Moving to Longmont, CO?

Longmont's quiet hours run from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under LMC § 10.20.100 and § 10.20.110, when nighttime sound limits apply and many residential activities become prima facie unreasonable noise if audible 25 feet from the source or inside a neighbor's home.

Longmont treats persistent animal noise as a public nuisance under LMC § 7.04.130. An owner who allows a pet to habitually bark, howl, yelp, or otherwise disturb a neighborhood faces enforcement by Longmont Police Animal Control.

Under LMC § 10.20.100(A), amplified sound is prima facie unreasonable noise at any time of day if it is audible 25 feet from the source or inside a private residence the responsible person has no right to occupy. Permitted special events may produce up to 80 dB at the permit perimeter.

LMC § 10.20.110 caps noise at 75 dB(A) in industrial zones day or night, measured at least 25 feet from the source. Industrial operations including railroad rights-of-way must keep noise below this ceiling regardless of time of day.

Under LMC § 10.20.110(D)(4), construction activity in a residential area or within 500 feet of a school is prohibited between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and before 9:00 a.m. on Sundays, unless temporarily approved by the economic development director.

Longmont does not ban leaf blowers, but LMC § 10.20.110(D)(3) restricts homeowner power equipment — including leaf blowers — to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and requires equipment mufflers to be in good working condition.

Longmont does not separately regulate aircraft overflight noise. Aircraft operations are pre-empted by federal law administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), so the city's noise ordinance (LMC § 10.20.100 / § 10.20.110) cannot be applied to in-flight aircraft.

LMC § 10.20.110 sets dB(A) ceilings measured at least 25 feet from the source: residential 50 night / 55 day, commercial 55 night / 65 day, industrial 75 day and night. Mixed-use dwellings on a non-residential lot are treated as commercial.

Outdoor amplified music in Longmont is regulated through LMC § 10.20.100(A) (amplified-sound prohibition audible at 25 feet) combined with the LMC Chapter 13.37 'use of public places' permit, which allows up to 80 decibels at the permit perimeter for authorized special events.

Longmont does not codify short-term-rental-specific quiet hours; STR guests are subject to the same general noise ordinance as every other resident, located in Longmont Municipal Code Title 10, Chapter 10.20 (Offenses Against the Public Peace). The ordinance makes it unlawful to make noise audible at a distance of at least 25 feet from the source between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless the noise is contained entirely within the confines of private property the person has a right to occupy. Daytime noise is also regulated against an 'A'-weighted sound-pressure standard. Repeat noise violations originating from a licensed STR are reported to Code Enforcement and may be considered in license-renewal review.

Longmont's Short Term Rental program does not impose an STR-specific off-street parking ratio beyond the parking minimums that already apply to the dwelling under the Land Development Code (LMC Title 15). STR guests must comply with the citywide on-street parking, time-limit, and overnight-parking rules in LMC Title 11 (Traffic) the same as any other resident or visitor. STR operators are responsible for disclosing on-site parking availability to guests, accommodating guest vehicles within the property's existing off-street capacity, and ensuring guest parking does not block driveways, fire hydrants, sidewalks, or violate any posted neighborhood restrictions.

The City of Longmont requires every short term rental (rental of an entire dwelling or individual rooms for fewer than 30 consecutive days) to hold both a Short Term Rental (STR) license and a separate Sales and Use Tax license before advertising or accepting bookings. Only City of Longmont residents are eligible, only someone with at least 50% ownership of the dwelling (or their representative) may apply, and a Longmont resident may operate a maximum of one investment dwelling as an STR in addition to their primary residence. The STR license costs $100 to apply and $100 to renew annually; the Sales and Use Tax license carries a one-time $25 processing fee. Applications are filed online through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal or in person at the Development Services Center, 385 Kimbark Street. Operating an STR without a current license is enforceable at up to $500 per day plus a possible summons.

Short-term rentals in Longmont collect a stack of state, regional, county, and city sales/lodging taxes plus a separate City of Longmont Lodger's Excise Tax. The City's lodger tax rate is 2.00% on the full asking price (including cleaning and other fees) for any rental of less than 30 consecutive days. City of Longmont sales tax of 3.53% also applies, on top of the 2.90% Colorado state sales tax, 1.00% RTD (Regional Transportation District) tax, 0.10% Scientific and Cultural Facilities District tax, and Boulder County's 1.335% sales tax, for a combined approximate rate of 10.865% (8.865% general sales tax + 2% lodger excise) on each STR stay. STR operators must hold a City Sales and Use Tax license and file Lodger tax returns monthly through longmont.munirevs.com.

