Code Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Contacting Code Enforcement and Logging Complaints 

• How do I contact Code Enforcement?
• How do I file a complaint?
• How do I find out the status of my complaint?
• What are the potential fines for violations?

Weeds/Lawns/Herbicides/Pesticides

• How tall are weeds allowed to grow before they become a violation?
• What pesticides are illegal in Boulder?
• Are dandelions illegal in Boulder?
• Where do I find more information about the State's Noxious Weed List?
• What if my neighbor's trees have branches that are growing over my property line?

Trash

• When can I put my trash cans out and when do I have to bring them in?
• What constitutes a trash violation?
• What is the Six Day Review/Special Trash Service?

Snow Removal

• When do I have to remove snow from my sidewalk? What if it only snows an inch?
• What if I'm physically unable to remove snow from my sidewalk?

Noise

• What are the allowable noise levels in a residential zone?
• Where can I find more information about noise ordinances?

Pollution/Wood Burning

• Where can I find more information on State Air Pollution Advisories and when they are in effect?
• Where can I find information on EPA certified wood-burning stoves?
• How do I get a wood burning exemption?
• How do I apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)?

Rental Housing Licensing

• How do I apply for a Rental License?
• How do I find out if a property has a current Rental License?

Outdoor Signs

• What is the city's outdoor sign code?
• How can I apply for a sign permit?
• How do I make a appointment to pick up a sign that has been confiscated?

Nuisance Abatement

• What is Nuisance Abatement?
• Where can I find more information about the Nuisance Abatement process?

Outdoor Furniture

• What is the Outdoor Furniture Restriction Ordinance and what are its boundaries?

Smoking

• Am I allowed to smoke in my own private residence?
• Where can I find more information on Colorado and Boulder Smoking Laws?

Permitting

• Where do I find information on obtaining a building permit?
• Where do I find information on current/valid building permits?

General

• What if my neighbor's trees have branches that are growing over my property line?
• What are common violations enforced by other departments/divisions?

Contacting Code Enforcement and Logging Complaints

• How do I contact Code Enforcement?
• Boulder Police Department - Code Enforcement Unit
•  Report a Violation - Non-Emergency Dispatch: 303-441-3333
• General Information: 303-441-1875
• Jennifer Riley, Code Enforcement Supervisor

• How do I file a complaint?
  • Use the Report a Code Violation or Complaint Web Form.
    
    
• How do I find out the status of my complaint?
  • NEW - Now you can search for a summary of enforcement activity by property. This application allows you to search for summonses and enforcement information by address. The report generated shows summonses and enforcement activity occurring within the past 24 months.
    
    
• What are the potential fines for violations?
  • The City of Boulder Municipal Court issues a Bond Schedule that lists the fines for different code violations.

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Weeds/Lawns/Herbicides/Pesticides

• How tall are weeds allowed to grow before they become a violation?
  • 12 inches
  • Learn more about weed control in the Boulder Revised Code Chapter 6-2.
    
    
• What pesticides are illegal in Boulder?
  • All pesticides are allowed to be applied within the city limits; however, application notification is required. All pesticide use requires notification immediately after application, except:
    • Spot treatment of individual weeds; and
    • Treatment of all areas less than 100 square-feet. 
  • Learn more about pesticides in the Boulder Revised Code Chapter 6-10.
  • Visit the city's Integrated Pest Management website to learn more about how the city focuses on long-term prevention or suppression of pest problems while minimizing the impact on human health, the environment and non-target organisms.
    
    
•  Are dandelions illegal in Boulder?
  • No. Dandelions are not classified as a noxious weed and are allowed to grow in the city.
    
    
• Where do I find more information about the State's Noxious Weed List?
  • Visit the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Management Program website.
    
    
• What if my neighbor's trees have branches that are growing over my property line?
  • This is a civil issue that should be taken up with your neighbor. If the issue cannot be resolved personally, the city's Housing and Human Services Department offers a Mediation Program to assist in resolving disputes.

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Trash

• When can I put my trash cans out and when do I have to bring them in?
  • Place trash, recycling or composting containers in a front yard setback or in the public right-of-way, excepting public alleys, no earlier than 5 a.m. on the day on which such materials are scheduled to be collected. All such containers shall be removed from those locations by 9 p.m. the same day. Learn more in the Boulder Revised Code.
  • The Boulder Revised Code deals with Trash, Recyclables and Compostables in Chapter 6-3.
    
    
• What constitutes a trash violation?
  • Code Enforcement Officers evaluate trash violations on a case by case basis. You can learn more by reading section 6-6-3 of the Boulder Revised Code.

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Snow Removal

• When do I have to remove snow from my sidewalk? What if it only snows an inch?
  • Any accumulation after a snowfall or snowdrift must be removed as promptly as reasonably possible and no later than 24 hours after the end of a snowfall or drift.
  • Learn more about snow removal requirements in the Boulder Revised Code.
    
    
• What if I'm physically unable to remove snow from my sidewalk?
  • Senior citizens and physically disabled persons who are unable to clear snow from their sidewalks may receive assistance through the city's IceBusters Program. For more information or to be a volunteer, call 303-443-1933.

