Regulations

Downtown, City-owned parking lots and on-street parking are regulated Monday through Saturday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Parking Services monitors these areas to ensure parking turnover in the downtown area. The City of Fort Collins has a variety of parking regulations. The following includes highlights of the most common regulations.

SUMMARY
- PARKING IS ENFORCED MON-SAT 8AM TO 6PM
- PARKING IS FREE (no time limits) AFTER 6PM AND ALL DAY SUNDAY

Timed Parking

The City of Fort Collins, Downtown Business Association and Downtown Development Authority work together to address downtown parking problems. Limited downtown on-street parking means those planning a stay longer than two hours should use a parking structure or outlying parking. If a street has no posted time restrictions, vehicles may park all day. As a customer-friendly courtesy, the first overtime violation receives only a warning. The intent is to prevent repeat offenders, so fines will go up dramatically for recurring violations.

Time limits encourage people to move their vehicles to increase parking turnover for downtown businesses, customers and visitors. When leaving a timed parking space, it is not permissible to return and park in the same block face for at least four hours.

summary
- most parking in the heart of downtown is 2-hour
- to avoid a citation, you may move to another block face before your time is up
- You cannot return to the same block face for at least 4 hours
- use structures/lots for longer parking (pay by the hour)
- your first overtime citation (ticket) is a warning and free

the 4-hour Block Face rule

Even if you parked for only 10 minutes, you cannot return and park in the same block face for at least 4 hours, or risk getting a citation. A block face is the portion of a street between two intersections, including all on-street parking, both sides and center (where applicable). The parking areas are enforced by what is called "chalking," which is done electronically by entering the vehicle's license plate number into a handheld computer creating a unique database for each day and location.

summary
- You cannot return to the same block face for at least 4 hours
- a block face includes all parking spaces (both sides of street and center) between two intersections

Loading Zones

Loading zones are to be used for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading property or passengers, and vehicle flashers must be on. Loading zones are not considered parking places and will be enforced accordingly. Loading zones have a 30-minute time limit.

summary
- Loading zones have a 30-minute time limit.
- your flashers must be on

Abandoned Vehicles

Any vehicle left unattended at one location in the public right-of-way for 48 hours or longer is considered abandoned. If not removed within 48 hours the vehicle will be subject to tow at the vehicle owner's expense, and storage costs will begin to accrue.

summary
- any car unattended IN THE PUBLIC-RIGHT-OF-WAY for 48 hours or longer is "abandoned"
- vehicle will be towed and stored at owner's expense


traffic code - parking regulations

This list below not intended to be all-inclusive. For a complete list of enforceable parking regulations please refer to the City of Fort Collins Traffic Code.

238-Illegal Use of Plate	1204-Parked within 30' of Intersection
240-Expired/Plates(2A)	1204-Parked within 20' of Stop Sign
240-EXxpired/Plates(2B)	1205-Facing Wrong Way
240-Expired/Plates(2C)	1205-Backed into Space
1203-Obstructing Traffic	1205-Obedience to Angle
1204-OverTime	1205-Obedience/Parallel
1204-Permit/Restricted-08A	1205-More than 12"/Curb-20A
1204-Red Curb/Restricted-09A	1206-Unattended Motor Vehicle
1204-No Park/Restricted-10A	1208-Handicap-6A1
1204-Fire Lane/Restricted-11A	1212-Alley/No Parking-07A
1204-Parked within 5' of Driveway	1213-Prohibited/Vehicle for Sale
1204-Loading Zone	1213-Parked on Roadway/Repair
1204-Blocking Sidewalk	1214-Prohibited/Vehicle over 20
1204-Less than 2 Feet	1214-Prohibited/Trailer over 20
1204-15/Fire Hydrant	1227-Fail to Pay Parking Fee
	1801-Abandoned Vehicle-24A