The Office of the State Architect (OSA) is statutorily responsible for the administration of state funded planning, construction, energy conservation and real estate transactions at state agencies and institutions of higher education. Additional responsibilities include: establishing policies and procedures, providing technical support and training, recommending the annual controlled maintenance statewide budget and state agency capital construction budget requests to the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting and the Capital Development Committee of the general assembly.

The constitution of the State of Colorado designates Colorado as a home rule state. As such, the Office of the State Architect is only responsible for state owned land and buildings.  Each city or county within the state adopts and interprets their own building regulations for private and municipal projects.