August 12, 2026, contact your local fire department to ask about their fire-safety inspection services for behavioral health facilities. Ask about their timeline, fees, and process. You can also continue using the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control if you prefer. Either way, understanding your options before you need them will make the licensing process smoother.
The Colorado Hospital Association and the Colorado Behavioral Health Council have published detailed guidance on how this change affects the BHA licensing process.