Boulder's 1973 Inclusionary Housing program — the first US city such law — requires 25% affordable units in new residential development, with density bonuses and fee-in-lieu options under BRC Title 9 Chapter 13.
Boulder pioneered inclusionary zoning in 1973 and codified the modern version under BRC Title 9 Chapter 13. New residential developments of five or more units must dedicate 25% as permanently affordable, provide cash-in-lieu equivalent to fund off-site affordable housing, or build affordable units on alternative city sites. State law CRS §29-20-104.5 — passed in 2021 to overturn an earlier preemption ruling — now expressly authorizes Colorado municipal inclusionary requirements. Density bonuses, parking reductions, and expedited review can offset the affordability obligation. Boulder Housing Partners administers the long-term affordability covenants, and the city tracks compliance through deed restrictions extending 99 years or longer.
Developers failing to dedicate units or pay cash-in-lieu cannot receive certificate of occupancy; covenant violations on dedicated affordable units trigger city enforcement against owners.
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 density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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