The Longmont Short Term Rental program limits the maximum number of guests in an STR to two persons per legal bedroom plus two additional occupants. A three-bedroom STR is therefore capped at eight guests, a four-bedroom at ten, and so on. Only rooms originally constructed and code-conforming as bedrooms count toward the count, and any dwelling with more than five bedrooms rented for short-term rentals must be equipped with an approved fire suppression (sprinkler) system. The whole dwelling can only be rented to one group at a time; the occupancy cap is not a per-room figure.

Longmont does not impose a fixed annual cap on the number of rental nights a licensed short-term rental may host. There is no '90-day,' '120-day,' or '180-day' booking limit codified for hosted or unhosted STRs. Instead, the city controls STR scale through (1) a one-investment-dwelling-per-resident cap, (2) a density rule in the Residential Rural (R-RU) and Residential Single Family (R-SF) zones limiting STRs to one per street segment of a block unless conditional use approval is granted, and (3) an annual license renewal process that evaluates ongoing compliance and nuisance history. A licensed STR may book up to 365 nights per year as long as it complies with occupancy, insurance, and tax obligations.

Longmont allows two STR configurations. Whole-dwelling STRs may be operated unhosted by a Longmont resident owner (the resident may rent the entire dwelling to one group at a time without being present), subject to all other STR rules. Room-by-room STRs - renting individual rooms within an owner-occupied dwelling - are allowed only when the owner, agent, or property manager resides and is present at the dwelling during the rental period. There is no across-the-board owner-on-site requirement for every STR night, but room rentals categorically require hosted operation.

Longmont requires every short-term rental to be covered by liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000. The coverage may take the form of property liability insurance, commercial liability insurance, or an endorsement of the operator's homeowner's policy specifically covering short-term rental activity. Standard homeowner's policies usually exclude business activity, so most operators must add an endorsement or obtain a separate commercial STR policy. Proof of qualifying coverage is part of the STR license application and renewal process.

Registering a short-term rental in Longmont is a four-step sequence: (1) create an Accela Citizen Access (ACA) account at the city's permit portal, (2) apply for a City of Longmont Sales and Use Tax license through the Sales Tax Office (303-651-8672) - $25 one-time processing fee, (3) apply for the Short Term Rental license through ACA ($100 initial), and (4) complete all submission and renewal activity through the ACA portal. Application requires proof of City of Longmont residency, proof of at least 50% ownership of the dwelling, proof of $1,000,000 minimum liability insurance, and self-certification (or city inspection) of building/life-safety conditions. Renewal is annual at $100 and requires updated proof of all of the above plus a complaint-history review by the city.

Longmont's STR program restricts licenses to City of Longmont residents only. A resident may operate an STR in their primary residence and may also hold one additional STR license on a second (investment) dwelling they own within Longmont. Out-of-city owners, out-of-state investors, and corporate or LLC owners whose principal operator is not a Longmont resident are categorically ineligible. Each resident is capped at one investment-dwelling STR, and only a person with at least 50% ownership of the dwelling (or their authorized representative) may apply. ADUs generally cannot be used as STRs, removing another common absentee-investor vehicle.

Longmont allows recreational fires with a fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height, burning only natural untreated wood, kept 25 feet from any structure or combustibles, and attended until fully extinguished. The rules are administered by Longmont Fire Services under the 2021 International Fire Code adopted by Ordinance O-2021-66 (LMC Chapter 16.32). Burning is prohibited on Red Flag days.

Longmont follows Colorado state fireworks law (C.R.S. 24-33.5-2001, formerly Article 28 of Title 12). Any firework that leaves the ground or explodes is illegal. Only state-permissible devices (sparklers, fountains, ground spinners, snakes, smoke devices) may be used on private property. Fireworks of any kind are prohibited on Longmont city streets, parks, golf courses, and other public property. Fines run up to $500 and/or 90 days in jail.

Open burning is prohibited within Longmont city limits unless specifically allowed by the burning regulations or permitted by the Longmont Fire Department. No burning of leaves, trash, yard debris, or household waste is allowed as a means of disposal. No burning of any kind is allowed on Red Flag warning days. The rule is enforced by Longmont Fire Services under the 2021 International Fire Code (LMC Chapter 16.32, Ord. O-2021-66).

Longmont Municipal Code Chapter 9.32 (Weed Control) requires property owners to keep weeds and grasses cut to no more than 12 inches in height. Tall dry vegetation is the most commonly cited violation in Longmont. Longmont sits on the eastern plains and is not mapped as a state-defined Wildland-Urban Interface zone, so the city does not impose a foothills-style defensible-space requirement, but Chapter 9.32 functions as the operative grass and brush clearance rule.

