The City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University strive to make Fort Collins a vibrant, high-quality community to call home for all its residents, including students. Two areas that work directly with students are Neighborhood and Building Services.
Neighborhood Services works closely with students to provide education on City codes and ordinances, neighborhood norms and good neighboring, and available resources should they ever have issue with a neighbor or with a landlord.
Building Code Services helps to provide a level of health and safety in housing. Housing that may seem like the perfect place with the perfect rent may not actually be perfect and could pose some dangers. While Fort Collins does have quality housing and professional landlords there are situations that are less than ideal and possibly not legal!
Before signing a lease, check for these most basic items:
- Insect screens (required May to November).
- Doors are required to have locks and that operate from inside without a key.
- Every bedroom must have at least one window that opens.
- Every bathroom must have a window that opens or an exhaust fan.
- You should not have to pass through someone else’s bedroom to have access to a bathroom.
- All plumbing fixtures must be maintained in a safe, sanitary and functional condition, free from obstructions, leaks and defects.
- Units must have hot and cold running water.
- Units must have permanent heating that can maintain 68°F.
- Every rental housing unit containing gas appliances or an attached garage must have an approved carbon monoxide alarm.
- All rooms must have at least (2) separate electric outlets.
- All rooms and public areas must have at least (1) electric light fixture.
- Basement bedrooms must have an emergency escape window no more than (48) inches above the floor and at least a (720) square inches.
- Smoke alarms (electric or battery operated) must be installed in each of the following areas:
- On the ceiling or wall outside of each bedroom.
- In each bedroom.
- In each story within a dwelling unit, including basements.
If you ever feel your housing is substandard, call 970-416-2305 for more information or to request a free inspection. The list above is not a complete list. To see more information on Minimum Rental Habitability Standards go to www.fcgov.com/building.