Fort Collins, CO Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration required
- long-term residential rental dwelling units
- Exempt
- owner-occupied units; mobile home park units
- Term
- 1 year, renewed annually
- Fee
- set by City Manager under § 7.5-1
- Violation
- civil infraction, § 1-15(f), per day
- Appeal
- to City Manager, Ch. 2 Art. VI, final
Summary
Fort Collins requires every owner of a long-term residential rental dwelling unit to register it with the City before leasing it out, under Municipal Code § 5-283. Owner-occupied units and mobile home park rentals are exempt. Registration runs one year, must be renewed annually, and carries a fee set by the City Manager.
(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.
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
Division 3 of Chapter 5, Article VI (adopted by Ord. No. 086, 2023) creates the long-term rental registration program the Director and Building Official jointly administer under § 5-281. 5-1, and the Director may demand additional documentation before approving or renewing. Section 5-285 requires the applicant to prove ownership (or authorized-agent status), certify compliance with Chapter 5's building, sanitation, mechanical, electrical, structural and fire-safety rules, and comply with the Land Use Code; owners may also designate a local contact with unit access. Registrations are non-transferable and terminate automatically on sale of the property (§ 5-286).
A registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually (§ 5-287); the Director can deny renewal or attach conditions based on prior violations. Section 5-290 lists grounds for denial, including noncompliance with the Land Use Code or Chapters 5, 9, 12 or 20, or failing a required inspection or permit. An owner may appeal any grant, renewal, suspension or revocation decision to the City Manager under Chapter 2, Article VI, whose decision is final (§ 5-291).
Violations & Fines
Renting or occupying a long-term rental unit without a current, valid registration is a civil infraction under § 1-15(f) of the Code, with each day of continued violation a separate offense (§ 5-306). The Director or Building Official may issue a summons for prosecution in municipal court (§ 5-307) and, on conviction, post a notice on the City's website identifying the address until the violation is corrected. Fraud or misrepresentation in an application, or failure to comply with § 5-288's ongoing standards, can trigger suspension, revocation or non-renewal (§ 5-308), and any violation is also a public nuisance abatable under Chapter 20 (§ 5-309).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my rental property in Fort Collins?
Which rentals are exempt from registration?
How long does a Fort Collins rental registration last?
What happens if I rent a unit without registering it?
Sources & Official References
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