Fire Regulations in Boulder County, CO (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Boulder County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Backyard fires, campfires and warming fires are "Open Fires" under county ordinance and are allowed only when no fire ban is declared. During High Danger Conditions or a Stage 1/Stage 2 restriction, all open flames are prohibited in unincorporated Boulder County.
Backyard and Recreational Fires
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2023-1, Section II(B)
During High Danger Conditions, no Person shall: 1. Engage in any activity that produces or maintains, or attempts to produce or maintain, spark, flame, or other ignition source for an Open Fire; or 2. Sell or use Fireworks.
Fireworks
Under Ordinance 2023-1, the Board or Sheriff can ban all open fires including the sale and use of fireworks. During any fire ban or High Danger Conditions, no fireworks of any kind are permitted in unincorporated Boulder County. Bans are common every summer.
Fireworks in Unincorporated Boulder County
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2023-1, Section II(A)-(B)
The Open Fire ban may also ban the sale, in addition to the use, of Fireworks. During High Danger Conditions, no Person shall: 1. Engage in any activity that produces or maintains... an ignition source for an Open Fire; or 2. Sell or use Fireworks.
Brush Clearance
In Wildfire Zone 1 (West County) and Wildfire Zone 2 (East County), Boulder County requires full defensible space around structures whenever you build, add over 200 sq ft, or add a large accessory structure. Standards include ignition-resistant construction and clearing combustible vegetation near buildings.
Defensible Space and Brush Clearance
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Wildfire Mitigation Code Requirements
Unincorporated Boulder County is divided into three Wildfire Zones. Full defensible space is required in Wildfire Zone 1 - West County and Wildfire Zone 2 - East County. Full defensible space is NOT required in Wildfire Zone 3 - East County.
Outdoor Burning
Boulder County bans all open fires, including campfires, charcoal grills, and wood pellet grills, whenever the Sheriff or Board declares High Danger Conditions, and requires a permit plus advance notice to the Sheriff's Office for any open burning the rest of the year. Rubbish burning is illegal outdoors at all times, ban or not.
Open Fire Bans and Burning Permits in Boulder County
Significant RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2023-1, Sections I, II(B), II(D)-(E) & III(A)
Open Fire: Any outdoor fire, including, but not limited to, Open Burning, Agricultural Burning, campfires, warming fires, charcoal grill fires, wood pellet grills, fires in wood-burning stoves or grates, use of firearms, blasting, welding, grinding, and use of explosives or Fireworks of any kind... During High Danger Conditions, no Person shall: 1. Engage in any activity that produces or mainta...
Wildfire Zones
Unincorporated Boulder County is divided into three Wildfire Zones. Building or expanding in Zone 1 (West County) or Zone 2 (East County) triggers wildfire mitigation code requirements, including ignition-resistant construction and defensible space. Zone 3 does not require full defensible space.
Wildfire Zones and WUI Building Rules
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Wildfire Mitigation Code Requirements
Full defensible space is required in Wildfire Zone 1 - West County and Wildfire Zone 2 - East County. Full defensible space is NOT required in Wildfire Zone 3 - East County.
Propane Storage
Propane/LP-gas tanks in unincorporated Boulder County follow the adopted 2021 International Fire Code. Tanks up to 500 gallons must be at least 10 feet from buildings and property lines; larger tanks need 25-50 feet. Keep vegetation within 10 feet of the tank cleared and never place a tank under a
Propane Tank Storage and Placement
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Building Publication B23 (per 2021 IFC 6104)
Keep combustible materials away from propane tanks. Vegetation within 10 feet of the tank must be kept cleared. Don't put the tank directly underneath a tree.
Fire Regulations by City in Boulder County
2 cities in Boulder County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Boulder County ordinances
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