Longmont sits on the Front Range plains at roughly 5,000 feet of elevation. Per the Colorado State Forest Service and 2022 CO-WRA (Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment) mapping, the developed core of Longmont is not within a state-defined Wildland-Urban Interface zone, unlike the foothills west of town in Boulder County. Longmont has not adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC). The city participates in upstream watershed wildfire protection through the St. Vrain Creek Watershed forest health work and supports the Spillway Knoll Project around Longmont Reservoir.

Backyard fires in Longmont are limited to recreational fires (max 3 ft diameter, 2 ft height of natural untreated wood, 25 ft from structures, attended) or portable outdoor fireplaces operated per manufacturer instructions. Burning yard waste, leaves, trash, or household debris is prohibited. No burning of any kind is allowed on Red Flag warning days. Bonfires (up to 8 ft diameter, 4 ft height) require a permit and pre-ignition inspection by Longmont Fire Codes and Planning.

Longmont enforces smoke alarm placement under the adopted 2021 International Fire Code (LMC Chapter 16.32) and follows Colorado state law (C.R.S. 38-45-101 et seq.) for carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke alarms are required in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level including the basement. A carbon monoxide alarm must be installed within 15 feet of the entrance to each room used for sleeping in any dwelling with a fuel-fired appliance, fireplace, or attached garage.

Longmont follows the 2021 International Fire Code (LMC Chapter 16.32, Ord. O-2021-66) Chapter 61 for liquefied petroleum gas storage and use. Longmont Fire Services specifies that propane devices are not allowed on balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, with exceptions for one- and two-family dwellings, fully sprinklered properties, and small LP-gas containers of 2.5 pounds or less. Natural gas appliances may be permanently installed per the Mechanical Code and manufacturer specifications.

Under Longmont Municipal Code 11.12.040 and 11.12.050, a vehicle left on a public street or other public property for 48 hours or longer is considered abandoned, and a 'junked' vehicle is one that lacks valid license plates, is wrecked or dismantled to inoperability, or has flat tires. Abandoned vehicles on private property without the owner's consent are also subject to removal after 48 hours. Police may tag and later tow noncompliant vehicles.

Longmont prohibits parking a sleeper vehicle (camper coach, camper trailer, motor home, multi-purpose trailer, trailer coach, or recreational vehicle) on any public street, alley, or right-of-way without a temporary permit. The ban was adopted by the City Council in November 2020 and took effect January 1, 2021, codified in Longmont Municipal Code (LMC) Chapter 11.12. A 7-day permit is available from Code Enforcement for $25, capped at four per vehicle per calendar year, with no back-to-back issuance.

Longmont Municipal Code Section 9.04.130 requires every owner, agent, or tenant to remove snow, sleet, ice, or other obstruction from the public sidewalk adjoining their property within 24 hours after the last accumulation stops. The city's snow-and-ice control program plows 146 of 356 centerline miles - primarily arterials, collectors, and routes to hospitals - but does not plow on-street parking lanes, so vehicles on the street are not required to be moved during a storm.

Street parking in Longmont is governed by LMC Title 11 (Traffic), most notably Chapter 11.12 (Stopping, Standing & Parking), Chapter 11.16 (Parking Assessments), and Chapter 11.24 (Parking Penalties). The default on-street limit is 48 hours in one spot, after which the vehicle must be moved 600 feet and may not return for seven days. Over-time parking citations in posted time-limit zones are $20.

Longmont applies the same general on-street rules to commercial vehicles as to passenger vehicles - a 48-hour limit on any one location under LMC Chapter 11.12, then a required 600-foot move and seven-day no-return. Contractor trailers may remain on the street for up to 180 days during active repairs or alterations if a conspicuous dated notice with the job-site address and contact information is posted. Sleeper-vehicle commercial rigs require a permit.

Longmont does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban on passenger vehicles. The default rule for any vehicle on a public street is the 48-hour stationary limit in LMC Chapter 11.12: a vehicle may sit in one location up to 48 hours, must then be moved at least 600 feet away, and may not return to the same approximate spot for at least seven days. Sleeper vehicles, however, are banned overnight on the public way without a $25 permit.

Longmont restricts where you may drive or park on residential property: under Title 15 (Land Development Code), vehicles in front and side yards facing city streets must be on a surface of asphalt, concrete, or gravel - no parking on lawn, dirt, or landscaping. New or modified driveway curb cuts in the public right-of-way require an engineering permit. Vehicles parked across a driveway apron or sidewalk are towable under LMC Chapter 11.12.

Longmont's principal restriction on oversized residential vehicles is its sleeper-vehicle ban under LMC Chapter 11.12, which prohibits camper coaches, camper trailers, motor homes, multi-purpose trailers, trailer coaches, and recreational vehicles from being parked on the public way without a $25, 7-day permit. Other large vehicles (box trucks, large trailers, semis) are governed by the universal 48-hour stationary limit and the 600-foot move requirement.

