Fort Collins has no ordinance restricting when residents may install or remove holiday lights. City Code Chapter 20, Article II (Noise) governs amplified outdoor displays, LUC Section 3.2.4 (Site Lighting) controls outdoor light trespass with dark-sky-friendly standards, and HOA covenants set the binding rules. Most residential holiday lighting operates without any permit.
Fort Collins City Code contains no provision setting installation or removal dates for residential holiday lights. City Code Section 20-23 sets residential noise limits at 55 dBA (7 AM-8 PM) and 50 dBA night (8 PM-7 AM), measured at the property line — synchronized music light displays must stay within these limits. LUC Section 3.2.4 outdoor-lighting standards are dark-sky-friendly: all fixtures must be fully shielded above the horizontal plane, and light trespass at residential property lines cannot exceed 0.1 foot-candle. Persistent trespass violations trigger code-enforcement action through CDNS. Holiday lights are not regulated as signs under LUC 3.8.7 unless they incorporate commercial messaging. Permanent installation of new exterior outlets requires a Colorado state electrical permit. HOAs in Fort Collins commonly impose display-date limits via CC&Rs under the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA, CRS 38-33.3).
Noise violations under City Code 20-25: civil penalty up to $1,000 per occurrence. Outdoor-lighting violations under LUC 1.4.9 / 3.2.4: Notice of Violation and required abatement; continued violations carry $150-$1,000 daily fines. No city-imposed penalties for display-date violations — those are HOA matters under CCIOA.
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