See what Boulder
could become.
Boulder is building a bold new vision for growth. But the zoning code is already outdated. BuildBoulder maps the gap — so you can see what's possible, what's blocked, and why.
Boulder is building a bold new vision for growth. But the zoning code is already outdated. BuildBoulder maps the gap — so you can see what's possible, what's blocked, and why.
BuildBoulder compares today's legally controlling Title 9 rules with the adopted Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) and its final Future Land Use map. The BVCP is the community's long-range policy framework; it does not itself change a property's zoning or guarantee project approval.
Boulder has adopted an updated Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan that lays out a vision for where and how the city should grow — including more housing types, mixed-use neighborhoods, and transit-oriented development.
Title 9 — Boulder's legally controlling land use code — has not yet been fully aligned with that adopted vision. Until the code catches up, builders, architects, and residents can receive conflicting signals and spend significant time and money before learning that a proposal supported by the BVCP may still be restricted under current zoning.
BuildBoulder makes that gap visible.
City adopts an updated comprehensive plan
We are here — the adopted plan and current code are not yet fully aligned
BuildBoulder lives here — maps conflicts, guides reform
Code gets updated to match the plan
Most cities are stuck between steps 2 and 3 for years. That's where Boulder is right now.
BuildBoulder is a community service built to help homeowners, developers, architects, and neighbors navigate the chaos while we're in transition. By identifying and mapping the specific conflicts between what the code allows and what the plan envisions, we can do two things at once:
Even while the code is outdated, there are options — by-right projects, use reviews, and creative approaches. BuildBoulder makes those paths visible so people don't waste time and money on dead ends.
When the conflicts are mapped, measured, and made public, the case for code reform becomes undeniable. BuildBoulder gives the community and decision-makers the evidence they need to prioritize and accelerate the rewrite of Title 9 — so Boulder doesn't have to live in this period of conflict any longer than it has to.
This map uses full parcel geometry and current City sources. It shows two plan/code mismatches that can be mapped from parcel zoning and BVCP designation alone, separates questions that need project details, and independently shows WUI ignition-risk classes. A map result is a screening flag, not a permit or legal conclusion.
A Neighborhood 1 parcel overlaps an R1-column zone where several neighborhood-serving secondary uses named by the plan are prohibited. The flag does not evaluate a specific proposed use.
An Innovation & Production Hub parcel overlaps IS-1 or IS-2 zoning, where the plan's primary residential types lack a current pathway. Other industrial zones require separate location and review tests.
Existing pathways or exceptions may apply. Unit count, building height, area-plan context, solar access, subdivision facts, flood conditions, and other project details must be tested before calling a conflict.
This means only that neither currently validated direct geographic predicate applies. It does not establish full code-plan alignment or project eligibility.
This screening example uses the current parcel record for 2085 Alpine Drive, Boulder. It illustrates the mapped Neighborhood 1 use mismatch labeled T9-002; it is not a permit or project determination.
Tell us the Boulder address you're curious about and what you're hoping to build or learn. We'll send you a plain-English report with current zoning, future vision, conflicts, and your options.
Beta Notice: BuildBoulder is a project created by Boulder City Council Member Matt Benjamin. Property analyses are performed by AI using publicly available city data and are refined with each submission. This is not an official tool or project of the City of Boulder. This tool is currently in beta testing — always verify findings with Boulder Planning & Development Services before making development decisions.
