The county’s longstanding history of cooperative land use planning with other local governments is central to the compact development pattern and open space preservation that make Boulder County what it is today. State law (Colorado Constitution Article XIV, § 18(2), CRS 29-1-201 through 29-20-107) authorizes local governments to enter into agreements for land use planning. Boulder County was at the forefront of applying this approach, adopting the original Boulder County Comprehensive Plan in 1978. Through comprehensive plans and intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) the county works with local municipalities to develop a long term shared land use vision that identifies areas appropriate for development and those prioritized for preservation. These efforts:
A comprehensive plan is a guidance document that lays out policies and a map of the intended development pattern. IGAs are legally binding agreements that specify the core concepts of the arrangement between the municipality and the county. IGAs typically have terms in the range of 20 years and include a map showing the areas agreed upon for potential expansion or annexation, and those identified for preservation.
This website presents information about land use IGAs with local governments. However, the county has a variety of other types of IGAs with other governments (e.g., regarding shared public services, etc.).
Additional key facts about the county’s land use IGAs:
| IGA | Parties to agreement with Boulder County | In Effect? | Adoption Date | Expiration Date | Map | Notes or link to Comprehensive Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (2015) | City of Boulder | Y | 9/26/2017 | 12/31/2037 | Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan | |
| Broomfield IGA | City of Broomfield, County of Broomfield | Y | 10/20/1998 | NA | ||
| Jamestown Vicinity | Jamestown | Y | 1/1/1981 | NA | 2017 Jamestown Comprehensive Plan | |
| Lafayette/Louisville Buffer (2014) | City of Lafayette, City of Louisville | Y | 7/23/2014 | 7/9/2036 | ||
| Longmont Planning Area Comprehensive Development Plan (with maps) | City of Longmont | Y | 4/22/2024 | 4/22/2044 | Includes terms for automatic extension | |
| Lyons Planning Area (2012) | Town of Lyons | Y | 5/14/2012 | 11/15/2024 | Map | Previous IGA Update webpage |
| Lyons CEMEX (2012) | Town of Lyons | Y | 5/11/2012 | 12/31/2034 | Map | |
| Nederland Area | Town of Nederland | Y | 3/7/2002 | 3/7/2022 | Map | |
| Nederland Area Town Shop Amendment | Town of Nederland | Y | 5/12/2009 | NA | Nederland Area Town Shop Amendment Purchase Agreement | |
| Northwest Parkway | Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield | Y | 2/18/1999 | 2/18/2029 | Map | |
| Northwest Parkway 1st Amendment | Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield | Y | 2/6/2001 | 2/18/2029 | ||
| Northwest Parkway Hoyl Amendment | Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield | Y | 9/4/2007 | 2/18/2029 | ||
| Northwest Parkway Fire Station Amendment | Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield | Y | 12/9/2008 | 2/18/2029 | ||
| Northwest Parkway Campus Drive Amendment | Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield | Y | 7/13/2010 | 2/18/2029 | ||
| Northwest Parkway 9557 Paradise Lane Amendment | Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield | Y | 3/15/2016 | 2/18/2029 | ||
| Superior 2nd Amendment | Superior | See note | 3/13/2000 | 3/13/2003* | *Paragraphs 3,4,6, survive | |
