Boulder Drops Advance Notice for Encampment Removals
The city will no longer give three days' warning before clearing homeless encampment belongings along a one-mile stretch of Boulder Creek Path.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Camping
Boulder has eliminated its 72-hour notice requirement before removing belongings of people camping along roughly one mile of Boulder Creek near the library and Civic Area. The change follows a more aggressive enforcement approach to the city's camping ban that began last year.
Why it matters
The city says the policy is meant to prevent obstructions on multiuse paths and in underpasses and to reduce the effects of unsanctioned camping along the creek. The move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that enforcing camping bans does not violate the Eighth Amendment.
The policy applies to a roughly one-mile stretch of Boulder Creek, while Denver still provides at least 48 hours' notice before encampment removals. The plaintiffs in a related challenge are seeking review by the Colorado Supreme Court, and it is not yet known whether that review will be taken up.
The players
Bridge House
A Boulder homelessness services nonprofit that announced it is closing amid financial troubles.
The details
Permanent signs now posted along the creek path warn that items may be removed at any time, replacing temporary pink notices that allowed police to immediately ticket people for camping and arrest those who resisted. A judge dismissed a similar challenge to the camping ban under the Colorado Constitution, and an appeal of that dismissal failed this year.
Timeline
2024: U.S. Supreme Court rules that enforcing camping bans does not violate the Eighth Amendment.
Last year (2025): Boulder begins more aggressive enforcement of its camping ban along the creek path.
This year (2026): An appeal of the Colorado camping ban challenge fails, and the city moves homelessness services away from Central Park.
Dec. 31, 2026: Bridge House's Ready to Work program is scheduled to close.
Legal Context
Boulder's decision follows the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 ruling that enforcing camping bans does not violate the Eighth Amendment, a ruling that has encouraged cities to tighten enforcement. Aurora, Colorado eliminated its own 72-hour notice requirement last year, while Denver continues to give at least 48 hours' notice.
Anyone camping or staying along Boulder Creek Path can now have belongings removed without advance warning, so people should move gear promptly when permanent signs are posted. Residents seeking shelter should check Boulder County residency requirements, since shelter stays for people without county ties are limited to 10 days.
The takeaway
Advance notice protections for people living outdoors vary sharply across Colorado cities, so anyone affected should confirm current rules with the local government before belongings are removed. The policy shift underscores how court rulings on camping bans can quickly reshape local enforcement.
What happens next
Bridge House's Ready to Work program is scheduled to close on Dec. 31, 2026, and the plaintiffs are seeking review by the Colorado Supreme Court.
Further reading
Explore more on camping rules and outdoor access.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Boulder Reporting Lab.