Curb markings and colored-curb paint in Longmont are installed and maintained exclusively by the city; residents and property owners may not paint, alter, or add markings to a public curb. State law (Colorado Revised Statutes 42-4-1204) sets the underlying no-parking distances incorporated into Longmont's Title 11, including no parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Painting or defacing a public curb is a code violation.

Loading and unloading on a Longmont public street is allowed during active operations as an enumerated exception to the city's parking rules in LMC Chapter 11.12, including the sleeper-vehicle ban. Posted loading zones in the downtown core - administered jointly by city Parking Enforcement and the Longmont Downtown Development Authority - are restricted to commercial loading during posted hours. Over-time citations are $20.

Longmont Power & Communications (LPC) operates five publicly available Level 2 charging stations at city facilities, charging $1 per hour. New EV charging installations are reviewed by Longmont Planning and Development Services (303-651-8330) under Title 15 (Land Development Code) and require an Electric Service and EV Application. Colorado state law HB23-1233 sets EV-ready building requirements that Longmont applies through state-adopted codes.

Longmont requires a building permit for every fence project, including new fences, replacement of any amount of existing fence, swapping fence types (e.g., chain link to wood privacy), changing the location of a fence, and replacing deteriorated fencing with the same material at the same height. Permits are issued by Building Services at 385 Kimbark Street.

All swimming pools deeper than 24 inches and all hot tubs and spas must be enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet tall with openings no larger than 4 inches, per the Building Services 'Fences' guide implementing LMC 15.05.100 and the adopted 2021 International Codes. Gates must have a latch meeting the adopted code, or, for hot tubs/spas, a lockable safety cover meeting the 150-pound load standard may substitute.

Under Longmont Land Development Code (LMC) Chapter 15.05.100, residential fences and walls may be a maximum of 6 feet tall, and non-residential fences/walls a maximum of 8 feet. Fences in the front yard (between the front lot line and the front facade) are limited to 42 inches and must be at least 50% transparent. Stricter limits apply within sight distance triangles at corners and driveways.

Longmont Municipal Code requires the finished (smooth) side of any fence to face the public right-of-way, common open space, or other public areas. Property owners — not the City — are responsible for locating property lines. The City does not adjudicate private 'good neighbor' or boundary-line disputes; those are civil matters under Colorado law.

Longmont allows wood, vinyl, masonry, and ornamental metal fencing under LMC 15.05.100. Any species of wood may be used above ground; wood in contact with concrete or soil must be pressure-treated or naturally rot-resistant (redwood or cedar are explicitly suggested). Chain-link is allowed in side and rear yards of residential lots and throughout non-residential properties, but not in residential front yards.

Longmont does not publish a stand-alone retaining-wall guide; walls are regulated under the adopted 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), enforced by Building Services. Under IRC R404.4 and IBC standards, a permit is generally required when a retaining wall exceeds 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or when the wall supports a surcharge (slope, driveway, structure).

Longmont's fence rules in LMC 15.05.100 set construction standards: posts at least 4x4, embedded at least 24 inches deep and spaced no more than 8 feet apart; wood in contact with concrete or soil must be pressure-treated or naturally decay-resistant; finished side must face outward; fences may not block utility meters, fire hydrants, or easements; and the property owner must call 811 before digging.

Under LMC 15.05.100, fences made of barbed wire, tin, or sheet metal - or partly of those materials - are prohibited. Electric fences are also prohibited, except for low-voltage commercially available 'invisible fences' used to contain domestic pets. Chain-link and woven-wire fencing is banned in the front yard of residential lots (except temporary construction fencing).

Longmont allows up to 4 hens (no roosters) per residential lot under Ordinance O-2011-02, codified in LMC Title 7. A backyard chicken hen permit is required from Planning & Development Services; the city caps citywide permits at 50 active at any one time.

Longmont requires every dog off its owner's property to be under physical restraint by leash, and every dog and cat over 3 months of age must be licensed annually and currently vaccinated against rabies under LMC § 7.04.040.

Longmont does not have a dedicated beekeeping ordinance in LMC Title 7. Residential beekeeping is permitted as an accessory use; hives must not create a public nuisance under LMC § 7.04.130 (Prohibited Keeping of Animals) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture Apiary Program governs hive registration and disease control statewide.

Longmont has no breed-specific dog legislation. The city explicitly states: 'In Longmont there are no breed specific laws in place.' Dangerous-dog enforcement is handled under Colorado Revised Statute § 18-9-204.5 (which bars municipalities from regulating dangerous dogs by breed).

