Boulder voters in 2006 approved the nation's first municipal carbon tax, the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Tax, charging electricity users by kilowatt-hour to fund climate programs, and renewed it in 2022 through 2040.
The CAP Tax (BRC §3-12) launched in 2007 as the first US city carbon tax, levied on electricity consumption to fund Boulder's climate goals. Residential, commercial, and industrial customers pay graduated rates per kilowatt-hour through Xcel Energy bills. Voters renewed and expanded the tax via Ballot Issue 2A in 2022, merging it with the Utility Occupation Tax and extending collection to 2040. Revenue funds energy efficiency rebates, renewable energy projects, transportation electrification, and resilience programs. Boulder targets 100% renewable electricity citywide and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Residents do not pay penalties directly; tax appears as line item on Xcel utility bills and is collected automatically by the utility on behalf of the city.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Boulder, CO
Boulder imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The Sign Code in BRC 9-...
Boulder, CO
Boulder has no ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, motor noise, and lighting hours are not capped by the city fo...
Boulder, CO
Boulder explicitly carves out holiday and seasonal displays from its Outdoor Lighting Ordinance. BRC 9-9-16 (Light Output) restricts lamps and bulbs visible ...
Boulder, CO
An outdoor kitchen in Boulder typically requires a building permit when it exceeds 200 sq ft, includes a roof or pergola, or is attached to the house. Gas li...
Boulder, CO
Boulder has no smoker-specific ordinance; offset, pellet, kamado, and wood-fired smokers fall under the general IFC 308 framework adopted in BRC 10-8-2 plus ...
Boulder, CO
Boulder adopts the International Fire Code under Boulder Revised Code Title 10 Chapter 8 (Fire Code). IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits charcoal burners, gas gri...
See how Boulder's climate emergency mobilization rules stack up against other locations.
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