Building Safety in Fort Collins, CO (2026)
10 verified building safety rules for Fort Collins, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
Fort Collins requires every elevator, dumbwaiter and escalator to be maintained in compliance with ASME A17.1 under City Code § 5-47, which amends Section 606.1 of the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code. Building operators must keep a current inspection certificate posted in the unit or in a publicly visible location approved by the code official.
Fort Collins Elevator Maintenance Standards
Some RestrictionsFort Collins City Code § 5-47(42) (amending 2024 Intl. Property Maintenance Code § 606.1)
606.1 General. Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators shall be maintained in compliance with ASME A17.1. The most current certification of inspection shall be on display at all times within the elevator or attached to the escalator or dumbwaiter, be available for public inspection in the office of the building operator or be posted in a publicly conspicuous location approved by the code official...
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Fort Collins requires an automatic residential fire sprinkler system in every new two-family dwelling, going beyond the model code's one-and-two-family standard, though additions or alterations to an unsprinklered existing building are excused.
Fort Collins Two-Family Dwelling Sprinkler Rule
Heavy RestrictionsFort Collins City Code Sec. 5-30 (amending 2024 IRC Sec. R309.2)
23.Section R309.2 One- and two-family dwellings automatic sprinkler systems is amended to read as follows: R309.2 Two-family dwellings automatic fire sprinkler systems. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall be installed in two-family dwellings. Exception: An automatic sprinkler system shall not be required for additions or alterations to existing buildings that are not already pr...
Childcare Center Rules
Fort Collins requires outdoor play area at any child care center that has one: 1,200 square feet for centers with 15 or fewer children, or 75 square feet per child covering a third of larger centers' capacity, per Section 3.8.4(A) of the Transitional Land Use Code. Play areas next to residential districts need a six-foot fence, wall, or screened chain link enclosure.
Fort Collins Child Care Center Site Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Collins Transitional Land Use Code § 3.8.4(A)
Minimum Outdoor Play Area for a Child Care Center: 15 children or less, 1,200 square feet; more than 15 children, 75 square feet per child for 33% of the child capacity of the center. The outdoor play area shall not be required for drop-in child care centers. ... Any such play area on the site of the child care center within or abutting any residential district shall be enclosed by a decorative...
Door Locking Hardware
Fort Collins requires touch-free exit doors on public toilet facilities tied to food service, banning knobs, levers, or latches you must touch to leave, with a narrow exception letting single-occupant rooms keep locking hardware for privacy.
Fort Collins Public Restroom Door Hardware Rule
Some RestrictionsFort Collins City Code Sec. 5-27 (adding 2024 IBC Sec. 2902.1.4)
2902.1.4 Touch-free toilet facilities. Toilet facilities installed for occupancies associated with food preparation or food service to the public shall be provided with: 1.Automatic touch-free water control valves on lavatories, 2.Automatic touch-free paper towel dispensers, and 3.Toilet facilities exit doors that allow exiting without requiring touching by hand of any door hardware such as kno...
Green Building Code
Fort Collins adopted its own green building chapter, Chapter 36 Sustainable Building Construction Practices, which forces construction waste recycling on remodels and new buildings over 1,500 square feet and requires a signed waste declaration before a permit issues.
Fort Collins Sustainable Building Practices Code
Significant RestrictionsFort Collins City Code Sec. 5-27 (adding 2024 IBC Chapter 36, Sec. 3601-3602)
CHAPTER 36 SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES. Section 3601 General. 3601.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall govern sustainable building construction practices for new construction and additions and remodels. Section 3602 Resource Efficiency. 3602.1 Construction waste management. For remodels over 1,500 square feet, additions over 1,500 square feet, and all new buildings, a ...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Fort Collins requires carbon monoxide alarms to new-dwelling standards whenever a permitted alteration, repair, or addition occurs, or a bedroom is added, in an existing home, and the city strips out the model code's usual exceptions.
Fort Collins Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rule
Some RestrictionsFort Collins City Code Sec. 5-30 (amending 2024 IRC Sec. R311.2.2)
26.Section R311.2.2 Alterations, repairs and additions is amended to read as follows, with the exceptions being deleted in their entirety: R311.2.2 Alterations, repairs and additions. Where alterations, repairs or additions requiring a permit occur, or where one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be equipped with carbon monoxide...
Building Permits
Fort Collins requires a building permit for construction work unless it falls on an 18-item exemption list adopted under the 2024 International Building Code, covering things like small sheds, low fences, and minor repairs.
Fort Collins Building Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code § 5-27 (2024 IBC Sec. 105.2)
105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following: 1. One-story, detached, accessory structures used for lawn and garden equipment storage, ...
Electrical Permits
Fort Collins requires a permit before any electrical system covered by the National Electrical Code is installed, enlarged, altered, repaired, or replaced in the city. The 2023 NEC, as locally amended, sets the permit, fee, appeal, and penalty rules the Building Official enforces for wiring and electrical equipment work.
Fort Collins Electrical Work Permits
Some RestrictionsFort Collins City Code §§ 5-80, 5-82(1) (NEC § 90.4.1)
...the City Council has adopted the National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, as promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, as amended by the City, which shall have the same force and effect as though set forth in full herein... Section 90.4.1. Permit Required. Any owner, owner's authorized agent or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or chang...
Plumbing Permits
Fort Collins runs plumbing work under the 2024 International Plumbing Code, locally amended so a permit is required for new plumbing and drainage work except for a short, specific list of exempt minor repairs. Anything beyond stopping a simple leak or clearing a stoppage needs a permit from the Building Official before work starts.
Fort Collins Plumbing Work Permits
Some RestrictionsFort Collins City Code § 5-126(4) (2024 IPC § 105.2)
105.2 Exempt work. The following work shall be exempt from the requirement for a permit: 1.The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drainpipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit sha...
Building Inspections
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.
Fort Collins Building Inspection and Occupancy Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Collins City Code §§ 5-27 (amending IBC Sections 109.2, 111.2, 114.4)
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 ...
Looking for Larimer County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Collins city rules.
Building Safety in Larimer County →