Fort Collins, CO Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

5 of the Fort Collins Municipal Code defines 'commercial film production' as 'a video and audio recording event conducted by a paid professional crew, with or without actors, sets, or props,' expressly excluding crews of three or fewer people, per Sec. 5-2. For productions that do not trigger the full special event permit exemption analyzed under Sec. 5-3(b)(5), Sec. 5 requires the organizer to 'file a notification of the commercial film production with the Permitting Authority in the manner established by the Permitting Authority within the time period set in the administrative rules and regulations' before shooting on a public right-of-way, City-owned plaza or park, or other outdoor City property.

The Permitting Authority for this purpose is the Director of Emergency Preparedness and Security or their designee. The notice lets the City advise the crew on what activities the Code allows and lets it alert other affected City service areas and outside governmental entities that a shoot is happening on their turf. The notice requirement does not replace other permits the production may still need for specific activities, such as a noise variance under Sec. 20-27 if amplified sound, generators or late-hour work will exceed normal limits.

Failing to give the required notice is separately made unlawful under Sec. 5-12(c), and any production, permitted or not, must still comply with reasonable time, place and manner restrictions the Permitting Authority or public safety officials impose under Sec. 5-12(d).