Boulder, CO Rental Inspections: Tenant Complaint Process (2026)
Key Facts
- Rental inspections performed by
- Ch. 4-4 licensed contractors
- Licensing chapter
- B.R.C. 1981 Ch. 10-3
- Complaint-driven entry authority
- PMC § 105.3
- Non-compliant rental remedy
- Vacate order after 30 days' notice
- Civil penalty range
- $150 to $1,000 per violation
Summary
Boulder handles rental housing inspections under Appendix B of the Property Maintenance Code (B.R.C. 1981 Chapter 10-2): licenses come from Chapter 10-3, but inspections must be performed and certified by contractors licensed under Chapter 4-4.
B101 Scope. Appendix B sets standards for administering the rental housing maintenance, inspection and licensing process. B102 Rental Licenses. Residential rental licenses are applied for and renewed in accordance with Chapter 10-3, "Rental Licenses," B.R.C. 1981. B103 Inspections. Rental inspections shall be performed and certified by licensed contractors as detailed in Chapter 4-4, "Building Contractor License," B.R.C. 1981.
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
Appendix B, adopted as part of the Property Maintenance Code, sets the administrative standards for rental housing maintenance, inspection, and licensing. C. 1981, under which every rental unit must be licensed before occupancy and the license renewed on a set cycle. C. 1981, rather than by the property owner or an unlicensed inspector. 3 to enter and inspect "whenever the code official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in a structure or upon a premises a condition in violation of this code," and that authority is expressly tied to enforcing Chapter 10-3 alongside the Property Maintenance Code.
If the city manager determines a rental is out of compliance and the operator will not correct it, Section 10-3-15 lets the manager, after thirty days' notice and a hearing, order the premises vacated until the Property Maintenance Code and Rental Licenses Code requirements are met and a license is in effect.
Violations & Fines
A rental violation confirmed through this inspection process can draw a civil penalty of $150 to $1,000 under Section 107.1(b) depending on the count of the violation, and the city manager may revoke the rental license under the same subsection. Occupying a unit after it has been ordered vacated under Section 10-3-15 is a separate, unlawful act under that section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who actually inspects a Boulder rental unit?
How does a tenant complaint lead to an inspection?
What happens if a rental owner won't fix a violation the inspection finds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boulder
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