Fort Collins, CO Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Where RVs/trailers can't park
- Unsheltered in a residential yard
- Screening height required
- 6 feet (fence, wall, shrubs)
- Front-yard paving cap
- 40% (improved after 10/10/2002)
- Governing section
- Fort Collins Muni. Code § 20-105
- Max civil penalty
- $2,650 under § 1-15
Summary
Fort Collins bars parking an unsheltered RV, trailer or boat trailer in a residential yard unless it sits on an improved, bordered surface with direct garage access, or is screened behind a fence, wall or shrubs at least six feet tall. Municipal Code § 20-105 makes a non-conforming setup a nuisance, enforceable by citation.
(a)No person shall park or store, or knowingly permit to be parked or stored, any unsheltered motor vehicle, trailer or recreational vehicle other than one (1) motorcycle or moped in any yard of any residential lot for any purpose except the washing of such motor vehicle, trailer or recreational vehicle, unless such vehicle is owned by the owner or occupant of the residential lot and is parked: (1)on a portion of the lot which provides direct access to a garage from a street; or (2)on an improved area having a surface of asphalt, concrete, rock, gravel or other similar inorganic material, with a permanent border...; or (3)in a side or backyard placed behind sufficient screening, such as a solid fence, masonry wall or shrubbery, no less than six (6) feet high.
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 20-105(a) prohibits parking or storing any unsheltered motor vehicle, trailer or recreational vehicle other than one motorcycle or moped in any yard of any residential lot for any purpose except washing the vehicle, unless the owner or occupant parks it in one of three ways: on a portion of the lot with direct garage access from the street; on an improved surface of asphalt, concrete, rock, gravel or similar inorganic material with a permanent border that keeps loose material off the street or sidewalk; or in a side or back yard screened by a solid fence, masonry wall or shrubbery at least six feet high.
"Recreational vehicle" is defined broadly in § 20-104 to include motor homes, truck campers, buses, ATVs, snowmobiles and boats or other watercraft, and "trailer" covers travel trailers, fifth wheels, camping trailers, horse and boat trailers, and even camper shells and truck toppers. Subsection (b) separately bars parking that blocks pedestrian or vehicle sightlines at an intersection or traffic control device, and Subsection (d) caps how much of a front yard can be paved for vehicle parking at 40% for any area improved after October 10, 2002.
A violating vehicle is declared a nuisance under Subsection (c), and § 20-106 lets code enforcement or police officers enter the property, short of an enclosed dwelling, to affix a citation directly to the vehicle.
Violations & Fines
Parking an unsheltered RV, trailer or boat in violation of § 20-105 is a civil infraction under § 20-108, subject to the § 1-15 civil penalty of up to $2,650. Citations can be affixed directly to the vehicle under § 20-106, and the registered owner or the property's owner/occupant is treated as prima facie responsible for the parking violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my RV in my driveway in Fort Collins?
Do I need to screen a boat trailer parked in my backyard?
What counts as a recreational vehicle under Fort Collins' parking rule?
What's the penalty for illegally parking an RV in a Fort Collins yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
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