Boulder City Council on Thursday advanced a new permitting process for large festivals that city officials say is needed before the Sundance Film Festival arrives in January 2027. A public hearing on the ordinance is set for June 18.
The proposed ordinance would create a new permit for festivals that draw more than 15,000 people. Among other changes, it would establish rules for temporary signage during major festivals, when businesses are expected to activate spaces across the city with showrooms, events and parties.
Applicants would be required to submit a sign plan meeting certain requirements, including adequate clearance for pedestrians, restrictions on how signs are attached to landmarked buildings and compliance with outdoor lighting rules.
The ordinance would also relax spacing and density restrictions for food trucks during qualifying festivals. City officials said they modeled the ordinance on a similar permitting process used in Park City, Utah, Sundance’s former home.
Boulder’s Planning Board last month unanimously recommended the council approve the ordinance. Several members said the changes could benefit smaller events as well, including the Boulder International Film Festival and the Roots Music Festival.
“I would encourage us to continue to refine this to make it less specific to Sundance and more applicable to a vibrant city that has festivals of many different sizes,” Planning Board member Mark McIntyre said during the meeting.