Fort Collins, CO Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Administering department
- Community Development and Neighborhood Services
- Certificate of occupancy
- Issued after passing inspection, § 111.2
- Permit lapse
- 180 days without commenced work
- Appeal body
- Building Review Commission, § 2-173
- Civil infraction cap
- Up to $2,650 per day
Summary
Fort Collins' Municipal Code, Section 5-27, has the Community Development and Neighborhood Services building official inspect a project before a certificate of occupancy issues, and it makes starting work without a permit a separate offense on top of unpaid permit fees. Appeals of an inspection call go to the City's Building Review Commission.
111.2 Certificate issued. After the building official inspects the building or structure and does not find violations of the provisions of this code or other laws that are enforced by CDNS, the building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy that may contain the following: ... 109.2 Work commencing before permit issuance. In addition to the penalties set forth in Section 114.4 of this code, any person or firm who, before obtaining the necessary permit(s), commences any construction of, or work on, a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system that is not otherwise exempt from obtaining a permit, may be subject to a stop work order and a work without a permit fee in addition to the required permit fee as established by the building official. 114.4 Violation penalties. Any person who violates a provision of this code or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof ... commits a civil infraction and is subject to the provisions contained in § 1-15(f) of the City Code. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 155 | Transitional Land Use Code (for project before May 17, 2024): Supplement 61 | Traffic Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5 of the Fort Collins City Code (Sections 5-26 and 5-27) adopts the 2024 International Building Code and rewrites several of its administrative sections for local use. 1 puts the Community Development and Neighborhood Services Department (CDNS) and its building official in charge of code administration and enforcement, with authority to delegate to technical and compliance staff. 4 penalties. 5, though the building official can grant extensions of up to 180 days each on written request showing justifiable cause. 1 empowers the Commission to hear appeals of the building official's orders, decisions or determinations, decide alternative-materials questions, and grant permit extensions, with all rulings issued in writing after a hearing for which the appellant pays a filing fee.
Violations & Fines
Amended Section 114.4 makes any violation of the building code, or any construction done contrary to approved documents, a directive, or a permit, a civil infraction subject to City Code Section 1-15(f), with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense; unclassified civil infractions carry penalties up to $2,650 per violation. Appeals of the building official's enforcement decisions must go to the Building Review Commission under Section 113 before any further recourse.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Fort Collins issue a certificate of occupancy?
What happens if construction starts before a permit is issued?
How do I appeal a building official's inspection decision?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
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