Larimer County, CO Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- County code
- Larimer County Rubbish Ordinance
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Prohibited
- Outdoor junk/debris visual blight
- Compliance window
- 30 days after notice
- Appeal window
- 7 days to commissioners
Summary
Unincorporated Larimer County has no general property-maintenance code, but its Rubbish Ordinance makes it unlawful for an owner to allow an accumulation of rubbish, junk, or debris that becomes a visual blight.
Rubbish means any trash, junk, garbage, litter, refuse, debris, scrap, lawn or garden waste (excluding household compost), unlicensed or inoperable motor vehicles or mobile or manufactured homes, dead animal carcasses, and any object or material which causes or is likely to cause a public hazard or nuisance.
Full Breakdown
Code Compliance enforces the Rubbish Ordinance across all unincorporated areas. Outdoor storage of junk and debris is prohibited: any accumulation of appliances, car parts, old furniture, or scrap that is a visual blight must be removed or stored inside a structure. Rubbish is defined broadly to include trash, scrap, inoperable vehicles, and any material likely to cause a public nuisance. Inside home-rule cities like Fort Collins and Loveland, stricter city property-maintenance and nuisance codes apply instead of the county ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Staff seek voluntary compliance first, then issue a Notice of Violation requiring correction within 30 days; owners may appeal within 7 days to the Board of County Commissioners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the county require me to maintain my yard?
Who enforces blight in Fort Collins?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Larimer County
Compare Larimer County to another location·View the Colorado property maintenance overview
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