Frequently Asked Questions

BuildBoulder is a free community tool that analyzes Boulder properties to show what current zoning allows versus what the city's new comprehensive plan envisions. It identifies conflicts between outdated code and the city's goals, and suggests paths forward for your project.

Think of it as a preliminary zoning feasibility report — it gives you clarity before you spend thousands on architects and pre-applications.

BuildBoulder was created by Matt Benjamin, a Boulder City Council member, as a community service to help residents navigate Boulder's land use system during the transition to a new comprehensive plan.

For any Boulder address, BuildBoulder provides:

• Current zoning — what the rules on the books allow today (uses, density, height, setbacks)
• Future vision — what the new Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan envisions for the area
• Conflict analysis — specific code sections that block the city's stated goals
• Your path forward — whether your project can proceed by-right, needs a use review, requires rezoning, or should wait for code updates
• Next steps — permits, fees, forms, and a checklist for moving forward

No! BuildBoulder serves anyone interested in Boulder development:

• Homeowners — considering ADUs, renovations, or lot splits
• Developers — evaluating acquisition opportunities
• Architects & planners — doing preliminary feasibility for clients
• Neighbors — understanding what could be built nearby
• Advocates — mapping where code conflicts block housing
• City staff & officials — seeing the big picture of code/plan tension

BuildBoulder uses artificial intelligence (AI) combined with publicly available Boulder data:

1. Data sources: Boulder's Title IX zoning code, GIS parcel data, zoning maps, BVCP draft documents, floodplain overlays, historic district boundaries, and other public planning records
2. AI processing: Large language models (LLMs) analyze your address, pull relevant zoning rules, cross-reference the comprehensive plan, and identify conflicts
3. Human review: Analyses are reviewed for accuracy and clarity before being sent to you

Most analyses are completed and emailed within 15–45 minutes of your request. Complex properties or high volumes may take longer (up to a few hours). You'll receive an email notification when your report is ready.

No. BuildBoulder is a free community service. There are no fees, subscriptions, or hidden costs.

BuildBoulder currently only covers properties within Boulder city limits. If your property is in unincorporated Boulder County or another municipality, we can't analyze it yet. We're exploring expanding to other jurisdictions in the future.

BuildBoulder strives for high accuracy, but it's not perfect. Here's what to know:

• Data sources are official — we use the city's published zoning code, GIS data, and BVCP drafts
• AI interpretation has limits — zoning code is complex and sometimes ambiguous. AI can misinterpret edge cases or miss context that human planners would catch
• Code changes happen — if Boulder updates Title IX after we analyzed your property, the analysis may be outdated
• Every property is unique — site-specific factors (topography, easements, covenants, existing structures) can affect feasibility in ways BuildBoulder can't see from public data alone

No. BuildBoulder provides informational analysis, not legal advice. It does not replace:

• Consultation with the City of Boulder Planning & Development Services
• Professional advice from architects, land use attorneys, or planners
• Formal city determinations (pre-application conferences, use reviews, etc.)

Use BuildBoulder to get oriented — then talk to professionals for your specific situation.

We want to know! Email us at buildboulderco@gmail.com with:

• The address analyzed
• What you believe is incorrect
• Any supporting documentation (planning staff feedback, code citations, etc.)

We'll review, correct the analysis if needed, and send you an updated report. Errors also help us improve the tool for future users.

No. BuildBoulder is an independent project. The City of Boulder has not officially endorsed, validated, or certified it. For official city guidance, contact Boulder Planning & Development Services.

Your BuildBoulder analysis is a starting point for informed decisions:

1. Read the full report — pay attention to conflicts and constraints
2. Schedule a pre-application conference with Boulder Planning & Development Services — bring your BuildBoulder report and ask staff to verify key findings
3. Hire professionals — if the report suggests your project is feasible, engage an architect or land use planner to prepare formal plans
4. Use it for advocacy — if the report shows code conflicts blocking reasonable projects, share it with Council members, Planning Board, or community groups working on Title IX reform

BuildBoulder reports are not official city documents and won't satisfy permit requirements. However, they can be useful as:

• Background research you bring to a pre-application conference
• Talking points for discussing your project with city staff
• Context for why you're requesting specific approvals or variances

City staff will conduct their own analysis as part of the formal review process.

Don't give up immediately. BuildBoulder highlights code barriers, but there may still be options:

• Use review — some projects that aren't "by-right" can be approved through use review processes
• Variances — you can request relief from specific requirements if you meet variance criteria
• Code amendments — if your property is caught in a code/plan conflict, advocate for Title IX updates to align with the BVCP
• Wait strategically — Boulder is updating its land use code; projects blocked today may become feasible soon

A pre-application conference with city staff can clarify whether any of these paths are viable for your property.

Yes! If Boulder updates Title IX and you want a fresh analysis, submit a new request through the BuildBoulder form. Mention in your question that you're requesting an updated analysis, and we'll prioritize it.

When you request an analysis, we collect:

• Your name
• Your email address
• The Boulder address you want analyzed
• Your question or project description (optional)

That's it. We don't use cookies, tracking pixels, or analytics tools. There are no ads.

Your information is used for one purpose only: to generate and deliver your address analysis. Specifically:

• We receive your request via our form backend (Formspree)
• We analyze the address using public zoning data and AI tools
• We email the completed analysis back to you

We do NOT:

• Share your data with the City of Boulder or any government agency
• Sell your data to developers, contractors, or real estate companies
• Provide your data to advertisers or data brokers
• Use your personal information to train AI models

We retain your submission data for up to 90 days after delivering your analysis. This allows us to follow up if you have questions and to improve the tool. After 90 days, your data is deleted.

You can request deletion at any time by emailing buildboulderco@gmail.com — we'll remove it promptly.

Yes. Read our complete Privacy Policy.

BuildBoulder uses large language models (LLMs) from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to analyze zoning code and generate reports. The specific models may change as technology improves, but the underlying data sources (Boulder's official code and GIS data) remain the same.

Yes. BuildBoulder complies with Colorado SB 24-205 (Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act), which became effective February 1, 2026. We provide:

• Clear disclosure that you're interacting with an AI system
• Transparency about how the tool works and its limitations
• A process for reporting errors and requesting corrections
• Regular monitoring for accuracy and fairness

We're committed to responsible AI use and continuous improvement.

All data comes from publicly available Boulder sources:

• Title IX (Boulder Land Use Code) — the official zoning regulations
• Boulder GIS Open Data — parcel boundaries, zoning districts, overlays
• Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) drafts — the city's future vision
• Floodplain maps (FEMA) — flood zone overlays
• Historic district boundaries — landmark and conservation areas
• Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) data — fire hazard zones

We do NOT access private property records, HOA covenants, or confidential city files.

Not yet, but we're considering it. Open-sourcing BuildBoulder could help other cities facing similar code/plan transitions build their own tools. If you're interested in collaborating or adapting BuildBoulder for another jurisdiction, get in touch.

Not currently. BuildBoulder is designed as a web-based service for individual property queries. If there's demand for API access (for researchers, developers, or planning tools), we'll consider building it. Email us if this would be useful for your work.