Fort Collins, CO Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration
- Required annually for long-term rentals, § 5-283
- Exemptions
- Owner-occupied units, mobile home park units
- Inspections
- Complaint-based, any time, § 5-296
- Renewal
- Annual; prior violations can block renewal
- Violation
- Civil infraction, unregistered rental, § 1-15(f)
Summary
Every long-term residential rental unit in Fort Collins, except owner-occupied units and mobile homes in a mobile home park, must be registered annually with the City. Registered units are subject to complaint-based inspection at any time, and renting an unregistered unit is a civil infraction.
(a)An owner of a long-term residential rental dwelling unit shall register it with the City and comply with the requirements pursuant to this Division.(b)Long-term residential rental units described in one or more of the following paragraphs are exempted from the registration requirements of this Article:(1)A long-term residential dwelling unit occupied by the owner; and(2)A mobile home rental unit in a mobile home park, as defined and described in Chapter 18 of this Code... Sec. 5-296. - Complaint-Based Inspections. The Building Official has the right to inspect a property pursuant to any other provision of this Chapter 5, including, but not limited to, inspections based on a request of a tenant, owner, manager, or complainant.
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
Chapter 5, Division 3 of the City Code (added by Ordinance No. 086, 2023) requires an owner of a long-term residential rental dwelling unit to register it with the City and comply with the Division's requirements, per Section 5-283. The only registration exemptions are units occupied by the owner and mobile home rental units in a licensed mobile home park. Registration under Section 5-287 is valid for one year and must be renewed annually; the Director may deny renewal or add conditions based on prior violations.
To register, an applicant must certify under Section 5-285 that the property meets all applicable building, sanitation, mechanical, electrical, structural and fire safety requirements in Chapter 5 of the Code, and the Director can deny an application under Section 5-290 if the applicant fails an inspection or lacks required permits. Once registered, Section 5-296 authorizes the Building Official to inspect a property pursuant to any other provision of Chapter 5, expressly including inspections triggered by a request from a tenant, owner, manager, or complainant, meaning Fort Collins runs its rental program on complaint-based rather than fixed-cycle inspections.
Beyond the registration program, general rental housing inspection authority for code compliance runs through Section 5-257, which routes inspection of rental housing to Section 104 of the amended Property Maintenance Code.
Violations & Fines
Leasing, maintaining, or occupying a long-term rental unit without a current, valid registration is a civil infraction under City Code § 1-15(f), per Section 5-306(b). Other violations of the registration division can bring a fine, imprisonment, or both under § 1-15, with each day a separate offense; the Director can also suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a registration under Section 5-308 and post notice of the violation on the City's website under Section 5-307.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fort Collins require rental property registration?
Does Fort Collins inspect rental units on a set schedule?
What happens if I rent out an unregistered unit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
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