Longmont restricts ownership of Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs to animals that have been inspected and issued a Colorado Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, and prohibits keeping animals not customarily domesticated under LMC § 7.04.130. Native Colorado wildlife is regulated by Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CRS Title 33).

Colorado state law prohibits intentionally feeding big-game wildlife — deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions and bears — with a $100 fine. Longmont specifically discourages feeding geese and other waterfowl in city parks because it spreads disease and worsens overpopulation.

Within Longmont city limits, traditional livestock (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine) are not permitted in residential zoning districts. LMC § 7.04.130 (Prohibited Keeping of Animals) bars keeping animals outside their customary residential context; only 4 hens (no roosters) plus inspected pot-bellied pigs are explicitly allowed as residential 'farm' animals.

Longmont Code Enforcement enforces a 12-inch maximum height for weeds and grass on private property. The rule is administered by the Code Enforcement Office (303-651-8695) under the City's nuisance and weed-control authority and applies to all land within city limits, including city-owned land.

Removal of a healthy, high-value tree on City property or in the public ROW requires a Forestry Services permit and triggers appraisal and mitigation under LMC 13.24.110. The City Forester sets the appraised value, and equivalent replacement value must be paid or planted. Stump grinding is required with every approved removal.

Pruning of city-owned trees and trees in the public right-of-way requires a permit from Longmont Forestry Services and must be performed by a City of Longmont Licensed Tree Contractor under LMC Chapter 6.88. Work must follow ANSI A300 standards and ISA Best Management Practices.

Longmont follows the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (CRS 35-5.5) and the city's Integrated Weed Management Plan. The state's 98-species Noxious Weed List includes 25 species (List A) requiring complete eradication. Locally, weeds and grasses on private property cannot exceed 12 inches per Longmont Code Enforcement.

As of 2026 Longmont is at a Mild Drought Response Level (Drought Watch) with no mandatory restrictions and no assigned watering days. The City recommends no more than two watering days per week and no irrigation before May 1. An updated 'waste of water' ordinance under LMC Chapter 14.04 took effect in May 2026.

Longmont has no separate local rainwater ordinance. State law (Colorado HB 16-1005, codified at CRS 37-96.5-103) allows residents of single-family homes and multifamily buildings of four units or fewer to collect rainwater from their roof in a maximum of two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons. Water must be used on the same property for outdoor uses only.

Effective January 1, 2026, LMC Section 15.05.040 requires drought-tolerant vegetation or native ground cover to be the primary ground cover in landscaped areas, replacing the prior requirement that irrigated turf grass be primary. Decorative (non-functional) turf is now banned in tree lawns, medians, parking-lot strips and transportation corridors.

Longmont's updated LMC 15.05.040 (effective January 1, 2026) bans artificial turf as a 'non-functional turf' replacement in tree lawns, medians, parking-lot strips, and transportation corridors. Elsewhere on private property, artificial turf is allowed, but Colorado HB 21-1229 prevents HOAs from blocking drought-tolerant landscaping while still permitting HOA regulation of non-vegetative materials.

Longmont prohibits visible exterior signage for home occupations. Signage for home-based businesses is governed by LMC Chapter 15.06 (Signs), and the home occupation standards in Title 15 require that the activity remain clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use — meaning no on-premises advertising visible from the street.

Longmont permits home occupations as an accessory use in residential zones under the Land Development Code (Title 15), provided the activity stays clearly subordinate to the dwelling, is conducted by at least one resident, has no more than one non-resident employee, and does not adversely affect surrounding properties. A Home Occupation Affidavit is required.

Longmont's home occupation standards in Title 15 of the Land Development Code restrict customer traffic to keep the business clearly subordinate to the residential use. Substantial on-premises retail or wholesale is prohibited, and the activity may not create traffic, noise, parking demand, or other impacts inconsistent with a residential neighborhood.

Family child care homes in Longmont are licensed by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood under 8 CCR 1402-1, and state law requires written zoning approval from the City before a license is issued. Standard FCCH license allows up to 6 children, large FCCH up to 12, and Experienced Child Care Provider (ECCP) up to 9.

Cottage food sales in Longmont are governed by the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614), which preempts local licensing requirements for direct-to-consumer sales of non-potentially hazardous foods up to $10,000 per product annually. Longmont does not impose additional licensing on cottage food producers, but standard home occupation rules in LMC Title 15 still apply.

Anyone conducting a business out of a Longmont home must file a Home Occupation Affidavit with Planning & Development Services and comply with the home occupation standards in LMC Title 15. There is no separate permit fee, but a Sales and Use Tax License ($25 one-time) is required for businesses selling taxable goods or services.

