The moratorium takes effect Jan. 17 in unincorporated Boulder County, four months later than the originally proposed effective-immediate date. During the stoppage, county staff will be exploring land use code changes to reduce the allowable home size based on neighborhood medians. According to county staff, permit data suggests the median square footage of homes in unincorporated Boulder County was 3,379 in 2019 and 4,589 in 2023 — a 36% increase. Marshall Fire rebuilds and other homes lost to natural disasters are exempt from the moratorium, as are homes that have already completed a site plan review application. “This is by definition exclusionary zoning policy that will continue to allow ‘large’ family homes where they already exist, unfairly putting the burden on existing neighborhoods with smaller homes.