Holiday Closures
In observance of the Presidents Day Holiday on Monday, Feb. 16, the City of Boulder is adjusting its operations schedules.
2026 Boat Permit Information
Small watercraft (SWC) permit sales are open for 2026! All paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, etc. are required to have a permit to be used at the Boulder Reservoir. All permits must be purchased online. Full Season Permits (Monday-Sunday) and Weekday Only Permits (Monday-Friday, not valid on holidays) are available. Make sure you purchase the correct permit for your intended use. Up to 3 permits may be purchased per person.
Purchase your Small Watercraft Permits Here
If you would like to store your small watercraft on site please fill out the application below
Small Craft Storage Application
New large watercraft permit applications are open through May 4th. No new permits will be issued for any boat that has any kind of water ballast system.
Large Watercraft Permit Application
Questions or concerns? Email boatpermit@bouldercolorado.gov for assistance.
Small Craft Permits
Any and all small craft used at the Boulder Reservoir must have an annual permit. Small craft permits (non-motorized craft used outside the swim area: canoes, kayaks, SUP - inflatable or standard, kite boards, etc.) are available for purchase online only. A registration link will be posted to this page when it is available.
Permit stickers will be applied directly to your watercraft by the boat inspector when you first bring your watercraft to the Reservoir for use. Permit stickers will be at the Reservoir under the name used to purchase permits. Please bring your watercraft with you as we will not give out permit sticker(s).
Power and Sailboat Permits
- We will not be accepting applications for any Class 5 powerboats, and no new class 5 permits will be issued. Only renewals will be allowed for class 5 boats, for the existing boat. Class 5 permits include pontoon boats, house boats, cabin cruisers and boats with ballasts (including removable ballasts). Please see ANS protocol for further definition of a Class 5 watercraft.
- The use of personal water craft such as jet skis, e-foils and jet boards is prohibited at the Boulder Reservoir. Jet skis are only used by water safety staff.
No Wake and Limited Wake Hours
| Dates | No wake | Limited wake |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 - May 21 | Tu: 9 - 11 am Th: 9 - 11 am, 3 - 5 pm Su: 9 - 11 am | Tu: 11 am - 5 pm Th: 11 am - 3 pm |
| May 22 - Sept. 7 | Tu: 6 - 10 am* Th: 6 - 10 am, 4 - 8 pm Su: 6 - 10 am | Tu: 10 am - 8 pm Th: 10 am - 4 pm |
| Sept. 8 - Oct. 31 | Tu: 9 - 11 am Th: 9 - 11 am, 4 - 6 pm Su: 9 am - noon | Tu: 11 am - 6 pm Th: 11 am - 4 pm |
*We allow the EXPAND Beyond, Inc. program to occasionally run during no wake hours beginning in mid-June to provide accessible water sports to athletes with physical disabilities.
How to get a Boat Permit
- All watercraft, including but not limited to powerboats, sailboats, and small watercraft, require an annual permit. All permits are sold online.
- Purchasing instructions and all relevant information is linked at the bottom of this page.
- Once you have your permit, be sure to read through all of our rules, regulations and policies, which are link at the bottom of this page.
- Access is not included with your permit or storage. You need to purchase some type of membership pass, punch passes, or pay the daily entry fee from April 1 - October 31. Reservoir Fees
Reservoir Special Events
Boating Information
- All Colorado State boating statutes and regulations, City of Boulder revised code and Boulder Reservoir rules and policies apply and are enforced by reservoir lake patrol, urban rangers, Boulder Police Department (BPD), and Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) rangers. Violators may be ticketed. Please visit the Colorado State Parks website or call 303-791-1954 for more information.
- All watercrafts must display a current City of Boulder Reservoir permit. Reservoir permit must be placed on the port (left) side of watercraft hull. Permit must be applied to vessel by Reservoir personnel only!
- All watercraft (including, but not limited to, sailboats, powerboats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, inner tubes, water-skis, wakeboards, flotation devices, etc.) must be inspected upon entry into and exit from the park, even if the item will not contact the water or be used. All watercrafts may only be launched from the south shore after successful completion of an ANS inspection! At no time can any watercraft touch, launch from, or be moored on the North Shore.
- Reservoir pattern is always counterclockwise, (keep buoys on starboard [right] side, and rafts on port [left] side). See Reservoir Boating Map.
- Full lap counterclockwise around all center rafts; at least 150 feet from shoreline.
- Half lap (north or south) counterclockwise around lake, and in-between row of center rafts and centerline buoys (buoys on starboard side, and rafts on port side).
- All watercrafts must remain “wakeless” or maintain a maximum speed of 5mph or less within all “NO WAKE” buoys and mooring areas.
- “The term “wake” means a movement of the water created by a boat underway, great enough to disturb a boat at rest.”
- No Wake Hours: See our website for the most updated no wake hours. Additional days and times may be added for specific events (see event calendar).
- Tuesday and Thursday will be designated limited wake days. Outside of no wake hours boats will not be permitted to create an excessive wake. Typically, excessive wakes are created by boats that have filled ballast tanks for activities such as wake surfing and foiling.
- Skiing starts are prohibited from loading areas, “NO WAKE” areas, docks, center and swim rafts and the shore. Skiers must start from inside the water and outside buoyed areas! Expand Adaptive Water Ski Program is excepted during their designated operation time.
- Vessels with skiers or objects in tow have right-of-way.
- Any person being towed, including surfers, must always wear a PFD.
- Vessels with people in tow must have an observer, separate from the driver, in the boat at all times. The observer is responsible for prominently displaying the skier advisory flag (12” x 12” fluorescent orange or red flag). This flag serves as a warning to other vessels and is up the entire duration that the towed person/people are actually IN (not on top of) the water. The flag then MUST be lowered when the towed person(s) is either back in the boat or have resumed being towed. 12.
- Any person 14 or 15 years of age must take a boating safety course approved by the Colorado State Parks and must always keep proof of course completion with them while operating a motorboat.
- No person shall operate a vessel upon waters of this state under any condition or in any manner that the vessel emits a sound level in excess of 86 decibels on “A” weighted scale when measured from 50 feet or more from the vessel.
- All persons 12 and under are required to be always wearing a PFD while on a boat or being towed, unless they are inside an enclosed cabin.
- Use of “Personal Watercraft,” including jet skis, e-foils, and jet boards are prohibited, except for City of Boulder operations including Expand.
- Swimming is prohibited outside the designated swim area. This includes swimming from shore and off watercraft.
- Watercraft may not enter the protected Wildlife Habitat closure areas for any reason.
- Motorized watercraft may not enter the “No Motor Zone” on the western side of the reservoir.
- Fueling in or around the water is prohibited.
- All watercrafts must be OFF the water 1 hour prior to facility closure.
For the protection of nesting and roosting ospreys the area known as Windsurfer’s Point and the water within 100 yards of the nesting platform will be closed. Violations may result in fines of up to $1000 and/or 90 days in jail. Area is patrolled by park rangers and monitored by volunteers. All wildlife is protected. Thank you for respecting closures. For additional information please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 303-441-3461.