Boulder, CO Holiday Decorations: Inflatable Display Rules (2026)

Boulder's municipal code does not address residential inflatable displays specifically. The Sign Code in BRC 9-9-21 exempts non-commercial residential displays from permit requirements. Practical limits come from generally applicable rules. First, the noise framework in BRC Title 5 Chapter 9: a blower motor running overnight that produces sound audible at the property line can be cited as unreasonable noise under BRC 5-9-2, and electronically amplified sound (such as a built-in inflatable speaker) is regulated by BRC 5-9-6 with the 100-foot residential nighttime trigger. Second, BRC Title 9 sight-distance requirements at corner lots prohibit anything taller than approximately 30 inches in the visibility triangle near intersections — inflatables placed in a front yard at a corner can run afoul of this. Third, BRC Title 8 (Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Rights of Way) requires an encroachment permit for items placed in the public right-of-way, including planter strips and sidewalks. There is no city size cap on inflatables. BRC 9-9-16 expressly exempts seasonal displays from the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance, which means the internal LEDs of an inflatable are not subject to the standard property-line lighting limits. HOA communities frequently impose 8-12 foot height caps, require deflation overnight, and limit the holiday display window. Boulder Code Enforcement has not historically issued citations for inflatables on private residential lots absent a specific complaint involving noise or sight-distance.