Longmont requires a building permit for any swimming pool (in-ground or above-ground over 24 inches deep), spa, or hot tub. Permits are issued by Building Services at 385 Kimbark Street under the city's adopted 2021 International Codes (effective January 1, 2022). Pool barriers, electrical bonding, and gas/plumbing all require inspection.

Beyond the 4-foot barrier rule in LMC 15.05.100, Longmont enforces the 2021 IRC Appendix V and 2021 IBC pool-safety provisions: anti-entrapment drain covers compliant with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, equipotential electrical bonding around the pool shell, alarms on dwelling doors that open directly to the pool area, and required final inspection before filling the pool.

Longmont requires every pool deeper than 24 inches and every hot tub or spa to be enclosed by a barrier at least 4 feet (48 inches) tall, with no opening larger than 4 inches, per LMC 15.05.100 and the adopted 2021 IRC Appendix V. Gates must self-close and self-latch, opening outward away from the pool, with the latch release at least 54 inches high.

Hot tubs and spas require a building permit in Longmont and must be enclosed by a 4-foot fence with openings under 4 inches per LMC 15.05.100 - OR they may use a lockable safety cover capable of supporting at least 150 pounds, which must be locked when the spa or hot tub is not in use. Electrical work must comply with the adopted 2020 NEC Article 680 (GFCI protection and bonding).

Longmont adopted new ADU regulations on June 3, 2025, in LMC § 15.02.080.E to comply with Colorado HB24-1152. ADUs are allowed in R-RU, R-SF, R-MN, R-MF, MU-D, and N-AG zones; an ADU is capped at 800 sq ft unless it does not exceed 50% of the principal dwelling's above-ground floor area; the owner must reside in the main house or the ADU; sale of the ADU separately from the main home is prohibited.

Converting a garage into habitable space in Longmont requires a building permit from Building Inspection (Title 16) and zoning approval under the Land Development Code (Title 15). If the conversion creates a second dwelling unit, it must comply with the ADU standards in LMC § 15.02.080.E. Off-street parking requirements for the principal dwelling must still be met.

Longmont does not require a building permit for a one-story shed under 120 sq ft of floor area, but anything 120 sq ft or larger requires a building permit and engineered foundation. Sheds and other detached accessory structures must sit at least 5 feet from rear and side property lines and behind the front facade of the principal building.

Carports in Longmont are detached accessory structures regulated by the Land Development Code (Title 15) and the building code (Title 16). A building permit is required for any carport with a footprint over 120 sq ft. Carports must sit at least 5 feet from rear and side property lines and behind the front facade of the principal dwelling.

Tiny homes on a permanent foundation in Longmont are treated as either a single-family dwelling or an accessory dwelling unit depending on use, and must comply with the building code (LMC Title 16, adopting the IRC including Appendix Q for dwellings under 400 sq ft) and the Land Development Code (Title 15). Tiny homes on wheels (RVs) cannot be used as a primary residence in residential zones.

Longmont's stormwater program is governed by LMC Chapter 14.26 (Stormwater Quality) and the city's NPDES MS4 permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Any development disturbing more than one acre — or that is part of a larger common plan of development — must design, construct, and permanently maintain on-site Permanent Stormwater Control (PSC) measures to keep pollutants out of the St. Vrain Creek watershed. Permits are administered by Environmental Services and reviewed in three phases (Design, Construction, Operations & Maintenance), with annual maintenance reports required for the life of the development.

Longmont's floodplain regulations are codified in LMC Title 20 (Floodplain Regulations). St. Vrain Creek runs through the heart of the city and produced the catastrophic September 2013 flood that displaced hundreds of residents — making floodplain compliance one of the most active regulatory areas in town. Any construction or development inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) requires a Floodplain Development Permit issued by the city Floodplain Administrator, with a $100 application fee.

All construction sites in Longmont must install and maintain erosion and sediment control BMPs to keep soil out of the MS4 and the St. Vrain Creek system. Authority comes from LMC Chapter 14.26 (Stormwater Quality) and is implemented through the 2025 Longmont Design Standards. Sites disturbing one acre or more also need the State CDPS Stormwater Construction Permit through CDPHE. The building permittee is responsible for erosion control associated with any building permit, regardless of acreage.

Longmont reviews grading and drainage through the Land Development Code (Title 15) plus the city's published Design Standards. Drainage Studies are required as part of the Design Review process for new development, and stormwater conveyance must be sized to safely pass the 100-year event without aggravating off-site flooding. Permanent Stormwater Controls under LMC Chapter 14.26 stack on top of the drainage requirements for any site disturbing one acre or more.

