Tree removal permit rules in Larimer County, CO — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Removing a tree on your own private land in unincorporated Larimer County generally needs no county permit. In Fort Collins, removing any right-of-way or City tree, or a commercial tree 15 inches or larger in diameter, requires a free City Forester permit first.
The county's Land Use Code does not require a permit to fell trees on private residential lots, though wildfire defensible-space guidance encourages thinning. Fort Collins protects its urban forest under Municipal Code Chapter 27: no one may remove a street tree, a tree on City property, or a commercial-property tree fifteen inches or greater in diameter without a free permit from the City Forester. The Forester inspects and issues the permit if removal protects life, property, or the urban forest. Ordinary private residential trees below those triggers may be removed without a city permit.
Removing a protected Fort Collins tree without a permit can bring a code-violation fine plus appraised-value restitution for the destroyed public tree.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Larimer County, CO
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Larimer County, CO
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Larimer County, CO
City of Fort Collins parks and recreation areas are closed to entry from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. under City Code Section 23-203. Specific facilities such as ...
Larimer County, CO
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Larimer County, CO
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Larimer County, CO
Small temporary signs like garage-sale signs are generally exempt from a permit under Section 10.5 of the Larimer County Land Use Code, but it is unlawful to...
See how Larimer County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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