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Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) FAQ#

The Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) is designed to make Fort Collins neighborhoods safe and pleasant places to live, work and attend school by reducing on-street parking congestion.
The program helps manage parking for residents by reducing the volume and impact of non-resident vehicles in neighborhoods by using a system that limits parking in a neighborhood to only those residents and their guests with permits during the posted time limits.

RP3’s may be created in neighborhoods where at least 70% of the total spaces are occupied. The City’s decision about whether to grant residents’ requests for parking permits will be made after a parking evaluation of that neighborhood is completed.

The following steps will be followed before a RP3 can be implemented:

  • Submit petition:  A petition endorsed by ten (10) of the affected households must be submitted to Parking Services.   The petition can be obtained from Parking Services or by downloaded from the City of Fort Collins website at www.fcgov.com/parking/residential-parking-permit/index.php.  Completed petitions are to be turned in to Parking Services.
  • Conduct parking occupancy study: City verifies that a parking problem exists.
  • Establish boundaries: City defines boundaries and other characteristics of the program for the neighborhood.
  • Hold public meeting: The City sets up a public meeting for all owners, residents and businesses in the area in order to discuss program details and to solicit feedback.
  • Voting on program: Only owners of property within the proposed boundary are eligible to vote.   Each owner will receive one (1) vote, regardless of the number of housing units owned.
  • Program information is sent to all residents and owners within the proposed permit boundary.  The owner mailing will include a ballot for voting in favor or against the program.

Program enactment: A minimum of 50% of eligible voters/owners must participate for the vote to be valid.  

  • If more than 50% of residents are in favor of the program, then the implementation process will begin. The City will begin setting up the program including installing signs and processing requests for parking permits.

The Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) is designed to make Fort Collins neighborhoods safe and pleasant places to live, work and attend school by reducing on-street parking congestion.

The program helps manage parking for residents by reducing the volume and impact of non-resident vehicles in neighborhoods by using a system that limits parking in a neighborhood to only those residents and their guests with permits during the posted time limits. 

With certain exceptions noted below, only persons who maintain their residence within the boundaries of a residential parking permit zone and are the owner or operator of a motor vehicle may obtain a residential parking permit.

Residents who live in a designated permit zone may obtain one free permit and purchase additional permits. To obtain your parking permit, come to Parking Services located at 215 N. Mason St. or call Parking Services at 970-221-6617 and press 0.

Bring with you:

  1. Valid vehicle registration
  2. Current driver’s license
  3. One of the following proofs of residency bearing your name and address within the permit zone:
    • Gas, Electric or Telephone Bill
    • Cable Television Bill
    • Monthly Bank Statement
    • Credit Card Bill
    • Water and Sewer Bill
    • Letter from the owner of Property Manager
    • Lease

*Note: if your vehicle registration or Driver’s license contains your name and address within the permit zone then you do not need to provide another form of proof of residency. 

No. The residential parking permit allows you to park your vehicle anywhere within the parking permit zone for which your permit was issued, provided no other parking restrictions apply such as handicapped parking or “no parking” signs. If you have a residential parking permit, you are exempt from posted on-street parking time limits.  Generally, all neighborhood programs will include two (2) hour time limits available for public parking.

No. Your permit only allows you to park in the parking permit zone for which your permit was issued.  If you park your vehicle in another parking permit zone, you may receive a parking citation.  If the other parking permit zone has posted time limits, you must observe the posted time limits just as any other non-resident of the zone.

Residential parking permits are valid for one (1) year. Renewals can be made by calling Parking Services, online,  or in person at Parking Services:

  • 215 North Mason St
  • South Transit Center - 4915 Fossil Blvd.
  • CSU Transit Center - Lory Student Center, north end

No additional verification will be required as long as you are renewing the permit for the same vehicle, the registration on that vehicle is still current, and there are no outstanding unpaid citations on that vehicle. 

Yes. Each household may request parking permits up to the number allowed by a specific neighborhood RP3 program.  The number of available permits varies by type of unit and the number of available parking spots.  In general there will be anywhere from 1 to 5 permits that can be acquired. The following are the annual fees:

First vehicle: Free                         
Second vehicle: $15.00 
Third vehicle: $40.00
Fourth vehicle: $100.00
Fifth vehicle: $200.00

***NOTE Each zone is allowed a different number of permits per resident based on parking availability

An owner of a property within a parking permit zone can obtain a permit if one of the following apply:

  • he/she is also the resident
  • he/she does work on the property (i.e. collect rent, show house, maintenance)

No person shall be deemed a resident of more than one (1) zone.

A "guest" permit is for people who visit a residence within a parking permit zone.

There are two types of guest permits:

  • Guest permit for 24 hours or less - FREE
  • Guest permit 25 hours up to 15 days - $10.00

Guest permit for 25 hours or more:

If you are a permit holder in the zone and have a guest that will be staying for over 25 hours then you will need to call or email Parking Services with the following information and be prepared to pay a $10.00 fee:

  • License plate number
  • State of issue
  • Vehicle make
  • Body style (sedan, pickup, motorcycle, etc.)
  • Color

The license plate number and state of issue are particularly important because license plate is the permit and must be accurate to avoid receiving a citation.

The "guest" permit is valid for a maximum of 15 days. (Number of permits is to be determined by the Parking Services Manager or designee)

If you will be hosting an event at your home that requires more than two permits you will need to call or email parking services to arrange parking for your guests. 

"Work" permits are available for vehicles and owners/property managers providing bona fide services at the residence in a parking permit zone.  There is no cost for work permits.

Owners of service vehicles or residents/owners can apply for and obtain permits by contacting Parking Services. 

Businesses may purchase permits in a residential parking permit zone if:

  • Business permits are allocated within an RP3 zone based on lot size and the number of employees in need of parking spaces (determined by subtracting the number of off-street parking spaces by the number of employees). ***Note: this may vary from zone to zone based on available parking
  • Businesses eligible for RP3 permits must exist within an RP3 zone or businesses that border an RP3 zone.
  • Permits are available for staff and employees, not for patrons.

Cost of Permits

  • Each business will receive one free permit per originally platted lot within a nonresidential property because they are typically larger, and this takes into consideration the size of their lot frontage.
  • Each permit after that will cost $15.00 per year.

****Note: Businesses that are not located in a zone may purchase a Commuter Permit in a specific zone where there is additional parking capacity. Commuter permits are currently priced at $40 per month. For more information, contact Parking Services, at 970-221-6617

Commuter permits may be available in permit zones where there is additional parking capacity.  Commuter permits are currently priced at $40 per month. For more information, contact Parking Services, at 970-221-6617

All permits will expire after one year, at the end of the month in which it was issued

According to Article V in the City’s Municipal Code, it is unlawful for any person to falsely represent himself or herself as eligible for a permit or to furnish any false information in or in conjunction with an application for a residential parking permit. Parking Services may revoke any permit issued on the grounds that it has been misused.  Revocation shall bar the permit holder from holding any permit for a period of one (1) year. 

Parking Services
Email: parkingservices@fcgov.com
Phone: 970-221-6617