Longmont allows personal-use marijuana home cultivation in line with Colorado state law. Under LMC § 9.60.060, no more than 30 marijuana plants may be cultivated in any single dwelling unit, including a dwelling unit in which up to five unrelated individuals reside. State law (Colorado Constitution Article XVIII, Section 16 and C.R.S. 18-18-406) caps each adult 21+ at six plants, and the household total at twelve plants for two or more adults — Longmont's 30-plant per-unit ceiling functions as the upper bound where multiple medical patients or unrelated adults share a residence.

Longmont has opted IN for retail marijuana sales — but on a tightly limited basis. Under LMC Chapter 6.70, the city caps retail marijuana stores at four citywide and prohibits any single entity from owning more than one. The Marijuana Licensing Authority (City Council) selected operators in 2017, and a January 28, 2025 City Council ordinance added a separate hospitality license category. Commercial cultivation, production, and testing remain entirely prohibited within Longmont — only retail sales and hospitality are allowed.

Longmont permits residential and commercial solar PV through Building Services with fees capped under Colorado HB 11-1199 (the Fair Permit Act) — $500 for a residential system and $1,000 for a non-residential system. Complete applications that meet the city's 'Solar ABC's Expedited Permit Process' are turned around in 5 business days. Applications run through the CitizenAccess online portal, and Longmont Power & Communications handles the separate interconnection on the utility side.

Colorado state law strictly limits what a Longmont HOA may do to a solar installation. C.R.S. 38-30-168 voids any covenant, condition, or restriction in a deed or HOA governing document that effectively prohibits or restricts the installation or use of a solar energy device. HOAs may apply reasonable aesthetic standards but cannot impose any rule that significantly increases cost or significantly decreases performance. Decisions on a complete application are deemed approved if the HOA does not act within 60 days.

Longmont prohibits placing any signs — including garage-sale, yard-sale, and similar temporary signs — in the public right-of-way. All signs are regulated by LMC Chapter 15.06; off-premise garage sale signs on utility poles, traffic signs, hydrants, or trees are subject to removal by the City and to the civil penalty schedule of $100 / $200 / $500.

Longmont allows political election signs on private property only, with permission of the owner. They cannot be placed in the public right-of-way, attached to utility poles, street signs, traffic signals, hydrants, trees or fences, and must not obstruct driver sightlines. Sign rules are codified in LMC Chapter 15.06, and HOAs are further preempted by Colorado's CCIOA political-sign statute (C.R.S. 38-33.3-106.5).

Longmont does not impose a calendar-based limit on residential holiday lights or seasonal decorations. They are exempt from sign-permit requirements under LMC Chapter 15.06 so long as they are not used as commercial signage, do not obstruct driver sightlines, and do not create a glare or nuisance complaint. Excessive brightness or off-premise placement can still trigger LMC nuisance provisions.

Longmont (which provides municipal trash service under LMC Chapter 14.12) requires residents to place trash, recycling, and composting carts at the curb or designated alley side by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Carts must keep 3.5 feet (one cart-width) clearance from vehicles, mailboxes, and fire hydrants and 2 feet between adjacent carts. Carts may not block the sidewalk.

LMC Chapter 6.44 (Code Enforcement's stated citation) requires that any trash, scrap material, appliances, dismantled machinery, or old furniture on private property be stored inside a completely enclosed structure or removed. Code Enforcement issues a Notice of Violation; non-compliance triggers civil penalties of $100 / $200 / $500 and the city may abate (clean up) and bill the property owner.

Longmont applies its property maintenance code uniformly to vacant and occupied lots. Under LMC Chapter 9.32, weeds and grasses on any lot may not exceed 12 inches in height, and accumulated trash, dumped materials, or debris must be removed (LMC Chapter 6.44). The city may abate non-compliant vacant lots and bill the owner; civil penalties run $100 / $200 / $500.

Under LMC 6.44.090 (cited by Longmont Code Enforcement), no garage sale in Longmont may run for more than 3 consecutive days, and no more than 12 total days of garage sales may take place at the same location in any calendar year. Garage sales do not require a city permit. Off-premise directional signs are prohibited in the public right-of-way under LMC Chapter 15.06.

Under LMC § 9.04.130, Longmont requires the owner, agent, or tenant of any lot to clear snow, sleet, ice, or other obstruction from the public sidewalk abutting their property within 24 hours after snow stops falling. Violations are subject to Longmont's civil-penalty schedule: $100 first violation, $200 second, $500 third or subsequent.

Longmont regulates outdoor lighting through Chapter 15.05 of the Land Development Code (Development Standards). The base standard caps outdoor lighting intensity at an average of 5 foot-candles, with additional rules for fueling areas, drive-up windows, ATMs, car wash bays, and business loading/service areas added in the 2014-2015 update. Longmont's outdoor lighting rebate program signals city preference for fully-shielded fixtures with a color temperature of 3000 Kelvin or less. Longmont has not adopted a stand-alone International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) ordinance.

