Boulder, CO Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum indoor temperature
- 68°F, active or passive heat
- Portable space heaters
- Not allowed to meet heat requirement
- Minimum window opening
- 45% of required glazed area
- Applies alongside
- Ch. 10-3 Rental Licenses
- First civil penalty
- $150 per violation
- License remedy
- Rental license may be revoked
Summary
Boulder's Property Maintenance Code, B.R.C. 1981 Chapter 10-2, requires landlords to keep rentals heated to at least 68°F and every habitable room ventilated, and applies the whole code to rental structures alongside the separate Rental Licenses chapter.
602.3 Heat Supply. Interior space intended for human occupancy shall have active or passive space-heating systems capable of maintaining a minimum indoor temperature of 68°F (20°C). No portable space heaters shall be used to achieve compliance with this section.
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
3 sets a hard minimum: interior space intended for human occupancy must have an active or passive heating system capable of maintaining at least 68°F, and portable space heaters cannot be used to satisfy that requirement. 35 air changes per hour. C. 1981, so a landlord cannot rely on rental-license compliance alone to satisfy habitability. 9 lets the code official file a notice of violation against the property's title with the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder until the condition is corrected.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 107.1(b), a habitability violation draws an escalating civil penalty: $150 for the first violation of a provision, $300 for the second, and $1,000 for the third, plus a $250 fee if the city performs an investigative inspection. For a violation involving a licensed rental unit, the city manager may also revoke the property's rental license under Section 107.1(b)(1)(B). Criminal penalties under Section 5-2-4, B.R.C. 1981, apply as an alternative or additional remedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum heat a Boulder landlord must provide?
Do rental units need to meet the Property Maintenance Code as well as the Rental Licenses chapter?
What ventilation is required in a habitable room?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boulder
Compare Boulder to another location·View the Colorado rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Boulder County handle repairs & habitability.