It's been a long road for the Bedrooms Are For People campaign.

Last year, the measure, which in general aims to amend the city's occupancy limits, was given incorrect information by city officials about filing and signature requirements.

This prevented it from making the 2020 ballot and led to the campaign filing a lawsuit against the city. A 20th Judicial District Court judge later ruled against the group and said they couldn't put the initiative on the ballot.

Boulder City Council then promised to take a look at occupancy limits on its own time but later decided not to prioritize it, given the inevitability that the measure would return to the ballot.

After a lot of ups and downs, Boulder voters on Nov. 2 will have a chance to weigh in on the measure, determining whether the city should join its neighbor Denver, which relaxed its occupancy limits earlier this year.

Specifically, Bedrooms Are For People asks if voters want to expand housing access to allow all housing units to be occupied by a number of people equal to the number of legal bedrooms, plus one additional person per home, provided relevant health and safety codes are met.

In order to be considered a bedroom, a room must meet a number of requirements, including having 70 square feet of floor space, two points of egress, one window and a minimum of 7 feet in at least one direction. Garages, kitchens and bathrooms are among those that cannot be considered a bedroom, according to the ballot language.

Currently, in most areas of Boulder, no more than three unrelated people are allowed to live together.

"Boulder's overly restrictive zoning policies have really created the current crisis," Bedrooms Are For People co-chair Chelsea Castellano said. "While we can't remedy the consequences of the decisions that have led to the current state, we do have the choice to embrace more fair housing laws that give all people equal access to housing."

While opponents worry the effect could be dramatic and have concerns that its approval would entice investors who are interested in turning single-family homes into dormitories, the Bedrooms Are For People team argues it's far more likely to legalize what many already are doing due to the lack of affordable housing in Boulder.

"So many people are already living illegally. The actual status quo is probably not going to change that much," co-chair Eric Budd said. "Most of the effect is going to be that we're legalizing people that are already doing this."

Originally, before Bedrooms Are For People became what it is today, the push to change occupancy limits in Boulder suggested allowing the same number of people as there are bedrooms. Campaign leaders have since added "plus one" to the initial request.

They expect that provision to be used infrequently but said it provides some flexibility. For example, there could be a circumstance in which someone wants to bring in a partner to share a room or when an unhoused Boulder resident needs a place to stay temporarily.

"We think those are less-common (circumstances) but still really valid," Budd said. "Everybody needs flexibility in their housing options. That's so much the point of what we're doing here."

If the initiative is successful, opponents worry it could lead to higher housing prices if investors purchase and replace single-family homes.

An opposition group called "No on Bedrooms," funded largely by Boulder residents John Goldsmith and Lisa Spalding, argues the measure would open the door "to a flood of investors who will exploit Boulder's single-family neighborhoods by replacing the house next door with a de facto dormitory," according to the opposition's website.

In turn, they say this could lead to neighborhood impacts on noise and parking.

"The last thing housing in Boulder needs is an exorbitant increase in costs and more investors," former deputy mayor Lisa Morzel wrote in a statement on the group's website.

Among the other opponents are a number of city officials, including Mayor Sam Weaver and City Council members Bob Yates, Mirabai Nagle, Mary Young and Mark Wallach, who also is running for reelection.

There are additional concerns about how the ordinance itself is worded and whether it could easily be reworked if it's approved Nov. 2. The city charter requires a vote of two-thirds of the council in order to approve changes to resident-initiated legislation, and it states that changes cannot "alter or modify" the basic intent of the measure.

For campaign organizers, the basic intent is clear.

"We think it should be legal for people to live in bedrooms that exist," Castellano said.

But opponents feel it's not that simple. Weaver said the question of "does it alter or modify the basic intent" would be a "super-open" one.

Campaign organizers have said they're open to working with the Council to make any necessary changes, particularly if complications arise after the measure takes effect.

"We're here to be partners with the city if there are issues in the future that need to be addressed," Castellano said.

But Weaver said while it would be helpful to have the supporters on board, the question of intent might require a judge's ruling.

Although the Boulder Chamber acknowledged some of the community concerns as valid ones that should be addressed collaboratively if the initiative is successful, the organization ultimately opted to support Bedrooms Are For People.

"Expanding the diversity of housing options for Boulder's workforce and families is critical to maintaining an inclusive, welcoming and economically vibrant community," the Chamber wrote. "This initiative offers a step in the right direction toward that vision of greater housing accessibility."

Other supporters include a variety of political groups and community organizations such as the Emergency Family Assistance Association, Boulder County Democrats, Out Boulder County and the local chapter of the Sierra Club.