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Boulder, CO Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Time limit: 72 consecutive hours
Proof standard: Under 0.2 miles odometer movement
First offense fine: $30
Second offense fine (1 yr): $45
Third offense fine (1 yr): $60
Late fee: $15 after 14 days
Governing section: B.R.C. 1981 § 7-6-20

Summary

Boulder bars leaving any vehicle parked on a city street for more than 72 hours without moving it, whether the purpose is overnight storage or something else. Under Section 7-6-20, B.R.C. 1981, odometer evidence showing less than two-tenths of a mile of movement over that period is enough to prove the violation, and each offense carries an escalating fine.

(a)No vehicle shall be parked upon any street for more than seventy-two hours without being moved or for the principal purpose of storage for more than seventy-two hours.(b)Proof that the vehicle's odometer shows movement of no more than two-tenths of a mile during a period of at least seventy-two hours shall constitute prima facie evidence of violation of this section.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 167 Update 3).

Full Breakdown

C. 1981, is Boulder's default time limit for on-street parking anywhere the curb is not already governed by a shorter posted limit, a payment apparatus, or a permit zone under Sections 7-6-15 through 7-6-19. It applies citywide, to any vehicle on any street, not just to commercial trucks, campers, or trailers, which are separately regulated at Section 7-6-24. A vehicle that sits in one spot, or moves less than two-tenths of a mile, for 72 consecutive hours violates the section regardless of the time of day; the code makes the odometer reading prima facie evidence, so an officer does not need to have watched the vehicle continuously to issue a ticket.

Fines follow the general parking-infraction schedule at Section 7-6-2(f): $30 for a first violation, $45 for a second violation within one year of the first, and $60 for a third violation within that same year. An unpaid or uncontested fine adds a $15 late fee under Section 7-6-3 if it is not resolved within 14 days of the ticket's issue date. Because the section addresses storage rather than a nightly curfew, a car that is driven daily, even briefly, does not violate it, while a car left untouched over a long weekend can. C. 1981.

Violations & Fines

A first 72-hour violation costs $30, a second within one year costs $45, and a third within that year costs $60, per the general schedule at Section 7-6-2(f), B.R.C. 1981. A $15 late fee applies if the ticket is not paid or contested within 14 days under Section 7-6-3. Odometer movement of less than two-tenths of a mile over 72 hours is treated as proof of the violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave my car parked on the street in Boulder overnight?

Yes, ordinary overnight parking is allowed on most Boulder streets unless a sign, meter, or permit zone says otherwise. The rule that catches most residents is the 72-hour limit at Section 7-6-20: a vehicle can't sit in one spot, or move less than two-tenths of a mile, for three straight days, whatever the time of night.

How does the city prove a car has been parked for 72 hours?

Officers check the odometer. If it shows the vehicle has moved less than two-tenths of a mile over at least 72 hours, that reading is treated as prima facie evidence of a violation under Section 7-6-20, B.R.C. 1981, without the city needing to prove someone watched the car the entire time.

What's the penalty for a repeat 72-hour violation?

The general parking-infraction schedule at Section 7-6-2(f) sets $30 for a first violation, $45 for a second within a year, and $60 for a third within that year. A $15 late fee is added under Section 7-6-3 if the ticket isn't paid or contested within 14 days of issuance.

Does the 72-hour rule apply to RVs and commercial trucks too?

It applies to any vehicle, but Boulder also layers on stricter, vehicle-specific rules: commercial vehicles can't sit on a residential street more than 30 minutes overnight under Section 7-6-24(a), and campers or trailers are capped at 48 hours at the owner's own frontage under Section 7-6-24(b), both stricter than the general 72-hour limit.

Sources & Official References

[1]Boulder Revised Code § 7-6-20, Municode Library

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