| U.S. 36 Corridor CDP | City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior | Y | 6/20/2000 | 6/20/2030 | Map | |
| U.S. 36 1st Amendment (Avista Hospital) | City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior | Y | 4/19/2002 | 6/20/2030 | ||
| U.S. 36 Willow Ranch TDR Amendment | City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior | Y | 10/16/2003 | 6/20/2030 | ||
| U.S. 36 Louisville Water Amendment | City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior | Y | 4/12/2007 | 6/20/2030 | Related to SI-06-001 |
| IGA | Parties to agreement with Boulder County | In Effect? | Adoption Date | Expiration Date | Map | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (1978) | City of Boulder | N | 5/21/1978 | superseded by 2017 BVCP | ||
| Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (1990) | City of Boulder | N | 12/13/1990 | superseded by 2017 BVCP | ||
| Countywide Coordinated Erie Exit Letter | Town of Erie | NA | NA | |||
| Countywide Coordinated Lafayette Exit Letter | City of Lafayette | NA | NA | |||
| Nederland Area | Town of Nederland | Y | 3/7/2002 | 3/7/2022 | Map | |
| Longmont Planning Area 3rd Amendment | City of Longmont | Y | 8/12/2003 | 8/12/2023 | Map | |
| Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (2002) | City of Boulder | N | 7/15/2002 | 12/31/2017 | superseded by 2017 BVCP | |
| Boulder Valley Transfer of Development Rights | City of Boulder | N | 5/8/1995 | Map | superseded by Successor TDR IGA | |
| Boulder Valley Transfer of Development Rights 1st Amendment | City of Boulder | N | 12/18/1997 | superseded by Successor TDR IGA | ||
| Boulder Valley Transfer of Development Rights Successor | City of Boulder | N | 6/22/2000 | 6/22/2010 | Map | Expired |
| East Central Boulder County | Erie, Lafayette | N | 12/21/1994 | 12/21/2014 | Map | Expired |
| East Central Boulder County Amendment Leyner Property | Erie, Lafayette | N | 2/17/1997 | 12/21/2014 | Expired | |
| East Central Boulder County Amendment Kenosha Farms | Erie, Lafayette | N | 12/19/1996 | 12/21/2014 | Expired | |
| East Central Boulder County Amendment Futhey/CMN Enterprises, Inc. | Erie, Lafayette | N | 1/26/1998 | 12/21/2014 | Expired | |
| East Central Boulder County Amendment Lafayette/ Goosehaven Water Plant | Erie, Lafayette | N | 8/31/2004 | 12/21/2014 | Expired | |
| East Central Boulder County Amendment Isabelle Ranch TDR/PUD | Erie, Lafayette | N | 10/12/2004 | 10/12/2007 | Expired | |
| Frederick Boulder Creek Planning Area IGA | Frederick | N | 7/22/2008 | 7/22/2018 | Not valid as it was contingent on an IGA with Erie | |
| Gunbarrel Retail Core | City of Boulder | Y | 5/17/2006 | 5/18/2021 | ||
| Lafayette Transfer of Development Rights IGA | Lafayette | N | 11/21/1995 | 11/21/2005 | Map | Expired |
| Lafayette Utilities IGA | Lafayette | N | 9/16/2003 | see note | Expired with Lafayette’s exit of the Super IGA | |
| Lafayette/Louisville Buffer (1996) | Lafayette, Louisville, City of Boulder | N | 7/9/1996 | 7/9/2016 | Map | superseded by 2014 Agreement |
| Lafayette/Louisville Buffer 1st Amendment | Lafayette, Louisville, City of Boulder | N | 2/18/1997 | 7/9/2016 | superseded by 2014 Agreement | |
| Lafayette/Louisville Buffer 2nd Amendment | Lafayette, Louisville, City of Boulder | N | 7/5/1999 | 7/9/2016 | superseded by 2014 Agreement | |
| Longmont Planning Area (1988) | Longmont | N | 7/13/1988 | superseded by 3rd Amendment | ||
| Longmont Planning Area (1997) | Longmont | N | 6/19/1997 | 6/19/2007 | Map | Superseded by 3rd Amendment |
