Boulder's Urban Forest Strategic Plan guides equitable tree-canopy expansion, prioritizing under-canopied neighborhoods for new plantings, emerald ash borer response, and climate-resilient species selection on public rights-of-way and open space.
Boulder Forestry, within Parks and Recreation, manages roughly 50,000 public trees and the Urban Forest Strategic Plan adopted to guide species diversity, climate adaptation, and canopy equity. The plan identifies neighborhoods with below-average canopy cover for priority planting, recognizing that historically lower-income and east-Boulder areas have less shade and higher heat-island exposure. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), confirmed in Boulder in 2013 — the first US infestation west of the Great Plains — drives ongoing ash removal and replacement with diverse species. Residents can request street trees through Boulder Forestry; private property trees remain owner responsibility but heritage specimens are protected under BRC Title 6.
Public trees managed by Boulder Forestry; residents are not penalized but unauthorized planting, pruning, or removal of street trees can trigger restitution and replacement orders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Boulder, CO
Boulder imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The Sign Code in BRC 9-...
Boulder, CO
Boulder has no ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, motor noise, and lighting hours are not capped by the city fo...
Boulder, CO
Boulder explicitly carves out holiday and seasonal displays from its Outdoor Lighting Ordinance. BRC 9-9-16 (Light Output) restricts lamps and bulbs visible ...
Boulder, CO
An outdoor kitchen in Boulder typically requires a building permit when it exceeds 200 sq ft, includes a roof or pergola, or is attached to the house. Gas li...
Boulder, CO
Boulder has no smoker-specific ordinance; offset, pellet, kamado, and wood-fired smokers fall under the general IFC 308 framework adopted in BRC 10-8-2 plus ...
Boulder, CO
Boulder adopts the International Fire Code under Boulder Revised Code Title 10 Chapter 8 (Fire Code). IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits charcoal burners, gas gri...
See how Boulder's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
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