Frequently Asked Questions About Boulder County’s New Gun Violence Prevention Ordinances
Are the ordinances currently in effect in Boulder County?
Because of ongoing litigation, Boulder County has stayed enforcement of the portion of Ordinance No. 2022-5 related to assault weapons and large capacity magazines. Boulder County is enforcing the provisions of Ordinance No. 2022-5 related to rapid-fire trigger activators and ordinances 2022-2, 2022-3, 2022-4, and 2022-6.
To whom does Boulder County’s Ordinance apply? Does it apply in the City of Louisville or City of Boulder, which have their own gun safety laws?
Boulder County’s gun violence prevention ordinances apply to the unincorporated areas of the county, and they do not apply to incorporated cities or towns that are within Boulder County such as the City of Boulder or City of Louisville. If you live in an incorporated city or town within Boulder County, the ordinances of that city or town apply to you. For a list of the ten incorporated towns and cities in Boulder County to which the ordinance does not apply and which may have their own separate ordinances, please see https://bouldercounty.gov/government/about-boulder-county/incorporated-municipalities/.
How is the 10-day waiting period in Ordinance No. 2022-3 calculated?
The 10-day waiting period for delivery and taking possession of a firearm in Ordinance No. 2022-3 consists of 10 consecutive calendar days. As an example, if a licensed firearm dealer initiates a background check for a firearm sale on Thursday, September 1, 2022, the purchaser could take possession of the firearm on September 11, 2022, provided that the dealer has received approval for the sale as required by C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5 by September 11, 2022.
Does Boulder County Ordinance No. 2022-5 require me to register or get a certificate for firearms, large capacity magazines, or trigger activators that I owned before the ordinance passed?
No. Boulder County’s Ordinance No. 2022-5 does not prohibit possession of these devices in unincorporated Boulder County. The ordinance prohibits the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase and import of these devices in the unincorporated areas of the county. Incorporated municipalities within Boulder County may have their own ordinances that apply in their jurisdictions.
How does this ordinance apply to houses of worship that want to permit open or concealed carry on their own property?
Ordinance No. 2022-4 provides that firearms cannot be carried within any property or facility owned or operated by a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other places of worship without express permission in writing from the property or facility’s operating authority. What constitutes the “operating authority” for a house of worship is a matter to be determined by the house of worship’s own governing body, and therefore the identity of such authority will be unique to each individual house of worship. For example, one house of worship may elect to leave this determination up to one religious leader, while others may allow a council or group of individuals to make this determination. Individuals wishing to receive permission to carry a firearm in a house of worship should consult with the leaders of the house of worship to ascertain whether and how they can get such permission to carry a firearm within the location. Notably, a person cannot be charged with a violation of Ordinance No. 2022-4 if signage providing notice of the prohibitions on open and concealed carry are not posted conspicuously at all public entrances to the location.
In Boulder County, what constitutes high capacity or large capacity magazine?
Boulder County’s Ordinance No. 2022-5 defines a large capacity magazine as an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds. Please read the ordinance for additional information.
This is separate from the State of Colorado’s 15-round high capacity magazine limitations found in Colorado Revised Statutes Sections 18-12-301 and 18-12-302. Please see the Colorado Revised Statutes for more information.
Does Ordinance No. 2022-5 regarding assault weapons prevent me from owning an assault weapon or bringing one into areas of unincorporated Boulder County?
Ordinance No. 2022-5 does not prohibit people living in or traveling through unincorporated Boulder County from possessing assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, or rapid-fire trigger activators. Instead, the ordinance prohibits the manufacture, import, purchase, sale or transfer of these devices within unincorporated Boulder County. Under the ordinance, purchases, sales and transfers originating in or being delivered to unincorporated Boulder County are prohibited. The use of the term “import” in this ordinance means to bring one of these devices into unincorporated Boulder County for the purpose of sale or transfer of ownership of the device to another person or entity.
Which non-County owned or operated locations are considered to be sensitive places where firearms are prohibited under Ordinance No. 2022-4?
Ordinance No. 2022-4 prohibits a person from openly carrying a firearm and from carrying a concealed firearm in sensitive places within unincorporated Boulder County. These places include facilities that are licensed to serve alcohol; healthcare facilities; facilities that have medical, mental health, or substance abuse professionals who screen, evaluate or treat people for mental health or substance abuse disorders; daycare centers and preschools; and places of worship that have not given express permission in writing for people to carry firearms on their premises. A person cannot be charged under Ordinance No. 2022-4 for bringing a firearm onto the premises of any of these facilities unless the facility had conspicuously posted notice of the firearm prohibition at all of the facility’s public entrances.
Where can I find a compliant sign to post on my property to let people know that firearms are prohibited by Ordinance No. 2022-4?
A sign that notifies people that firearms are not allowed on the premises of a facility covered by Ordinance No. 2022-4 can be downloaded here.
