Fort Collins, CO Special Events & Permits: Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (2026)

Sec. 23.5-2 of the Municipal Code lists 'commercial film production' directly inside the definition of 'special event,' alongside block parties, parades and festivals, so on its face every film shoot on City property or in the right-of-way is covered by Chapter 23.5. Sec. 23.5-3(b) then lists categories exempt from the permit requirement, and (b)(5) removes 'commercial film productions that do not request exclusive use or closure of City-owned or managed buildings, plazas, property or land, and do not involve the obstruction or closure of any public rights-of-way that are normally open to the public.' That sentence is the dividing line City staff use to route a production down one of two tracks.

A shoot that just wants to film on a public sidewalk or in a City park without blocking anyone else's access falls outside the permit requirement and instead only needs the lighter notice process under Sec. 23.5-4.5. A shoot that wants a street closed, a plaza cleared, or exclusive use of a City building crosses into full special event territory under Sec. 23.5-3(a), triggering the standard 45-business-day filing window, insurance and deposit requirements under Sec. 23.5-5, a traffic safety plan requirement tied to the denial grounds in Sec.

23.5-7(4), and the right of appeal in Sec. 23.5-9. Productions that stay within the exemption are still not exempt from all City rules; Sec. 23.5-1 makes clear Chapter 23.5's requirements 'do not replace or substitute for other permitting requirements' such as a noise variance under Sec. 20-27, so a crew that avoids the special event permit by staying non-exclusive can still need other City sign-offs for the specific things it plans to do.