Boulder County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Boulder County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Boulder County sources continuously and shows the current restriction status — alongside overlapping federal, state, and fire-district restrictions — on one color-coded map. Fire restrictions change quickly during Colorado's fire season, so always check the live map or the county's official channels before lighting any fire.
Who issues fire restrictions in Boulder County?
In Colorado, county-level fire restrictions for unincorporated areas are typically enacted by the Board of County Commissioners or the County Sheriff under C.R.S. §30-15-401 and §30-10-512/513. Within Boulder County, separate authorities can impose their own rules at the same time: fire protection districts (under C.R.S. Title 32), the U.S. Forest Service and BLM on federal land, Colorado Parks & Wildlife in state parks, and municipalities inside their town limits. That's why one spot on the map can carry several overlapping restrictions — BurnBound shows each one separately.
Boulder County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-15-401. To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is 303-441-4500.
Do Boulder County restrictions apply on federal land?
Boulder County's order does not address federal land, so a county restriction may apply on federal ground within the county — verify with the sheriff or the managing agency. Federal agencies (USFS, BLM, NPS) also set their own rules on their land.
Official Boulder County sources
Fire protection districts in Boulder County
Every Colorado fire protection district can set its own fire restrictions independently of the county (C.R.S. Title 32) — most align with the county, but always check the district covering your exact location on the live map.
- Allenspark FPD
- Boulder Mountain FPD
- Boulder Rural FPD
- Four Mile FPD (Boulder)
- Gold Hill FPD
- Hygiene FPD
- Indian Peaks FPD
- Lafayette Rural FPD
- Lefthand FPD
- Louisville FPD
- Mountain View FPD
- Nederland FPD
- Sugar Loaf FPD
- Sunshine FPD
Federal & state lands overlapping Boulder County
These agencies set their own fire restrictions on the lands they manage inside the county — independent of any county order:
- Bureau of Land Management: Royal Gorge Field Office
- National Park Service: Rocky Mountain National Park
- U.S. Forest Service: Boulder Ranger District, Canyon Lakes Ranger District, Sulphur Ranger District
Boulder County fire-restriction rules by stage
Boulder County publishes its restriction rules inside each order when one is issued — there is no standing rules page. The details below come from the most recent verified order; always check the current order text.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- igniting/building/maintaining/using any fire incl. campfires, stoves, barbecues, grills, wood/pellet/charcoal lanterns
- sale, use and possession of fireworks
- recreational shooting except lawful hunting
- smoking except enclosed vehicles/buildings, developed rec sites, private property, or 3-ft cleared areas
- chainsaws/gas-powered equipment without spark-arrester + extinguisher + shovel
- welding/grinding/torches without 10-ft cleared area + extinguisher
- explosives incl. exploding targets, tracers, incendiary ammunition
- open burning (broadcast or pile)
Allowed:
- gas or liquid fueled devices with shut-off valve in cleared area
- fully enclosed wood/charcoal with spark arrester in cleared area
- fires on private property
- fires in permanent metal or concrete fire pits or grates installed and maintained by the U.S. Forest Service at developed recreation sites
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- open fires, campfires or stove fires on private or public lands
- charcoal grills and barbecues
- fireworks
- recreational shooting
- smoking, except inside enclosed structures or vehicles
- welding or open flame torches outdoors
- off-road motor vehicles off established roads
Allowed:
- devices solely fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off, used in an area cleared of all flammable materials within 3 feet of the device
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Stage 2 exception: devices solely fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off, used in an area cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device
Source: Stage 1/2 declaration release eff. 2026-06-30 (per-level rules publish inside each declaration)
No Fire Restrictions (Normal conditions (no restrictions declared))
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Rules content verified against primary sources on 2026-07-04.
Rules apply as written in each order — the county's current order always controls. This page never shows live status; check the live map for what is in effect right now.
Exact rules vary by jurisdiction and by order — the map's popup links the official order for Boulder County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.