Land Use Code Draft Ready for Review
A new draft of the Land Use Code will be presented to City Council on October 3rd. For a summary of feedback provided by City Council regarding Code Alternatives, click here. For more information about past and upcoming Council meetings and materials, click here. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the Draft Code language here:
ARTICLE 1, General Purpose and Provisions: https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/article-1-general-purpose-and-provisions_draft.pdf
ARTICLE 2, Zone Districts: https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/article-2-zone-districts_draft.pdf
ARTICLE 3, Building Types: https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/article-3-building-types_draft.pdf
ARTICLE 4, Use Standards: https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/article-4-use-standards_draft.pdf
ARTICLE 5, General Development and Site Design: https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/article-5-general-development-and-site-design1_draft.pdf
ARTICLE 6, Administration and Procedures: https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/article-6-adminstration-and-procedures_draft.pdf
ARTICLE 7, Rules of Measurement and Definitions: https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/article-7-rules-of-measurment-and-definitions_draft.pdf
NEW: Land Use Code Guide
Interested in learning the details about the proposed Land Use Code? Curious how public feedback was used to make changes to the Code? Check out our comprehensive guide on the Draft
How to Share Your Feedback#
We invite you to share your comments about the City's Land Use Code (LUC). Click the link below to complete an online survey.
Feedback can be provided during the Public Comment portion of the October 3, 2023 City Council Meeting in person or via zoom. Visit fcgov.com/cityclerk/agendas for meeting details. Public Comment can also be presented at the upcoming Special Hearing of the Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday, September 27th. Visit fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/planning-zoning for meeting details. Comments may also be sent directly to Council members via email. Visit fcgov.com/council for a list of Councilmembers and their email addresses.
Comments may also be sent directly to City leadership and departments/staff. Visit fcgov.com/cityservices for a complete list of departments and fcgov.com/citymanager to connect with the City Manager.
If you have specific planning and zoning questions, please contact Planning & Development Services here.
2023 Land Use Code Updates#
What is this project?#
The City’s Land Use Code (LUC) regulates zoning, land use, building design, and more. Fort Collins' existing Land Use Code hasn't had a major update since 1997. Just as our community has grown and needs have changed in the past 25 years, our development regulations also need to evolve. The City is currently working to revise the Land Use Code with five guiding principles from the City's Housing Strategic Plan:
-
Increase overall housing capacity (market rate and affordable) and calibrate market-feasible incentives for deed-restricted affordable housing
-
Enable more affordability, especially near high frequency transit and growth areas
-
Allow for more diverse housing choices that fit in with the existing context
-
Make the code easier to use and understand
-
Improve predictability of the development review process, especially for housing
In addition to the Housing Strategic Plan, three other recently-adopted plans guide the Land Use Code and overlapping goals: City Plan (2019) | Our Climate Future Plan (2021) | Transportation Master Plan (2019)
On November 1, 2022, City Council adopted a new Land Development Code that would have replaced the 1997 Land Use Code. A referendum was received and certified sufficient by the City Clerk regarding the City’s new Land Development Code. As a result, City Council repealed the ordinance and the new code did not go into effect on January 1, 2023. Please visit this website for additional information on the referendum. The existing/current Land Use Code (1997), as well as other municipal codes, are available for viewing via the City Clerk Public Records Archive.
Where is this project at in the process now?#
A new draft of the Land Use Code will be presented to City Council on October 3, 2023. The complete list of Articles are available for download at the top of this page. Feedback may be provided during the Public Comment portion of the October 3 City Council Meeting. Visit fcgov.com/cityclerk/agendas for meeting details.
Project Update (Aug. 1)
City staff presented to Council at the special July 31, 2023 work session:
Related Documents:
- Memo outlining alternatives for Council consideration
-
Evaluation framework used by City Staff to analyze possible Land Use Code
alternatives for alignment with project guiding principles and goals as directed by City Council. - Memo outlining community engagement activities and analysis of activities to-date
A revised questionnaire exploring land use code alternatives is being developed.
Public Engagement Activities & Feedback#
Since March, City staff have conducted a variety of community conversations and public engagement events, with opportunities to connect both online and in-person. Staff spent time gathering feedback, listening to concerns, and sharing information. Engagement events included an open house, in-person and virtual public meetings, a deliberative forum in partnership with CSU, and neighborhood walking tours.
Detailed summaries and recaps of engagement events are hosted on the project's Our City page.
How to Stay Informed#
Check out our frequently asked questions and resource page at the link below!
Go to the link below to learn more about the history of the updates to the Land Use Code over the past two years.
See presentations and documents that were featured during the LDC (previously called Land Development Code) draft process at the link below.
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!
Note: The geographic boundaries of zone districts are NOT changing with these proposed updates. In some cases, zone districts have been re-named. To view the complete interactive zoning map of Fort Collins, please visit FC Maps.