History and Mission

A History of Serving Your Interests

Special districts date back to the early mining camps in Colorado. As the camps grew, the residents sought mechanisms to join together to provide certain essential services such as fire protection and sewer services.

Colorado special districts have been instrumental in providing public infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the state's population in the face of increasing demands placed on cities and counties to keep up with the needs for urban services.

Although special districts already existed, the legal structure was recognized by an authorizing act of the Colorado General Assembly in 1949, recognizing special districts as a form of local government created to provide certain municipal-type services in unincorporated or rural areas of the state. The General Assembly declared that special local government service districts could be created to provide necessary and desired services within designated boundaries.

With the creation of special districts, common issues and concerns were soon identified, and the Special District Association (SDA) was formed in 1975 to serve the interests of all forms of special district governments.

Over the past 50 years, the Special District Association (SDA) has experienced significant growth. Established in 1975 to represent the interests of all special districts in Colorado, the SDA now serves more than 3,000 districts across the state. Of these, over 2,800 are active members of the association.

SDA Members Include (as of May 2026)

  • Ambulance (10)
  • BID (65)
  • Cemetery (10)
  • Fire (185)
  • Hospital (35)
  • Library (42)
  • Metropolitan (2064)
  • Park and Recreation (53)
  • Pest and Weed Control (1)
  • Sanitation (58)
  • Conservation and Soil (29)
  • Water (70)
  • Water and Sanitation (107)
  • Water Conservancy (30)
  • Other (44)

Mission, Goals and Objectives

The Special District Association of Colorado exists to preserve and enhance the legal and political environment for the existence and successful operation of the special district form of government, and to assist special districts to operate efficiently and appropriately.

Goals and Objectives

The Special District Association (SDA) strives to fulfill its Mission through the following means, objectives and activities:

  • Maintain an active and effective lobbying effort to maintain the laws and regulatory framework within which special districts operate.
  • Provide educational opportunities for special district elected officials, employees and advisors to assist in the efficient and effective operation of special districts.
  • Offer technical assistance to members and share important information that will assist special districts in providing the best possible service for the citizens they serve.
  • Make available the membership services and programs special districts need to function in a professional, ethical, fiscally responsible and businesslike manner.

EVAN GOULDING MEMORIAL VIDEO