Parking Rules in Boulder County, CO (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Boulder County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Boulder County sets no blanket ban on storing your own RV, trailer, or boat on your private lot, but you cannot live in an RV, and on public roads an RV left over 72 hours is towable as abandoned.
RV and Boat Parking in Unincorporated Boulder County
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Land Use Code 4-516 (Home Occupation additional provisions)
In subdivisions, no more than one vehicle associated with the use, registered as a passenger vehicle, light truck, recreational truck, or farm truck may be parked outside on the property.
Driveway Rules
You may not park within 5 feet of any public or private driveway or junction on an unincorporated county street. New driveways and access points must also meet county multimodal design standards and keep parking off the right-of-way.
Driveway and Access Parking Rules in Boulder County
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2024-1, Sec. III.4(b)(1)
No person shall park a Vehicle: 1) On a Street within five (5) feet of a public or private driveway or Junction.
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Boulder County's parking ordinance sets no special weight or size ban aimed at commercial trucks on county roads; the same abandoned-vehicle, sign, driveway, and hydrant rules apply. Land-use limits on outdoor business storage are the main restriction on private lots.
Commercial Vehicle Parking in Unincorporated Boulder County
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Land Use Code 4-516 (Home Occupation)
The use ... does not include the outside storage of goods, materials, or equipment.
Street Parking Limits
On unincorporated county roads you may not park within 5 feet of a driveway or junction, within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, in a bus stop, or where a sign prohibits it. Otherwise on-street parking is allowed.
Street Parking Rules on Unincorporated Boulder County Roads
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2024-1, Sec. III.4(b)
No person shall park a Vehicle: 1) On a Street within five (5) feet of a public or private driveway or Junction; 2) Within ten (10) feet of a fire hydrant; 3) In a Bus Stop; 4) At any place on a Street where a Traffic or Parking Control Device prohibits parking.
Overnight Parking
There is no flat overnight parking ban on unincorporated Boulder County roads, but a vehicle left in one location for more than 72 continuous hours becomes an abandoned vehicle that can be ticketed and towed.
Overnight and Long-Term Parking on County Property
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2024-1, Sec. 1.4(1)
"Abandoned Vehicle" means any Vehicle that is left in one location on public property without the consent of the owner thereof for a continuous period of more than seventy-two (72) hours. Any Vehicle that is moved from a location on public property and re-parked within seven hundred (700) feet of the same location within any twenty-four (24) hour period is considered continuous parking.
Abandoned Vehicles
Boulder County treats any vehicle left on public property without the owner's consent for more than 72 straight hours as abandoned, and a vehicle missing current plates, wrecked, or otherwise inoperable is banned from public property outright. Fines start at $15 and climb to $60 for repeat offenses.
Abandoned Vehicle Rules in Boulder County
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2024-1, Definitions (1) & (9), Secs. III.9 & III.12
"Abandoned Vehicle" means any Vehicle that is left in one location on public property without the consent of the owner thereof for a continuous period of more than seventy-two (72) hours. Any Vehicle that is moved from a location on public property and re-parked within seven hundred (700) feet of the same location within any twenty-four (24) hour period is considered continuous parking... "Inop...
Curb Color Rules
Boulder County controls parking through official signs, painted areas, and other parking control devices. Only the County Engineer may authorize their placement, and you must obey them even where more restrictive than a posted sign implies.
Curb Markings and Parking Control Devices in Boulder County
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2024-1, Sec. 1.4(12)
"Parking Control Device" means any sign, standard, signal, painted area, marking, inscription, designation, or other device placed or displayed by Boulder County or other public official or body with authority over any Street, drive, way, or parking area for the purpose of regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the parking of Vehicles.
Loading Zones
In a county loading zone you may load or unload only briefly: up to 3 minutes in a passenger loading zone and up to 30 minutes in any other loading zone, unless a posted sign says otherwise.
Loading Zone Parking Limits in Boulder County
Some RestrictionsBoulder County Ordinance 2024-1, Sec. III.7
no person shall park a Vehicle in a loading zone except: a) When in a passenger loading zone, for the visible loading or unloading of passengers for a period of time not in any case to exceed three (3) minutes; or b) When in any other loading zone, for the visible loading or unloading of property for a period not to exceed thirty (30) minutes.
Parking Rules by City in Boulder County
2 cities in Boulder County have their own parking rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Boulder County ordinances
See every category we cover for Boulder County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Boulder County Ordinance Hub →