Fire Regulations in Fort Collins, CO

Fort Collins maintains 166 local ordinances across all categories, and 6 of those deal specifically with fire regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Fort Collins falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Propane Storage

Fort Collins caps liquefied petroleum gas storage at 2,000 gallons per installation within the district limits set by the fire code adoption ordinance, under a 2024 International Fire Code amendment at City Code § 9-2, Section 6104.2. The Fire Code Official can adjust that ceiling case by case after weighing topography, occupancy, container capacity, fire protection, and local firefighting capability.

Key details: Default cap: 2,000 gallons per installation. Adjustable by: Fire Code Official, case by case. Container protection: Enclosure plus vehicle impact protection. Applies within: District limits set by adoption ordinance. Penalty: Misdemeanor under § 1-15.

Exceeding the 2,000-gallon aggregate LP-gas storage cap without a Fire Code Official adjustment, or failing to enclose and protect containers from tampering and vehicle impact under Section 6109.13, is enforced as a Chapter 9 fire code violation. It is a misdemeanor under § 9-4, punishable per § 1-15, and each ten-day period the excess storage or unprotected container continues counts as a separate offense.

Fire Pits & Backyard Fires

Fort Collins regulates fire pits and outdoor fireplaces under a 2024 International Fire Code amendment, City Code § 9-2, adopting Section 307.4.3. Portable or fixed fire pits, including fire tables, must follow the manufacturer's clearance instructions or sit at least fifteen feet from a combustible structure or material, run on gas or liquid fuel, and never operate under a combustible overhang, unless a listed exception applies.

Key details: Default clearance: 15 feet from combustible structure/material. Fuel type default: Gas or liquid fuel required. Residential exception: 1- & 2-family homes may use solid fuel. Public-use units: Must be listed for commercial use. Penalty: Misdemeanor under § 1-15.

Operating a fire pit or outdoor fireplace closer than 15 feet to a combustible structure, without following the manufacturer's clearance instructions, or burning solid fuel in a fireplace not at a one- or two-family home violates § 9-2's fire code amendments and is enforced under § 9-4 as a misdemeanor, punishable per § 1-15, with each ten-day period of noncompliance a separate offense.

Smoke Detectors

Fort Collins requires listed smoke alarms meeting UL 217 in dwellings under a 2024 International Fire Code amendment, City Code § 9-2, Section 907.2.11. Adding or creating a sleeping room in an existing residential building triggers a duty to bring the entire building up to the smoke-detector standard required for new construction, and bedrooms needing a fire alarm system must use a 520-Hz alarm tone.

Key details: Standard: UL 217-listed alarms, NFPA 72 install. Retrofit trigger: New sleeping room in existing building. Bedroom alarm tone: 520-Hz signal where alarm system required. False alarm threshold: 2 activations in 60 days. Penalty: Misdemeanor under § 1-15.

Failing to install UL 217-listed smoke alarms as required, skipping the building-wide retrofit after adding a sleeping room, or ignoring a Fire Code Official order following excessive false alarms under § 907.8.5 is enforced as a Chapter 9 violation, a misdemeanor under § 9-4 punishable per § 1-15, with each ten-day period of noncompliance treated as a new offense.

Outdoor Burning

Fort Collins bans open burning and undesignated open fires citywide at all times under City Code § 9-23, with limited exceptions that require a permit from Larimer County or the Fire Code Official. The City Manager can also declare Stage 1 or Stage 2 fire restrictions that further limit or eliminate campfires, fire pits, and other open flames when wildfire danger rises.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 9-23. Permit authority: Larimer County / Fire Code Official. Stage declarations: City Manager, §§ 9-24, 9-26. Burn suspension trigger: Winds over 10 mph. Penalty: Misdemeanor, § 1-15 fine.

Igniting a prohibited open fire, burning without a required Larimer County or Fire Code Official permit, or burning during an active Stage 1 or Stage 2 restriction violates Chapter 9 and is enforced as a fire code violation under § 9-4, a misdemeanor punished per § 1-15's general penalty schedule. The Fire Code Official and Poudre Fire Authority can also order an unauthorized fire extinguished on the spot and revoke or suspend burn permits.

Compared to other cities, Fort Collins takes a harder line on outdoor burning. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Wildfire Zones

Fort Collins declares its wildfire hazard zones by adopting the state's 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code wholesale. Under § 5-370, the City Council is the authority having jurisdiction, and § 5-371's amended § 302.1 ties every wildland-urban interface boundary directly to the state's CWRC Map rather than a locally drawn line.

Key details: Code adopted: 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code. Adopting ordinance: Ord. No. 220, 2025, eff. 12-16-25. WUI boundary source: state CWRC Map, per amended § 302.1. Authority Having Jurisdiction: Fort Collins City Council. Penalty: civil infraction, § 1-15(f), per day.

Amended § C101.3.7 makes it a civil infraction, punishable under § 1-15(f) of the City Code, for anyone who violates the wildfire resiliency code, fails to comply with its requirements, or builds, alters or repairs in violation of approved construction documents, a code official's directive, or an issued permit; each day the violation continues is a separate offense.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Fort Collins actively enforces its wildfire zones requirements.

Fireworks

Fort Collins bans nearly all fireworks under a 2024 International Fire Code amendment, City Code § 9-2, adopting Section 5601.1.3. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling, and use of fireworks are prohibited citywide, with narrow exceptions only for licensed storage and handling under Section 5604 and for permitted public fireworks displays run by a qualified pyrotechnic operator under Section 5608.

Key details: Base rule: Fireworks possession/use prohibited, IFC §5601.1.3. Exceptions: Licensed storage (§5604), permitted displays (§5608). Excluded items: Toy caps, flares, small model rocket engines. Display requirement: Pyrotechnic operator, Fire Code Official approval. Penalty: Misdemeanor under § 1-15.

Possessing, selling, or setting off fireworks outside the licensed-storage and permitted-display exceptions violates § 9-2 and § 9-23 and is enforced as a fire code violation under § 9-4, a misdemeanor punishable per the general penalty schedule in § 1-15. Poudre Fire Authority officers and police can also seize fireworks on the spot, and each day of unlawful storage or sale is charged as a separate offense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Fort Collins's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Fort Collins is tougher than many cities when it comes to fire regulations. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Fort Collins, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Fort Collins's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.