Boulder, Colorado Zoning Map
Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel - and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 44 districts.
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Zoning
- District code & full name
- Parcel boundary & APN
- All 44 districts mapped
Building controls
- Front setback
- Side setback
- Rear setback
- Building height
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Boulder, Colorado Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type. Boulder's ordinance does not state permitted uses as citywide flags, so they are read from each district's own table rather than summarised here.
| Zone Code | Category | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
P Public | - | 5,896.7 ac | Standards & uses → |
RL-1 Residential Low 1 | - | 3,445.5 ac | Standards & uses → |
RL-2 Residential Low 2 | - | 1,319 ac | Standards & uses → |
IM Industrial Manufacturing | - | 1,157.5 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 44 districts
Start from what you're trying to build
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What does P actually permit?
The full standards for one district, read straight from the source.
Run it →How is Boulder zoned?
Boulder regulates land through 44 zoning districts, and the largest by area is Public, at roughly 5,897 acres. That single fact says a great deal about a city whose open space and institutional holdings are central to its identity.
The residential system is organised by intensity with numbered variants inside each band: Residential Low 1 and 2, Residential Medium 1 and 2, Residential High at several levels, Residential Rural 1 and 2, Residential Estate, and two Residential Mixed districts. Residential Low 1 is the largest residential classification at roughly 3,445 acres, more than twice its nearest sibling.
Business districts follow the same logic, distinguished by role rather than by tenant: Business Regional, two Business Community districts, and a Business Transitional district. None is large in absolute terms, which is consistent with a city where commercial land is scarce and concentrated.
Industrial is substantial for a city of Boulder's character, with Industrial Manufacturing at roughly 1,158 acres and Industrial General at about 963. Agricultural land covers roughly 604 acres, a mobile home district about 175, and an Enclave district roughly 129. The residential mixed districts are worth noting for anyone looking at infill, since they contemplate a combination of housing types rather than a single form. Boulder regulates building height, coverage, density, floor area ratio, lot size and width, pervious area, and front, side and rear setbacks. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Boulder zoning: frequently asked questions
Why is Public the largest zoning district in Boulder?
It covers roughly 5,897 acres, ahead of every residential district. That reflects the scale of Boulder's public, institutional and open space holdings, which are a defining feature of the city rather than a residual category.
How is residential zoning organised in Boulder?
By intensity band with numbered variants inside each: Residential Low 1 and 2, Residential Medium 1 and 2, Residential High at several levels, Residential Rural 1 and 2, plus Residential Estate and two Residential Mixed districts. Residential Low 1 is the largest at roughly 3,445 acres.
What are the Residential Mixed districts?
Two districts, numbered 1 and 2, that contemplate a combination of housing types rather than a single form. They are relevant for infill because they sit between the conventional single-family and multifamily categories.
How much industrial land does Boulder have?
Industrial Manufacturing covers roughly 1,158 acres and Industrial General about 963, making industrial the third and fifth largest classifications in the city. That is substantial for a city more often associated with research and open space.
How are Boulder's business districts distinguished?
By role rather than by tenant type: Business Regional, two Business Community districts, and a Business Transitional district. All are small in absolute area, consistent with a city where commercial land is limited and concentrated.
Colorado zoning maps
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Boulder planning department before acquisition or design.