| Longmont Planning Area 1st Amendment | Longmont | N | 6/19/1997 | 6/19/2007 | Map | Resolution 98-144; superseded by 3rd amendment |
| Longmont Planning Area 2nd Amendment (Open Space Acquisition) | Longmont | N | 8/29/2000 | Resolution 2000-132; superseded by 3rd amendment | ||
| Longmont Transfer of Development Rights | Longmont | N | 2/5/1996 | 2/5/2006 | Map | Expired |
| Longmont Transfer of Development Rights 1st Amendment | Longmont | N | 2/5/1996 | 2/5/2006 | Expired | |
| Longmont Transfer of Development Rights 2nd Amendment | Longmont | N | 2/5/1996 | 5/31/2016 | Map | Expired |
| Lyons Planning Area (2002) | Lyons | N | 12/20/2002 | 5/15/2012 | Map | superseded by 2012 Lyons CDA |
| Lyons Planning Area 1st Amendment (Stone Mountain) | Lyons | N | 2/7/2005 | 5/15/2012 | superseded by 2012 Lyons CDA | |
| Lyons Planning Area 2nd Amendment | Lyons | N | 6/6/2011 | 5/15/2012 | superseded by 2012 Lyons CDA | |
| Erie Schmidt Trail | Erie | N | 9/23/2008 | 3/23/2008 | Expired but terms have been met | |
| Southeast Boulder County CDP | Broomfield, Lafayette | N | 1/16/1997 | 1/16/2017 | Map | Expired; Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C |
| Superior (1997) | Superior | N | 5/8/1997 | 5/8/2017 | Map | Expired |
| Superior 1st Amendment | Superior | N | Map | |||
| Countywide Coordinated (Super IGA) | City of Boulder, Jamestown, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland | Y | 10/16/2003 | 10/16/2023 | Map | Expired |
| Longmont Planning Area Term Extension | Longmont | Y | 10/18/2011 | 10/16/2023 | Map | Expired; Amendment to 3rd amended LPA IGA |
| IGA | Parties to agreement with Boulder County | In Effect? | Adoption Date | Expiration Date | Map | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left Hand Water District | Left Hand Water District | Y | 8/21/2012 | 8/21/2027 | ||
| Nederland Building Permit and Inspection Services (1996) | Nederland | N | 5/14/1996 | Termination Letters | ||
| Jamestown Building Services and Inspections (1997) | Jamestown | Y | 12/29/1997 | 12/29/2000 | Town Ordinances adopting Building Code elements | |
| Ward Historic Landmark Designation | Ward | Y | 10/15/1994 | NA | County provides historic landmarking | |
| Superior Cemetery Historic Preservation | Superior | Y | 12/16/2002 | NA | County provides historic landmarking | |
| Nederland Historic Preservation | Nederland | Y | 8/20/1996 | NA | County provides historic landmarking | |
| Highway 42 Revitalization Area (TIF/Urban Tax) | Louisville Revitalization Commission, Louisville | Y | 4/12/2007 | 4/12/2032 | ||
| Mud Lake | Town of Nederland | Y | 12/17/1999 | |||
| Mud Lake 1st Amendment | Town of Nederland | Y | 7/24/2001 | |||
| Mud Lake 2nd Amendment | Town of Nederland | Y | 12/1/2002 | |||
| Mud Lake 3rd Amendment | Town of Nederland | Y | 7/6/2004 | |||
| Mud Lake 4th Amendment | Town of Nederland | Y | 12/1/2005 | |||
| Mud Lake 5th Amendment | Town of Nederland | Y | 11/10/2009 | |||
| Mud Lake Mutual Aid (Law Enforcement) | Town of Nederland | Y | 7/6/2004 | |||
| Ridge Road Division of Land and Conservation | Town of Nederland | Y | 8/20/2002 | |||
| Ridge Road Purchase Agreement and Division of Land | Town of Nederland | Y | 11/10/2009 | |||
| City of Boulder Jointly Owned Open Space Management | City of Boulder | Y | 10/18/2005 | |||
| City of Boulder Gapter Road | City of Boulder | Y | 10/1/2010 | |||
| South Boulder Road Open Space | Louisville, Lafayette | Y | 4/29/1993 | |||
| South Boulder Road Open Space 1st Amendment | Louisville, Lafayette | Y | 5/20/2014 |