Fort Collins, CO Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 10, Article II of the City Code implements the National Flood Insurance Program locally. Section 10-19 adopts by reference the FEMA Flood Insurance Study dated December 19, 2006, along with the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map, and additional City-commissioned studies covering the Poudre River floodplain, FEMA basin floodplains such as Dry Creek, Spring Creek, Boxelder Creek, and Cooper Slough, and City basin floodplains such as Old Town, West Vine, Canal Importation, Fossil Creek, Mail Creek, McClellands Creek, and Foothills, plus four designated erosion buffer zones.

Section 10-27 then requires that a floodplain use permit be obtained from the Utilities Executive Director before any construction or development begins within any flood hazard area established under the Article, and extends that permit requirement to any construction affecting a critical facility in the Poudre River five-hundred-year floodplain or a zone X shaded area. Applicants must submit elevation data for the lowest floor, floodproofing certifications from a registered engineer or architect where applicable, and, for structurally independent additions, engineer or architect certification that the addition creates no shared load path with the existing building.

The Utilities Executive Director reviews fourteen listed factors, including effects on floodway capacity, upstream and downstream properties, channel stability, and emergency vehicle access, before issuing the permit, which under § 10-31 carries a base floodplain use permit fee of fifty dollars plus additional review fees depending on project type. A permit expires three years after issuance if construction has not started. Appeals and variance requests go to the Water Commission under § 10-28, with variances limited by the hardship and safety findings in § 10-29.