10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Larimer County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
In Fort Collins, up to eight chickens and/or ducks may be kept on lots under half an acre (12 up to one acre); roosters are banned and a Humane Society permit is required. Rural unincorporated land follows the county Land Use Code.
Fort Collins City Code § 4-117(b)(3)
On lots less than one-half (1/2) acre in size, up to eight (8) chickens and/or ducks may be kept; and ... On lots one-half (1/2) acre to one (1) acre in size, up to a total of twelve (12) chickens and/or ducks may be kept.
In unincorporated Larimer County all dogs must be kept under restraint; it is unlawful to let a dog run at large. A leash means a tether no more than six feet long, held by a person.
Larimer County Code § 6-76(a)
All dogs shall be kept under restraint. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to permit such dog to be at large in the county.
Larimer County and Fort Collins have no breed-specific dog bans. Colorado state law, C.R.S. 18-9-204.5(5), lets counties and cities regulate dangerous dogs but forbids any rule that targets a specific breed.
C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5(5)(a)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a municipality from adopting any rule or law for the control of dangerous dogs; except that any such rule or law shall not regulate dangerous dogs in a manner that is specific to breed.
Fort Collins allows backyard beekeeping under City Code Ch. 4, Article III: colonies must be kept in hives with movable combs in sound condition, with colony numbers scaled to lot size. Rural county land is governed by agricultural zoning.
Fort Collins City Code § 4-228
All bee colonies shall be kept in hives with movable combs, which shall be kept in sound and usable condition.
Larimer County Code Sec. 6-83 bars keeping or feeding any wild or exotic animal that requires a state license unless you hold the proper permit from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Bears, non-domestic cats, venomous reptiles, and primates are listed.
Larimer County Code § 6-83(a)
No person shall own, keep or feed any wild or exotic animal for which a state license is required unless such person possesses the appropriate license from the state division of wildlife including without limitation the following: Bears; Any species of feline other than ordinary domesticated house cats.
Feeding wild ducks and geese is prohibited in unincorporated Larimer County after a written warning. Feeding bears and other wildlife is discouraged, and the county's Wildlife Protection Ordinance requires bear-resistant trash storage in designated areas.
Larimer County Code § 6-83(d)
No person shall be subject to prosecution ... unless, within one year immediately preceding the date of the alleged violation, such person has been issued a written warning stating that the feeding of wild geese or ducks at the same approximate location ... has been determined to constitute a public health and safety concern and that such feeding is prohibited.
Colorado is a "fence-out" state. Under C.R.S. 35-46, a landowner must build a lawful fence to recover damages when livestock stray onto their land. Livestock owners are liable if animals graze at large in town or on roads behind an adequate fence.
C.R.S. § 35-46-102(1)
Any person maintaining in good repair a lawful fence, as described in section 35-46-101, may recover damages for trespass and injury to grass, garden or vegetable products, or other crops of such person from the owner of any livestock which break through such fence.
Larimer County addresses hoarding through its pet-quantity and care standards. Sec. 6-80 requires proper food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, and Sec. 6-81 limits animals to the number that can be kept healthy. Severe cases are prosecuted under Colorado cruelty law C.R.S. 18-9-202.
Larimer County Code § 6-80(a)
No owner or keeper of a pet animal shall fail to provide that pet animal with sufficient good and wholesome food and water, proper shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary care, when necessary, and such other care as is customary and necessary for the pet animal's health and well-being.
Larimer County sets no fixed number of pets. Sec. 6-81 limits pet animals to the number you can properly maintain in healthy condition without creating a health or safety hazard or a nuisance to neighbors.
Larimer County Code § 6-81
In no event shall any person keep at his or her premises more pet animals than can be properly maintained in a healthy condition without presenting a health or safety hazard to the owners, keeper or others and without constituting a nuisance to the occupants or neighboring properties.
Cats do not have to be licensed or leashed in unincorporated Larimer County, but every cat four months or older must be vaccinated against rabies. Cats that become a public nuisance are subject to the animal code.
Larimer County Code § 6-51(a)
The owner of each dog or cat which is four months of age or older shall cause said dog or cat to be vaccinated against rabies. Such vaccination shall be repeated thereafter as required by the serum.
2 cities in Larimer County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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