Public Conduct in Fort Collins, CO (2026)
8 verified public conduct rules for Fort Collins, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
Fort Collins bans depositing human waste anywhere in the city that isn't a toilet or urinal. Sec. 17-103, Bodily Waste, covers public and private property alike and reaches excrement, vomit, and spittle in addition to urine, punishable as a misdemeanor under the Code's general penalty.
Fort Collins Public Urination Ban
Some RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code Sec. 17-103
No person shall deposit, or permit to be deposited, on publicly or privately owned property, any human excrement, vomit, spittle or other human bodily waste unless such waste is deposited in a toilet, urinal, or other receptacle designed, intended and made available for such use.
Skateboarding Rules
Skateboarding is banned in Fort Collins's natural areas except on a roadway or designated trail, per § 23-193(a)(8). In City parks and recreation areas it is allowed only on a sidewalk, roadway, parking area or designated trail unless a posted sign opens the area, under § 23-203(b)(5), and reckless skateboarding is banned outright in both.
Fort Collins Restricts Skateboarding in Parks
Some RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code § 23-193(a)(8), (15); § 23-203(b)(5)
It shall be unlawful to: ... Bicycle, skateboard or roller skate (in-line or otherwise) in a natural area, except upon a roadway or designated trail. ... Ride a horse, bicycle, skateboard or other means of conveyance, or skate, in a reckless or unsafe manner in a natural area. ... Unless a sign has been posted by the Department that the particular recreation area or a portion thereof is open fo...
Loud Party Ordinance
Fort Collins Municipal Code Section 17-132 holds a host criminally liable when a private social gathering of five or more people becomes a nuisance gathering under Section 17-131, defined by disruptive conditions like rioting, unlawful open containers, excessive noise or public urination. Hosts also risk paying the City's abatement costs.
Fort Collins Nuisance Gathering Host Liability
Significant RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code § 17-132(a)
(a)Any person being the owner, occupant, tenant or otherwise having any possessory control, individually or jointly with others, of any private place who either sponsors, conducts or hosts a social gathering or party and knowingly permits such social gathering or party to become a nuisance gathering as defined by § 17-131 is hereby deemed to have committed a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, sh...
Loitering Rules
Fort Collins targets loitering specifically around schools: Sec. 17-123 bars lingering on or within 100 feet of school grounds with intent to disrupt classes or endanger children, but only once a school administrator or officer has ordered the person to leave.
Fort Collins Loitering About Schools Ban
Some RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code Sec. 17-123
No person shall, with intent to interfere with or disrupt the school program or with intent to interfere with or endanger school children, loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in a school building or on school grounds or within one hundred (100) feet of school grounds, either on foot or in or on any vehicle, when persons under the age of eighteen (18) years are present in the building or on the...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Fort Collins bans smoking and vaping in every public place in the City, on all City-owned property including parks and trails, throughout the Downtown Smoke-Free Zone, and within 20 feet of any smoke-free entrance or outdoor serving area. Violators face a petty-offense fine capped at $500 under Section 12-67.
Fort Collins Outdoor and Public Smoking Ban
Heavy RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code §§ 12-58.5, 12-59, 12-61
Sec. 12-59. - Smoking prohibited in public places. Smoking shall be prohibited in all public places within the City, except as otherwise expressly permitted under this Article. ... Sec. 12-58.5. - Smoking prohibited on City-owned property. Smoking shall be prohibited on all City-owned property. Unless otherwise prohibited by City Code, this section shall not apply to persons lawfully smoking en...
Jaywalking
Fort Collins doesn't ban random midblock crossings citywide, but Traffic Code Section 803 requires any pedestrian who crosses outside a marked or intersection crosswalk to yield to every vehicle on the roadway, and bans crossing anywhere except a marked crosswalk between two signalized intersections. Diagonal intersection crossing is also illegal unless a sign or signal specifically allows it.
Fort Collins Jaywalking and Crosswalk Law
Some RestrictionsFort Collins Traffic Code § 803
(1)Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.(2)Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.(3)Betwee...
Public Marijuana Use
Fort Collins Municipal Code Section 17-191 prohibits consuming recreational marijuana openly and publicly, and bans medical marijuana use in plain view of or in a place open to the general public. Possession is capped at one ounce recreational or two ounces medical, and marijuana clubs are separately banned.
Fort Collins Bans Open Public Marijuana Use
Significant RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code § 17-191(a),(b),(e)
(a)Any consumption of recreational marijuana that is conducted openly and publicly is prohibited.(b)Any consumption of medical marijuana that is in plain view of, or in a place open to, the general public is prohibited...(e)No person shall possess more than one (1) ounce of recreational marijuana or more than two (2) ounces of medical marijuana.
Public Alcohol Use
Fort Collins Municipal Code Section 17-141 bans carrying an opened container of alcohol or drinking on any street, sidewalk, alley or public place, in a vehicle, or on school and college grounds, unless the City Manager or the institution authorizes it. Licensed liquor premises are exempt.
Fort Collins Open Container Alcohol Ban
Some RestrictionsFort Collins Municipal Code § 17-141(a)-(c)
(a)No person shall carry or have any opened container of alcohol or fermented malt beverage on any street, sidewalk, alley or other public place, in any automobile or on the grounds or in the facilities of any public or private school, college or university except where authorized by the City Manager or their designee of such place or the governing authority of such institution.(b)No person sha...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Collins city rules.
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