Share Feedback on Proposed Changes to Boulder County’s Minimum Wage

• Boulder County has a local minimum wage for the unincorporated areas of the county.
• The Boulder County Commissioners are holding a public hearing on Nov. 20 to consider changes to the county’s local minimum wage in future years.
• The changes would start January 1, 2026.
• Spanish interpretation will be available at the public hearing.
• To receive this information in another language, email commissioners@bouldercounty.gov

The Boulder County Commissioners are looking at the future of the Boulder County local minimum wage, in response to concerns from members of the farming and business community in unincorporated Boulder County. The Boulder County local minimum wage applies only to unincorporated Boulder County.

Public Hearing, Nov. 20

On Oct. 21, the commissioners gave direction to staff to bring forward a draft ordinance to replace the county’s existing local minimum wage ordinance. The draft ordinance reduces the county’s upcoming 2026 wage increase to 1.5% to align with the 2026 wage of the City of Boulder, with wages increasing by CPI beginning in 2027.

The commissioners will consider the draft ordinance at a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 9 a.m.

Members of the public are invited to share comments during the public hearing or to share written comments using the share written comments using the online form.

The public hearing can be attended in-person (3rd floor, 1325 Pearl Street, Boulder), online through Zoom, or by phone.

• Online: Attend the hearing online or sign up to comment through Zoom using the Virtual Attendee Link for the Nov. 20 public hearing.
• Phone: Call-in information: 1-833-568-8864, Webinar ID: 161 768 0612
• In-person: Sign-up to speak in-person using the In-Person Comment Registration

Spanish interpretation will be available online (through Zoom) and in-person. Registered speakers can share comments in English or Spanish.

Background

In November 2023, the Boulder County Commissioners unanimously passed the county’s local minimum wage ordinance to respond to the needs of unincorporated Boulder County’s lowest paid workers in the face of the rising cost of living. The commissioners are motivated to support Boulder County residents to meet basic needs as well as maintain their dignity and quality of life, and believe that when our lowest paid workers thrive, we all thrive.

The Boulder County Commissioners have a stated goal of a regional minimum wage in Boulder County, which would mean one minimum wage in Boulder County’s towns, cities, and rural and mountain communities.

Based on the county’s current ordinance, the wage schedule will increase Boulder County’s local minimum wage to $25/hour in 2030 and increase at the rate of inflation every year beginning in 2031.

Since the commissioners established the county’s local minimum wage, the City of Boulder has adopted a the City of Boulder has adopted a different local minimum wage schedule. Other cities and towns in our region have not moved forward to establish a local minimum wage.

On Oct. 14, 2025, the county commissioners held a public hearing to consider the future of Boulder County’s minimum wage.

For more information about Boulder County’s Local Minimum wage, visit the Local Minimum Wage website (Spanish).

• Visit the County Commissioners' webpage
• View the Commissioners' Meeting Documents and Records
• Email the Board of County Commissioners

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