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Noise

• What are the allowable noise levels in a residential zone?
  • Information on noise levels in all city zones is available in Section 5-9-3 of the Boulder Revised Code.
  • Section 5-9 of the BRC deals with noise violations.
    
    
• Where can I find more information on noise ordinances?
  • Exceeding Decibel Sound Levels Prohibited
  • Exceeding Decibel Sound Levels from a Motor Vehicle Prohibited
  • Disrupting Quiet Enjoyment of Home
  • Unreasonable Noise Prohibited Between the Hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
  • Unreasonable Noise Prohibited Between the Hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. - Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, construction
  • Unreasonable Noise Prohibited at Any Time - Motor Vehicle Amplified Sound

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Pollution/Wood Burning

• Where can I find more information on State Air Pollution Advisories and when they are in effect?
  • Visit the Colorado Department of Public Health's Air Pollution Control Division's website.
    
    
• Where can I find information on EPA certified wood-burning stoves?
  • The EPA puts out a yearly list of certified wood-burning stoves.
    
    
• How do I obtain a wood-burning exemption?
  • Print a Wood Burning Exemption Application, fill it out and return it to the EZEO.
    • This application will soon be available online.
      
      
• How do I apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)?
  • Visit the Colorado Department of Human Services LEAP Web site to apply.

 <Return to the Top of the Page>

Rental Housing Licensing

• How do I apply for rental license?
  • Visit Planning & Development Service's Rental Housing Licensing website.
    
    
• How do I find out if a property has a current rental license?
  • You can search for rental property licenses by address using the rental housing property inquiry website.

<Return to the Top of the Page> 

Outdoor Signs

• What is the city's outdoor sign code?
  • The outdoor sign code can be found in Section 9-9-21 of the Boulder Revised Code.
    
    
• How do I apply for a sign permit?
  • Sign permitting is completed by Planning & Development Services.
  • You will need to complete and return a Sign Permit Application.
    
    
• How do I make an appointment to pick up a sign that has been confiscated by sign code enforcement?
  • Contact Code Enforcement at 303-441-3333 to schedule a time.

<Return to the Top of the Page> 

Nuisance Abatement

• What is nuisance abatement?
  • Nuisance abatement is a civil action that can be pursued parallel with (or in lieu of) criminal prosecution. The potential outcome of a nuisance abatement action is a corrective, injunctive-type order issued by municipal court. A property owner cannot be deprived of his/her property under this regulation (Chapters 10-2.5 Abatement of Public Nuisances" and 12-2 "Landlord Tenant Relations.")
  •  For the purposes of this program, "public nuisance" means:

    • The condition or use of any parcel (house, apartment, etc.) where two or more separate violations of the Boulder Revised Code have occurred within a year; or

    • Three or more separate violations have occurred within a two-year period, if during each such violation, the conduct of the person committing the violation was such as to annoy residents in the vicinity of the parcel or passers-by on the public streets, sidewalks and rights-of-way in the vicinity of the parcel.

  • There are no specific violations or actions that are designated as "public nuisance" acts. Whether or not a violation triggers the nuisance abatement process is a decision left to the responding law enforcement agency. For instance, a trash violation may, in some cases, trigger the nuisance abatement process. In other instances, the problem might be best handled with a municipal court summons.

• Where can I find more information on nuisance abatement?

  • Visit the Nuisance Abatement Web page.

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Outdoor Furniture

• What is the Outdoor Furniture Restriction Ordinance and what are its boundaries?
  •  The Outdoor Furniture Restriction is explained in Section 5-4-16 of the Boulder Revised Code.

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Smoking

• Am I allowed to smoke in my own private residence?
  • Yes. It is not against city or state laws to smoke within your own residence unless it is being used for child day care.
  • If you rent your residence or are part of a HOA, the landlord or HOA may impose additional restrictions.
    
    
• Where can I find more information about city and state smoking laws?
  • The city smoking ordinance can be found in Section 6-4 of the Boulder Revised Code.
  • State smoking laws can be found at SmokeFreeColorado.

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Permitting

• Where do I find information about obtaining building permits?
  • Building permits are issued by Planning & Development Services.
    
    
• Where do I find information on current/valid building permits?
  • Use the Construction Permit Status Report to search for permit information by case number.
  • You can also contact Planning & Development Services by calling 303-441-1880.

<Return to the Top of the Page> 

General

• What if my neighbor's trees have branches that are growing over my property line?
  • This is a civil issue that should be taken up with your neighbor. If the issue cannot be resolved personally, the city's Housing and Human Services Department offers a Mediation Program to assist in resolving disputes.
    
    
• What are common violations enforced by other departments/divisions?
  • Animal Control - For general questions or non-emergencies call 303-565-3726. For an emergency, call Police Dispatch at 303-441-3333
  • Graffiti - Hotline 303-413-7177 - Web report form
  • Building Inspections - Community Planning & Sustainability - Inspections website
  • Parties/Noise -Boulder Police Department - 303-441-3333

<Return to the Top of the Page>

Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 10:27