The city researches and drafts ordinances to amend the Land Use Code, and community engagement is vital to the process and helps to guide and shape all amendments. All changes to the Land Use Code are reviewed by the Planning Board at a public hearing before being considered by the City Council for adoption. Learn how to participate in City Council meetings. Here is a list of current and past code changes:
Current Code Change Projects
Access Management and Parking Strategy (AMPS) Policy and Code Enhancements
The city is continuing work on the last few recommended updates from the Access Management Parking Strategies (AMPS). Adopted by City Council in 2017, AMPS is Boulder's guide to improving access across the city by increasing transportation options — walking, biking, busing and driving — for people who live, work and recreate in Boulder.
City Council will soon consider implementation of changes to off-street parking standards, transportation demand management requirements and on-street parking management strategies.Learn more on the project webpage.
Contact Project Manager: Lisa Houde
Wildfire Hardening & Waterwise Landscaping Policies & Regulation
This 2024-2025 council priority aims to review policies and regulations and identify operational enhancements or code updates focused on wildfire hardening (building and properties) and waterwise landscaping (native plants and nonfunctional turf). City Council adopted changes in May 2025 to expand the Wildland Urban Interface to include more parcels of land as shown on this map, and adopt the 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code with local amendments.
On July 31, City Council will hold a study session to provide direction on the Waterwise Landscaping project, which aims to balance the goals of encouraging more native plants and plants that use less water, expanding urban tree canopy to mitigate urban heat island effect and encouraging plants and building practices that are more wildfire resistant.
To balance these goals, the city is developing land use code changes, a new citywide plant and tree list with more native, water conserving and fire-resistant plants and a new supplemental landscaping manual, which will be presented at the study session.
2025
Wildland Urban Interface Update
Ordinance 8695 – Adopted June 5, 2025. Adopts the 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code with local amendments, effective Aug. 1, 2025. Also updates the mapped Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area. Learn more about the WUI update.
Small Cell Wireless Updates
Ordinance 8694 – Adopted May 1, 2025. Updates regulations for Wireless Communication Facilities and Small Cell Wireless in the city right-of-way based upon the latest Federal Communications Commission rulings and interpretations.
2024 International Building Code
Ordinance 8684 – Adopted March 20, 2025. The ordinance adopts the 2024 International Building Codes published by the International Code Council with local amendments specific to the City of Boulder. These codes will go into effect Aug. 1, 2025.
Occupancy
Ordinance 8651 – Adopted March 6, 2025. Aligns regulations with 2024 state legislation that prohibits residential occupancy limits based on number of unrelated people. Visit Occupancy Limits to learn more.
Family-Friendly Vibrant Neighborhoods
Expanding Housing Choices
Ordinance 8666 – Adopted February 6, 2025. Aligns accessory dwelling unit regulations with recently adopted state legislation. Effective March 8, 2025. Visit Accessory Dwelling Units to learn more.
Accessory Dwelling Units
Ordinance 8650 – Adopted February 6, 2025. Aligns accessory dwelling unit regulations with recently adopted state legislation. Visit Accessory Dwelling Units to learn more.
Natural Medicine
Ordinance 8665 – Adopted Jan. 9, 2025. Regulates natural medicine businesses consistent with state law. in the City of Boulder. Visit Natural Medicine to learn more.
2024
Historic Preservation Process
Ordinance 8658 – Adopted Dec. 19, 2024. Simplifies certain historic preservation review processes.
2024 City of Boulder Energy Conservation Code
The latest update was approved June, 2024. The City of Boulder Energy Conservation Code sets minimum energy performance standards for newly constructed and renovated buildings. Learn more about the changes and the code at boulderenergycode.com.
Process Simplification
Ordinance 8622 – Adopted June 20, 2024. Simplifies certain development review processes.
Code Clean-Up
Ordinance 8620 – Adopted March 7, 2024. Fixes errors, clarifies code sections, updates graphics and improves clarity of the code.
2023
Use Table – Neighborhood Centers
Ordinance 8590 – Adopted Nov. 16, 2023. Update use table and standards in business and mixed use zoning districts to support walkable neighborhood center policies in the BVCP.
Inclusionary Housing Update
Ordinance 8601 – Adopted Nov. 2, 2023. Modifies affordable housing requirements and incentives.
Zoning for Affordable Housing
Ordinance 8599 – Adopted Oct. 5, 2023. Updates intensity, form and bulk, use, parking and subdivision standards to support affordable and modest sized housing.
Occupancy Reform
Ordinance 8585 – Adopted Aug. 17, 2023. Increases the number of people that may occupy a dwelling unit.
Approval Expirations
Ordinance 8581 – Adopted July 20, 2023. Extends land use approval expiration from one year to three years and provides flexibility for approvals that expired during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accessory Dwelling Units
Ordinance 8571 – Adopted May 4, 2023. Updates Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) process and standards to remove barriers to ADU construction.
Site Review Criteria
Ordinance 8515 – Adopted Feb. 16, 2023. Updates Site Review criteria to be clearer and more descriptive.
Use Table – Industrial Areas
Ordinance 8556 – Adopted Feb. 16, 2023. Updates use table and standards in industrial areas to align with BVCP policies.
2022
Use Table – Functional Fixes
Ordinance 8523 – Adopted June 21, 2022. Reorganizes Chapter 6 to simplify use table and standards.
2021
Oil & Gas Regulations
Ordinance 8514 – Adopted Dec. 14, 2021. Adds use standards and processes for oil and gas operations.
Restaurants in Public Districts
Ordinance 8510 – Adopted Nov. 9, 2021. Updates regulations for restaurants in public zoning districts.
2020
Technical Cleanup Changes
Ordinance 8409 – Adopted Oct. 6, 2020. Cleans up and clarifies code language.
Medium Density Overlay Zone
Ordinance 8380 – Adopted Feb. 13, 2020. Removes the University Hill area from the Medium Density Overlay Zone.
2019
Community Benefit Program
Ordinance 8359 – Adopted Oct. 29, 2019. Establishes new Community Benefit program related to building height regulations.
Opportunity Zone Overlay and Use Standards
Ordinances 8358 and 8337 – Adopted Oct. 29, 2019. Creates new Opportunity Zone overlay prohibiting demolition of attached dwelling units. Updates use standards in overlay zone.
Ground Floor Commercial Retail in Business Community Districts
Ordinance 8296 – Adopted Feb. 5, 2019. Restricts other ground floor uses in the Business Community district to preserve commercial retail uses.
2018
Building Height Expiration Clause
Ordinance 8252 – Adopted June 19, 2018. Extended height standards until 2020.
MU-3 Ground Floor Commercial Uses
Ordinance 8244 – Adopted June 5, 2018. Addition of development standards for ground floor commercial uses in the MU-3 district along Pearl Street.
ADU Incremental Updates
Ordinance 8256 – Adopted Dec. 4, 2018. Incremental updates to ADU regulations.