Sundance Film Festival Land Use

Approved 4 meetings

Status: Approved at Planning Board — Pending City Council ordinance Lead Body: Planning Board Related Bodies: City Council First Discussed: May 2026

The Sundance Film Festival announced a 10-year relocation to Boulder, bringing a major international cultural event to the city. To accommodate Sundance and future large-scale events (15,000+ attendees), the city proposed a new "Special Festival Events" land use designation — a first-of-its-kind category in Boulder's code.

The new designation covers signage standards, permitted activities, hours of operation, and venue flexibility, while excluding agricultural zones except for accessory uses. The Planning Board approved the amendment unanimously with a key amendment tying sign duration to actual event dates rather than the full 20-day window.

Timeline

Date Body Event
2026-05-05 Planning Board Approved Special Festival Event land use amendment unanimously

Key Decisions

  • 2026-05-05 — Planning Board approved ordinance amendments creating "special festival events" designation (unanimous)
  • Amendment: sign duration limited to actual festival dates (not full 20-day window)
  • Threshold set at 15,000 attendees; smaller events continue under standard special event permits
  • Agricultural zones excluded except for accessory uses

Open Questions

  • Mid-tier festivals (e.g. Roots Music Project ~4,000 attendees) remain under existing permit process
  • Staff to complete code cleanup for final ordinance
  • City to revisit festival event policies as Sundance experience unfolds

Related Meetings