Longmont Waste Services is a city-operated utility regulated by LMC Chapter 14.12 (Solid Waste). Service is structured as Pay-As-You-Throw: a small 48-gallon yellow-lid cart on every-other-week pickup runs $7.10/month, a medium 48-gallon weekly cart is $14.10/month, and a large 96-gallon weekly cart is $26.30/month. Recycling (blue lid) is included at no extra cost and picked up every other week; composting (green lid) is optional at $9.90/month. A $2.96/month Waste Management Fee appears on every utility bill.

Longmont Waste Services runs a Large Item Collection program from February through October each year. Fees are $60 for one to two items and $75 for three items (the maximum), billed to the utility account. Items must not be set out earlier than the Saturday before scheduled pickup, which falls on the customer's regular trash collection day. Schedule by calling Waste Services at (303) 651-8416. Many common bulk items are excluded — including all major appliances, electronics, refrigerators, freezers, and contractor construction debris.

Longmont Waste Services requires carts to be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Place containers in the street in front of the curb near the corner of your driveway with the handle side facing your home and the lid arrows pointing toward the street or alley. Maintain at least 3.5 feet of clearance from cars, mailboxes, and hydrants, and at least 2 feet between each cart when multiple are out.

Federal law (FAA Part 107 and 49 U.S.C. § 44809 for recreational flyers) governs U.S. airspace and Longmont cannot regulate altitude or flight paths. The City does control take-off and landing on city property: Longmont prohibits the take-off or landing of any drone on park property without authorization from the Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department, except in designated 'Unmanned Aircraft Flying Areas.'

Operating a food truck or pushcart in Longmont requires an annual Mobile Retail Food Vending Permit from the Building Services Division, plus a Longmont business license, a Longmont sales-and-use tax license, and a Boulder County Public Health Mobile Retail Food Establishment license. Operational rules are set in LMC § 15.04.050(D)(4) of the Land Development Code.

Per LMC § 15.04.050(D)(4), Longmont food trucks may operate only in non-residential zoning districts (ice cream vendors are allowed in residential zones), must remain at least 250 feet from any brick-and-mortar restaurant, and may not operate in city parks while park concessionaires are operating. Operating outside these zones violates the city's Land Development Code.

Longmont sets residential building setbacks by zoning district in the Land Development Code (LMC § 15.03.080). In R-SF: 15 ft front yard dwelling (10 ft with alley garage, 20 ft for front-facing garage), 5 ft side yard, 20 ft rear (6 ft if abutting an alley). Detached accessory structures must sit at least 5 feet from rear and side property lines and behind the front facade.

A Forestry Services permit is required to remove any City-maintained tree or any tree in the public right-of-way. Permits are submitted online and processed within ~5 business days. Healthy, high-value trees fall under LMC 13.24.110 with mandatory appraisal and mitigation. Removal must be performed by a Longmont-licensed Tree Contractor (LMC 6.88) and include stump grinding.

When a healthy high-value City or ROW tree is removed, LMC 13.24.110 requires mitigation equal to the appraised value (ISA trunk-formula method) either as in-kind replacement trees or payment in lieu. Replacement trees in the ROW must be from the City's recommended species list, minimum 1.5-inch caliper, 15-gallon size, with two years of homeowner watering committed.

Longmont's tree code lives in LMC Title 13 (Streets, Sidewalks, Public Places) Chapter 13.24 'Trees and Plants' and LMC Title 6 Chapter 6.88 'Tree Contractor License.' Together they govern responsibility (13.24.020), protection of high-value trees (13.24.110), abatement of dead/hazardous trees (13.24.160), and require contractor licensing for all aloft work. Longmont Forestry Services administers the program.

Longmont does not use the term 'heritage tree.' Instead, LMC 13.24.110 (Tree Protection) protects 'healthy, high-value' trees on City property and in the public right-of-way. The City Forester appraises any healthy high-value tree slated for removal and requires equivalent mitigation. Longmont is a designated Tree City USA member.

Longmont does not have a dedicated HVAC noise ordinance. Air conditioners, heat pumps, and pool equipment are regulated as fixed noise sources under the general decibel limits in LMC § 10.20.110: 50 dB(A) residential at night and 55 dB(A) residential during the day, measured 25 feet from the unit.

Longmont has no bamboo-specific ordinance. Bamboo is not listed on the Colorado Noxious Weed list and does not appear in Longmont's Integrated Weed Management Plan (2016). Spreading or nuisance bamboo could be addressed under LMC Chapter 9.32 (Weed Control) if it becomes a noxious or nuisance vegetation issue.