Nearly 70% of rental properties in Fort Collins are currently in compliance with new requirements for annual registration. City officials are now taking the first steps toward enforcing these requirements for the estimated 3,800 rental properties that remain unregistered.

Earlier this month, City staff began mailing first notices to property owners in violation of registration requirements.

City Council approved the new registration requirements in 2023 and created a Rental Housing program to support landlords and tenants. Owner-occupied rentals and properties in mobile home parks are exempt from registration requirements. City staff incentivized registration throughout 2024 with prize drawings and grant funds for repairing and maintaining affordable rental properties.

“Our community has stepped up and shown that they care about the quality of rental housing and about complying with new requirements in a big way, but our goal is still 100% voluntary compliance,” said Alyssa Stephens, City of Fort Collins rental housing manager. “We’ll be sending folks multiple notices before writing any citations.”

The base registration fee is $37 per property, with an additional $10 for each additional rental unit on the same property. Inspections are not required as part of the registration process. Instead, property owners are responsible for conducting their own inspection of the property and certifying that it meets the City’s minimum housing standards.

Properties that do not register can be fined $100 per unit for the first violation, with fines increasing if properties remain unregistered. Owners will receive two notifications before citations and fines are recommended to Fort Collins Municipal Court.

A Variety of Support for Landlords and Tenants

In addition to enforcing registration requirements, the Rental Housing program offers a variety of supportive programs and services for both landlords and tenants. Grant applications are now open for registered properties to receive funding for repairs and upgrades that improve the safety, efficiency and comfort of rental properties.

Tenants are encouraged to verify registration status of a property before they sign a lease by conducting a search on the City’s database. Properties that are registered have been certified that they meet minimum health and safety standards.

For more information or assistance with the registration process, visit fcgov.com/RentalRegistration, email rentalhousing@fcgov.com or call 970-416-2305.

Rental Registration

As of Jan. 1, 2025, most long-term rental properties (homes with leases of 30 days or more) in Fort Collins must be registered with the City. Rental registration is one element of the City’s new Rental Housing program, which supports landlords and tenants through education, grants and other resources.

City Council implemented annual rental registration and created the Rental Housing program to:

• Open communication between the City and rental property owners, and help strengthen landlord and tenant education and outreach.
• Provide better data to help the City understand and support our unique rental housing market.
• Ensure that housing units in the City meet minimum requirements by requiring self-certification of rental properties annually.

The Rental Housing program has already provided more than $200,000 in grants for landlords to make upgrades and repairs to their rental properties.

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