Rural Class

The Rural class includes diverse land uses and development patterns reflecting the history of the Boulder Valley and is comprised of the privately owned lands within unincorporated Boulder County. Limiting development in these areas helps preserve the valley’s distinctive landscape and character, supporting the vision of a compact city with a clear distinction between urban and rural areas of the Boulder Valley. Significant change from the development pattern existing today is not anticipated and would occur within the framework of county planning processes, zoning and regulations. Change is incremental, compatible with the rural surroundings, reflective of the limited availability of services and facilities and aligns with the goals and policies of the Boulder Valley and Boulder County Comprehensive Plans.

Land Use Goals

  • Support economic livelihoods that are based on the land consistent with responsible land stewardship and environmental sustainability
  • Maintain rural character and function of the area
  • Prevent scattered, leapfrog, or non-contiguous urban development
  • Prevent over-intensive rural development through Boulder County planning processes and regulations

Environmental Goals

  • Protect and enhance ecological systems and resources
  • Promote land stewardship and soil health, water conservation and sustainable agricultural practices that support the long-term viability and resilience of rural working lands

Mobility Goals

  • Provide a multimodal transportation system that recognizes opportunities within the Boulder Valley generate significant transportation demand from outside the area and pass through rural areas
  • Direct improvements and services to high-demand, well-connected corridors to expand multimodal options and use

Economic Goals

  • Foster and promote a diverse and sustainable agricultural economy that supports the growth of the local food system, local markets and land‑based livelihoods
  • Support the vitality of urban and rural areas by maintaining the distinction between urban and rural economies and directing uses to appropriate locations

Equity Goals

  • Include input from community members of the rural areas when city decisions impact rural residents
A collage of three photos: homes on a rural road, a field with mountains in the background, and a snow-covered field with a barn in the background.

The Rural Class includes uses that help support the Boulder Valley's ongoing rural and agricultural character.

Rural Lands

Sketch of a street corner with a pasture with horses in it and a barn and a farm house in the background.

What it is

Rural Lands are the unincorporated areas of the Boulder Valley that are within the county’s jurisdiction and include a variety of land uses and county zone districts. Future use of these areas will be guided by county planning processes, the uses permitted by county zoning and policies in the comprehensive plan that intend to preserve the rural character of these areas, except that upon annexation, any annexed areas would be expected to update to a non-rural land use designation and would be subject to city processes, zoning and policies.

Why it matters

This designation reinforces the role of the county in the implementation of the goals of the comprehensive plan. Rural Lands include residential neighborhoods and acreages, support local agriculture and associated activities, sustain ecosystems and biodiversity and maintain the cultural heritage of the Boulder Valley. These lands shape urban growth to maintain the city’s compact development pattern and provide a sense of place for both urban and rural areas of the community. Rural Lands seek to prevent urban sprawl and leapfrog, non-contiguous and scattered development in the Boulder Valley.

What you can expect

Uses

A variety of uses as allowed by county zoning at a size and intensity compatible with the rural context.

Design and Management

  • Development reflects its surroundings.
  • Scenic vistas and visual rural character are protected through appropriate building sizes and siting, limited lighting, minimal infrastructure and context-sensitive design.
  • Land management emphasizes agriculture, ecological preservation, hazard mitigation and stewardship.

Mobility

  • Road network provides vehicular access to meet local needs.
  • Mobility prioritizes safety and compatibility with the rural context.

Neighborhoods Class

Neighborhoods are primarily urban residential areas and are a building block of the City of Boulder’s character and housing choice.

Hubs Class

Hubs are mixed-use urban centers that vary in scale and activity, organized around nodes or corridors. They anchor surrounding areas, bringing together housing, commerce, services and mobility choices.

Special Purposes Class

Special purpose areas represent significant community assets and unique opportunities that support Boulder's governance and economy, addressing specialized needs across the broader community.

Systems Class

The Boulder Valley systems form the framework of critical habitat, recreation, agriculture and infrastructure that supports healthy, safe, sustainable living, connecting the community's urban and rural environments.