On March 14, 2020, the City of Boulder declared a local disaster emergency in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the effects it is having on the city. On March 16, 2020, City Council voted to extend the emergency until further notice. The city manager has issued a number of emergency orders since the onset of the pandemic, and the City of Boulder has adopted all Gov. Jared Polis' state orders by reference. All State of Colorado rules apply in Boulder.
On August 31, 2022, the City of Boulder declaration of local disaster emergency related to the COVID-19, signed on March 14, 2020, and extended by city council on March 16, 2020, was repealed in its entirety. The city has also repealed emergency order 2020-8, issued on March 24, 2020, which canceled all in-person boards and commissions meetings and emergency order 2021-2, issued on Sept. 2, 2021, which re-opened the COVID-19 Recovery Center (CRC).