Ordinances

Family-Friendly Vibrant Neighborhoods (of the future)

This week Boulder is considering changes to single family zoning. Whether you embrace or fear these changes, it's worth remembering that neighborhood impacts will take decades.

Nicole Speer

05 Jan 2025 — 2 min read

What would change?

Some properties could replace detached, single-family homes with duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, or other types of "middle housing."
The size and scale of allowed buildings stays the same. Middle housing would have similar dimensions to detached, single-family homes (see below).
Permanently affordable housing developments could avoid unnecessary reviews.

Why are we considering this change?

Boulder has many detached, single-family homes and large apartment buildings. There aren't many in-between options. Duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and other types of middle housing make up less than 10% of the housing units in Boulder. This shortage of middle housing limits current residents' housing choices and keeps out the young professionals, families with small children, and others who do not want or cannot afford a bigger, detached, single-family home.

How might this change impact me?

Minimally. Impacts would unfold over decades and because building restrictions like height limits and setbacks would stay the same, if you live in an area subject to these changes, you will not lose your view. Your garden will not die in the shade of a 10-story apartment building. Your street won't become an expressway. If more middle housing enters your neighborhood in the coming decades, you'd likely see young professionals, families, and retirees begin to return. Public transportation should become more frequent and reliable. Your neighborhood would begin to foster more connection and belonging in 30-40 years.

What about affordability?

Housing costs, like gas, eggs, and other household expenses, will keep increasing. Zoning changes do not create affordable housing. In the long term, zoning changes can help slow the growth of housing price increases. In the short term, a smaller duplex may cost less than a typical detached single-family home. To create affordable housing, we'll need investments in social housing, rental and down payment assistance programs, and community land trusts.