Living in Boulder

CU has over 22,000 students living off-campus, and after freshman year it is likely that you will be moving into one of Boulder's many student-populated neighborhoods. Keep in mind, there is no "Student Only Neighborhood" in Boulder. Be sure to do your research and pick the best neighborhood for your lifestyle.

There is a lot to know about living in Boulder, including city and state ordinances that you need to follow as a resident.

Boulder Neighborhoods

The Hill

The University Hill has a commercial district that students like to frequent including restaurants and shops.

East Aurora

East Aurora is a growing area among CU Boulder students. There are many apartments here that offer nine-month leases, fully furnished units and other student-oriented amenities.

Goss Grove

Goss Grove is near the famous Pearl Street area which features vibrant nightlife.

North Boulder

North Boulder is where many of our graduate students and upper-division students live with a variety of housing options, though it is farther from campus than other neighborhoods.

Martin Acres

Martin Acres is a suburban neighborhood of family-style homes.

Boulder Ordinances

In many neighborhoods no more than three unrelated people can live together. If you are caught over-occupying you could face a fine up to $2,000 a day. It's easy to find out if you're over-occupying. Here's how:

Call the City of Boulder to find out how many people are legally zoned to live at a property at 303-441-3152
Trust your gut: If your landlord doesn't want all of your roommate's signatures on the lease it's probably a good sign your landlord is over-occupying. (Remember, if you aren't on the lease and you are caught over occupying, you will be the one who has to move out.)

If you live within the University Hill neighborhood, the sofa ordinance prohibits the placement, use or storage of upholstered furniture not manufactured for outdoor use in outside areas or on a covered or uncovered porch. This includes upholstered chairs, upholstered couches, and mattresses.

You can receive a ticket for loose trash in your yard or alley, leaving a trash bag next to the trash can or dumpster, or dumping your trash in another person's dumpster. It doesn't matter how the trash lands in your yard, it is still your responsibility to clean it up.

Colorado is known for its snowstorms, so make sure you are shoveling your sidewalks! It is your responsibility to clear your sidewalks within 24 hours following a snowstorm. Make sure to discuss with your landlord who is responsible for clearing snow around your property.

Weeds and grass must be cut and maintained at less than 12 inches high. The City of Boulder will measure, so cut your grass. Make sure to discuss with your landlord who is responsible for yard maintenance, and how often it will be maintained.

The use and possession of fireworks in Boulder is illegal. This includes sparklers, snaps, snakes, bottle rockets, roman candles and smoke bombs. You can also be held responsible for fireworks used by your roommates and guests.

Possible legal penalties include:

Fines up to $2,650.
Court fees.
Possible arson charges.
Possible jail time.
Liability for property or personal injury damages.

You will also be referred to ⁠Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution at CU Boulder. Unused fireworks can be brought to the city of Boulder Public Safety Building at 1805 33rd St. without penalty.

When moving out, please donate and recycle your used furniture and belongings. You can also avoid costly trash fines by properly disposing of your items during move out. This can also be a great way to save some money when you are moving into your property! Download a list of thrift stores and recycling centers below.

Common Citations

Don’t let people leave your party with open beer or other alcohol drinks.

If you have a keg at your party, the best way to avoid trouble is to keep the keg inside the house. Otherwise, you could be subject to a nuisance party ticket and a fine up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail. Retailers in Boulder tag each keg so that it can be traced to the purchaser, and purchasers are held responsible for any infractions.

Why did the police come to my party?

Too big a crowd/party overflow
Noise
Disturbance

Solution

Keep your party small. Invite/allow only people you know. (It’s almost always someone you don’t know who causes problems.)

Quiet Down! At any time of day or night, loud or unruly conduct that intrudes and disrupts another person in his or her home is a violation. If you host or attend a nuisance party, you can be given a nuisance party ticket, with fines up to $ 1,000, jail up to 90 days, and court costs.

"Nuisance" includes any noise or alcohol/keg violation, public urinating, littering, trespassing, and other violations (such as using fireworks). You are also liable for property and personal injury damages resulting from these activities. University policy also imposes suspension from the university after 2 alcohol-related violations.

Underage Drinking: In addition, if you have a party and allow alcohol to be drunk by someone under 21, you are responsible. You can be ticketed, and penalties can include fines up to $1,000, court costs, and jail up to 90 days. It is a felony to serve alcohol to a minor and it is put on YOUR record.

Party registration through the University of Colorado is free – and gives you a chance to avoid problems. If a noise complaint is made, Boulder Police Dispatch will phone you, and you will have 20 minutes to cool things down and avoid the police. But if things don’t quiet down and a second complaint is made, then the police will respond to the complaint(s). Register a Friday or Saturday night party with Off-Campus Housing (UMC Room 313) by noon on Friday by providing your student ID, two phone numbers, and the address.

Don’t urinate in someone’s yard or on the sidewalk or street.

In the Uni-Hill area, Boulder Revised Code (BRC) § 5-4 prohibits any upholstered indoor furniture, including chairs, couches, and mattresses, from being kept or stored on any porch or outside, in any front or side yard, or any back yard not on an alley.

Don’t you love it when you move your car out of your parking space, and go over a bottle, flattening your tire? Or you walk outside, and see your yard or walk covered with bottles, beer cans, hamburger wraps, and food?

Message: Don’t litter. Provide your guests with plenty of wastebaskets and trash bags, politely tell them to use these for their trash. And clean up after your party. You can be cited/fined for litter accumulation on a property you rent or control.

Non-emergency Examples

Littering is a non-emergency
You open your car, the radio is gone
Your place was broken into, your computer stolen, but no one is there

Non-emergency help

Boulder City: (303)-441-3333
Boulder County: (303)-441-4444

Emergency Examples

A party guest passed out, is unresponsive
Someone was injured
Fireworks started a fire

Call 911 immediately

Describe what happened, give your address / location, follow instructions, and stay on site.

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