Approval of Temporary Fireworks Sales Text Amendment by the Board of County Commissioners.
On April 9, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held a public hearing to consider proposed text amendments to the Boulder County Land Use Code related to the Temporary Fireworks Sales use in Article 4-517.H Temporary Fireworks and Christmas Tree Sales, as presented by staff.
The BOCC approved Docket DC-24-0001: Text Amendments to the Land Use Code Related to Temporary Fireworks Sales. The proposed change to the Land Use Code removes the Temporary Fireworks Sale use from the Code, removing language from Article 4-517.H that refers to temporary fireworks sales, while leaving allowances for Temporary Christmas Tree Sales.
Past Public Meetings
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearing – Docket DC-24-0001: Text Amendment to the Land Use Code related to Temporary Fireworks Sales – April 9, 2024
Docket DC-24-0001, Temporary Fireworks Sales Text Amendment. Text amendments to the Land Use Code related to Article 4-517.H Temporary Fireworks and Christmas Tree Sales use, removing Temporary Fireworks Sales as an allowed use in the Code. Public testimony was taken. View the BOCC Public Hearing video recording on the Board of County Commissioners webpage.
View the Staff Report for April 9, 2024.
Boulder County Planning Commission (PC) Public Hearing: Community Planning & Permitting Department Docket DC-24-0001 – Feb. 21, 2024
On Feb. 21, 2024, staff presented proposed text amendments to the Boulder County Land Use Code related to Temporary Fireworks Sales in Article 4-517.H Temporary Fireworks and Christmas Tree Sales, and any other related Articles and provisions necessary to integrate the proposed changes. The proposed change to the Land Use Code would disallow the Temporary Fireworks Sale use, removing language from Article 4-517.H that refers to temporary fireworks sales, leaving allowances for Temporary Christmas Tree Sales.
The text amendment aims to reflect the awareness of wildfire risk in Boulder County, promote public safety and wildfire prevention, and align the Land Use Code with restrictions on fireworks found in other jurisdictions within Boulder County, by reducing risk of accidental fire by fireworks through the removal this temporary use from the Land Use Code. In addition to staff’s presentation, the Planning Commission received testimony from members of the public about the proposed regulations.
The Planning Commission discussed Docket DC-24-0001 and recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve Docket DC-24-0001 Temporary Fireworks Sales Text Amendment. The Planning Commission also had the following request for the Board of County Commissioners:
- Verify that the Encinias temporary fireworks stand has an application in process at the time of the hearing.
View the staff report and video recording of the Feb. 21, 2024 public hearing.
The Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing date is not yet scheduled.
Background
On Jan. 9, 2024, staff received authorization from the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to pursue a text amendment to the Boulder County Land Use Code (the Code) related to Article 4-517.H Temporary Fireworks and Christmas Tree Sales and any other related Articles and provisions necessary to integrate these changes.
As a result of concerns raised by the Board of County Commissioners and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office related to fireworks sales in unincorporated Boulder County given wildfire danger in the community, Community Planning & Permitting staff are considering an amendment to the existing regulations in the Code to disallow the fireworks sales use. The potential amendment would strike all language concerning Temporary Fireworks Sales from Article 4-517.H, leaving allowances for Temporary Christmas Tree Sales.
Staff intend to update relevant content in Article 4-517.H (Zoning) of the Code and will make any other revisions necessary to other parts of the Code to integrate the changes. Some organizational changes and updates to the existing language may also be necessary to make the Code easier to navigate and utilize.
The anticipated timeline for this code update is as follows:
- Board of County Commissioners Authorization: Jan. 9, 2024
- Planning Commission Public Hearing: Feb. 2024
- Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing: March 2024
Summary of Proposed Changes
View the referral packet and summary of proposed changes as of Jan. 30, 2024.