Boulder County, CO Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Boulder County's Parks & Open Space Department bans smoking outright across every park, trailhead, and open space parcel it manages under Rule 14 of Resolution No. 2023-024, the county's Rules and Regulations for Boulder County Parks & Open Space Areas, adopted by the Board in April 2023 to supersede Resolution No. 2023-020. The rule defines 'smoking' broadly: inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, plant material, electronic smoking device, or other combustible substance in any manner or form, regardless of composition, so vape pens and e-cigarettes are treated identically to tobacco.

Unlike several neighboring rules in the same resolution that carve out exceptions for leased Boulder County Fairgrounds events, Rule 14 lists none: there is no designated smoking area anywhere on department land. §§ 29-7-101(2)-(3) and 30-15-401, plus any county staff the Board specifically deputizes. §§ 29-7-101(2) and 30-15-402, punishable by fine. Smoking is not one of the offenses carved out for a higher schedule (parking, weapons, hunting, and fire-related violations get separate rates under Rule 32(c)), so it falls under the general 'Regulations assessments' rate of $100.

§ 16-2-201 to release the violator on the notice's terms. Rule 30 separately allows the county to expel anyone who violates any park rule, including this one, from the property outright.