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Development Review Resources#

Aerial photograph of a neighborhood with houses, apartments and parks.

This page is intended to be a one-stop shop for resources that relate to development review within the City of Fort Collins. If you cannot find the topic you are looking for, please contact us at planning@fcgov.com.

To learn more about the development review process, CLICK HERE. If you are looking for the applications and checklists for the related to our development review process, please check out our APPLICATIONS page. 

Find My Zoning#

Zoning districts dictate what you may build and how you may build it in different areas of the city. Click the button below to find what zone district you are located in! Once you identify your zone district, you can use the Table of Primary Uses to see what uses are allowed in your zone district. The Table of Primary Uses starts on the fourth page of Article 4 of the Land Use Code. 

Find my zoning

Development Review Tools#

Click on these most commonly used tools below to navigate to them directly:

  1. LaserFische - Fort Collins Public Records Portal
  2. Fort Collins Land Use Code - a set of City regulations that guide how property is used and developed 
  3. Municipal Code - a broader and more comprehensive set of City regulations not including the Land Use Code and Traffic Code
  4. FCMaps - an easy, online mapping tool which provides current, local geographic and zoning information 
  5. Table of Primary Uses (formerly called the Zoning Matrix) - a table you can use to see what land uses are allowed in your zone district, or what zone districts are right for your proposed new land use. The Table of Primary Uses starts on the fourth page of Article 4 of the Land Use Code. 
Topic Description Department
     
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Frequently asked questions and answers about accessory dwelling units. Planning Services
Capital Expansion Fee Frequently asked questions and answers in relation to the City's Capital Expansion Fee program. Financial Services
Carriage House Development standards for the construction of carriage houses in the City of Fort Collins. Planning Services
Fences & Walls Weblink providing frequently asked questions and answers that relate to building fences and walls within the City of Fort Collins. A building permit is not required for the installation of a fence, except for those fences which exceed 6 feet in height. Zoning Services
Fort Collins Native Plants Guide to selecting, purchasing, and planting native plants in Fort Collins urban landscapes. Natural Areas
Fort Collins Streetscape Standards

The term “streetscape” generally encompasses the visual and pedestrian environment of a street. These streetscape standards involve parameters for tree-lined streets and sidewalks, other landscaping along street edges, and landscaped medians in arterial streets.

Engineering Services
Green Building Green building is the design, construction, operation, and demolition of buildings in a way that reduces environmental impact, improves the health and well-being of occupants, and increases financial performance. Utilities
Home Occupation   Zoning Services
Historic Preservation Design Assistance Design assistance provides support for design and planning costs associated with historic building projects. Historic Preservation
Landmark Design Review Through the design review process, all exterior alterations to designated resources in Fort Collins are approved or denied based on the historic significance and character of the property. Historic Preservation
Marijuana Retail and Cultivation Learn more about the limitations on who may apply for retail marijuana licenses and the application process. City Clerk
Nature in the City Nature in the City is a planning effort that capitalizes on long-standing efforts to further protect and integrate nature into the City's fabric through a variety of regulatory, policy, outreach and collaborative solutions. Natural Areas
Off-site Construction Staging   Zoning Services
Oil & Gas Resource for oil and gas Land Use Code information, as well as complaints and concerns. Environmental Sustainability
Parkway Landscape Amendment Application   Zoning Services
Short-Term Rentals Short-Term Rental application and helpful guide to learn the basics of operating a Short-Term Rental (STR) in the City of Fort Collins.  Sales Tax & Zoning Services
Sign Permit Application   Zoning Services
Tips for Native Seed Establishment Growing native plants in Fort Collins. Natural Areas
Trash and Recycling Enclosures Design Considerations Trash enclosure regulations that apply to all new and significantly remodeled commercial or multi-family structures where refuse is generated by the use of the structure shall provide adequate space for the collection and storage of refuse and recyclable materials. Planning Services
Urban Agriculture

The City of Fort Collins defines Urban Agriculture in the Land Use Code as gardening or farming involving any kind of lawful plant, whether for personal consumption, sale and/or donation.

Planning Services
Zoning Variance Guidelines & Application   Zoning Services
Residential and Commercial Alterations
  • Interior Remodel
Building Services
Fast Track Permits
  • Basement Finish
  • Demolition
  • Electric
  • Fireplace, Fire Pit
  • Mechanical
  • Roofing
  • Water Heater
Building Services
Exterior Permits
  • Awning
  • Deck
  • Egress window
  • Fence
  • Patio Cover/Carport
  • Sunshade/Pergola
  • Solar
Building Services
New Construction
  • New accessory building with habitable living space
  • Addition
  • Garage
  • Pole Barn
  • Shed
Building Services
Engineering Development Review
  • Easement and right-of-way dedication
  • Easement vacation
  • Vacation of public right-of-way
  • Development agreement
  • Development construction permit (DCP)
Engineering Services
Engineering Permits
  • Excavation permit
  • Encroachment permit
  • Sidewalk & drive approach permit
  • Over length/sized vehicle
  • House numbers
  • Stockpiling
  • Vertical banner
  • Development construction
  • Portable signs in the right-of-way
  • Outdoor seating encroachment & indemnity agreement
  • Fence permit
Engineering Services
Environmental Planning Environmental Planning

 

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