10 Fort Collins local laws you might not know about

Laura Studley
Beyond the Oval
Published in
2 min readSep 16, 2019
“City Hall” by City of Fort Collins, CO is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

These local laws may not come as a surprise but it’s better to know them before you’re paying a ticket for your grass being too long!

  1. All dogs and cats over 4 months of age must have a license.
  • Even pets need licenses, at least in Fort Collins, Loveland and in the town of Wellington. This includes both outdoor and indoor pets.

2. You are not permitted to park within 20 feet of a stop sign or 30 feet of an intersection.

  • If you’re running back into your dorm and park near an intersection or stop sign for only a minute, you are at risk of a ticket.

3. Snow must be removed from sidewalks next to or in front of your property within 24 hours of a snowfall

  • Walking in a winter wonderland is only okay as long as the sidewalks are clear!

4. It is illegal to sell alcohol without a license.

  • This even includes selling cups at a keg party. The selling of liquor, even if it seems harmless at the time, can lead to a hearing by the Municipal Judge.

5. Weeds and grass can only grow up to 6 inches tall.

  • Get those lawn mowers revved up and sunscreen out. If your lawn is above six inches, you’ll receive a citation from the City.

6. Trash must be in a trashcan.

  • Trash containers within the City can only be out 12 hours before and 12 hours after pick-up.

7. Bonfires and outdoor fires used for other than cooking purposes are restricted by permit of the Poudre Fire Authority. All fires are only to be in authorized locations.

  • Fires may be lit but only when they’re allowed.

8. The driving, hitting, or throwing of golf balls is prohibited

  • Sorry wanna-be Tiger Woods, your golf career is going to have to wait.

9. All vehicles parked along the street must be parked within 12 inches of the curb.

  • Be careful fellow street-parker! Make sure your car is as close to the curb as possible!

10. U + 2

  • College is all about making as many friends as you can, but in Fort Collins, you can only live with 2 of them. This policy only allows family members to reside with you if you are planning to exceed occupancy.

These laws are small but can rack up fines! Know them (and others) so you can avoid paying the price.

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