Fort Collins, CO Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 55 dB(A) day / 50 dB(A) night
- Commercial limit
- 60 dB(A) day / 55 dB(A) night
- Industrial limit
- 80 dB(A) day / 75 dB(A) night
- Pure tone penalty
- Limit reduced by 5 dB(A)
- Measurement distance
- 25 ft from source or at property line
- Variance cap
- 90 dB(A) max for activities over 8 hours
Summary
Fort Collins Municipal Code Section 20-23 sets maximum sound levels by zoning district and time of day, from 50 dB(A) at night in low-density residential zones up to 80 dB(A) daytime in industrial zones. Pure tones trigger an automatic five-decibel reduction in the applicable limit.
(a)A noise measured or registered in the manner provided in § 20-24 from any source at a level which is in excess of the dB(A) established for the time period and zoning districts listed in this Section is hereby declared to be a noise disturbance and is unlawful. When a noise source can be identified and its noise measured in more than one (1) zoning district, the limits of the most restrictive zoning district shall apply... Low Density Residential (R-L)... 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 55 ... 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 50 ...(b)If the noise source in question is a pure tone, the limits set forth above shall be reduced by five (5) dB(A).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 155 | Transitional Land Use Code (for project before May 17, 2024): Supplement 61 | Traffic Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Section 20-23(a) declares any noise exceeding the table's dB(A) limit for its zone and time period a noise disturbance and unlawful, and applies the most restrictive zoning district's limit whenever a source is measured across more than one district. and 50 dB(A) overnight. Downtown and commercial zones (Downtown Old City Center, Downtown Canyon Avenue, Downtown Civic Center, River Downtown Redevelopment Commercial, the Community Commercial districts, Commercial North College, Neighborhood Commercial, Limited Commercial, and Harmony Corridor) allow 60 dB(A) daytime and 55 dB(A) at night. The Employment zone allows 70 dB(A) daytime and 65 dB(A) at night, and Industrial zones allow 80 dB(A) daytime and 75 dB(A) at night.
Subsection (b) reduces every one of those limits by five dB(A) if the source is a pure tone, and Subsection (c) applies the building's zone limit to noise crossing between units in a multi-use building. Section 20-24 governs how the reading is taken: at least 25 feet from a source in the public right-of-way, or at the receiving property line if the source sits on private property, using a sound level meter with a manufacturer-recommended wind screen, and no measurement is valid if wind including gusts exceeds 15 miles per hour.
Violations & Fines
Any Section 20-23 exceedance is a noise disturbance enforced under Section 20-29, which ties the penalty to the general Section 1-15 schedule, and a Code Compliance Inspector issues the summons. A stationary noise source owner can apply to the Code Compliance Inspector for a variance under Section 20-27, capped at one year, with the applicant paying a processing fee under Section 7.5-1, and no variance may permit more than 90 decibels for an activity lasting over eight hours; variance denials can be appealed to the City Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit for a Fort Collins residential neighborhood?
How does the City measure whether a noise exceeds the limit?
Can a business apply for relief from the decibel limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
Compare Fort Collins to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Larimer County handle decibel limits.