Public comments accepted until April 14, 2026

Key Points

• Boulder County is taking comments until April 14, 2026 on an updated General Floodplain Development Permit.
• General Floodplain Development Permit (General FDP) 2026-1 applies to certain limited uses that have minimal or no impact on flood hazards.
• General FDP 2026-1 is scheduled to take effect on April 21, 2026. View more information on the Floodplain Development Permits webpage.

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County is proposing to issue General Floodplain Development Permit (General FDP) 2026-1, pursuant to Article 4-404.1 of the Boulder County Land Use Code.

The General Floodplain Development Permit was created to minimize undue hardship to property owners in unincorporated areas of Boulder County yet remain in compliance with minimum federal and state floodplain development regulations.

The intent of a General FDP is to allow certain limited uses and activities in the Floodplain Overlay (FO) District without the need for an approved Individual FDP because these specific uses and activities have been determined to have minimal or no impact on flood hazards. Some projects permitted by the General FDP still require notification of the County Engineer.

General FDP 2026-1 covers the same types of activities as General FDP 2024-1, which expires April 22, 2026. The covered activities are related to general property management, transportation infrastructure, stream restoration and stormwater drainage systems, ditches or water delivery infrastructure, oil and gas maintenance, overhead and underground utilities, agriculture, and deconstruction or relocation of buildings and structures.

General FDP 2026-1 does not absolve the property owner from obtaining other required permits such as a Building Permit. All projects covered under General FDP 2026-1 must adhere to the conditions listed in Section II of the permit.

The General FDP applies to unincorporated areas of Boulder County, not in cities or towns.

View General Floodplain Permit (FDP) 2026-1.

Public Comment and Effective Date

A two-week comment period will begin on March 31, 2026. Written comments regarding General FDP 2026-1 should be submitted to the Floodplain Management Program by Tuesday, April 14, 2026. To submit comments, please email FloodplainAdmin@bouldercounty.gov.

Unless the Floodplain Management Program postpones the effective date based on comments received prior to Tuesday, April 14, 2026, or for other good cause, with any such postponement announced on the webpage at the link above, General FDP 2026-1 will become effective at close-of-business on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

View more information on the Floodplain Development Permits webpage, or email FloodplainAdmin@bouldercounty.gov, or call 303-441-3930.

Boulder County wants to ensure that everyone has equal access to our programs, activities, and services. To request an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodation, please email ada@bouldercounty.gov, or call 303-441-1386. If you need help in another language, please email cppfrontdesk@bouldercounty.gov or call 303-441-3930.