Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Boulder, CO (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Boulder, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Boulder places the duty to keep abutting sidewalks in good repair on the adjacent property owner, not the city. Under Section 8-2-6, B.R.C. 1981, if the city manager finds a sidewalk substandard, the owner gets 30 days to start and 60 days to finish repairs, with the city sharing half the cost, or the city can do the work and bill the owner.
Boulder's Sidewalk Repair Duty for Owners
Some RestrictionsBoulder Revised Code § 8-2-6
(a)No owner of property within the city shall fail to maintain the sidewalk on or adjacent to the owner's property in good repair and safe, unobstructed condition.(b)If the city manager finds that any portion of a sidewalk does not meet the standards prescribed in Section 8-2-17, ... the manager may require that the owner of the sidewalk or property adjacent to the sidewalk repair or replace th...
Obstruction Rules
Boulder bars anyone from placing a building, fence, landscaping, or other obstruction in a public right-of-way, path, alley, or public easement without first getting city permission. Section 8-6-3, B.R.C. 1981, works with a broad definition of obstruction, from fences too close to a sidewalk to plants that block the view of traffic, and treats an unpermitted one as a public nuisance.
Boulder's Right-of-Way Obstruction Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsBoulder Revised Code §§ 8-6-2, 8-6-3
Encroachment means a private improvement, structure or obstruction extending into or located within, upon, above or under any public right-of-way or public easement. ... Obstruction includes, without limitation:(a)A fence, hedge or wall placed nearer than permitted by section 9-9-15, "Fences and Walls," B.R.C. 1981, to any public sidewalk or path; ... (c)A tree or other plant or a structure of ...
Encroachment Permits
No one may build, place, or maintain a structure, fence, landscaping, or other encroachment in a Boulder public right-of-way or public easement without city permission under Boulder Revised Code section 8-6-3. The city manager grants revocable permits of up to three years under section 8-6-6, and commercial sidewalk encroachments must leave at least eight feet of clearance.
Boulder Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit
Significant RestrictionsBoulder Revised Code §§ 8-6-3, 8-6-6
No person shall erect or maintain any building, structure, fence, barrier, post, landscaping, obstruction or other encroachment within, under, above or upon any public right-of-way, path, alley or public easement without first obtaining permission from the City under this chapter unless exempt under the provisions of section 8-6-8, "Exempt Encroachments," B.R.C. 1981. ... (d)Revocable Permit: T...
Looking for Boulder County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Boulder city rules.
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Boulder County →