What the report says about zoning in Larimer County

Home occupation permit required:

Yes

Details:

LARIMER COUNTY (unincorporated): Home occupations require a Registration Certificate submitted to Larimer County Planning ([email protected] or 200 W Oak Street, Fort Collins, 3rd Floor). Two tiers: (1) Limited Home Occupation — up to 50% of home interior (max 800 sq ft including basement/attached garage), max 10 vehicle trips/day, requires Registration Certificate only; (2) Large Home Occupation — 800-1,200 sq ft interior, up to 800 sq ft outdoor storage, max 10 vehicle trips/day, requires Administrative Special Review plus Registration Certificate. Operator must occupy the residence as primary dwelling. Max 1 non-resident employee at the site. On-site sales events allowed up to 30 per calendar year for products made on-site. FORT COLLINS (city, separate rules): Home Occupation License required ($25 fee, valid 2 years); submit to [email protected] or Development Review Center, 281 North College Avenue. Max 50% of home for business; max 1 non-resident employee; no retail sales except incidental to services; no exterior storage beyond principal residence; limited signage (max 2-4 sq ft). Contact: 970-498-7860 (Larimer County Clerk), Fort Collins Zoning at fcgov.com/zoning/homebusiness.

Home kitchen:

Colorado state law (C.R.S. §25-4-1614) requires production in the home kitchen. Free CDPHE registration required. Food handler course (e.g., CSU Extension $50/3.5hr or equivalent) required before selling. Larimer County unincorporated areas follow county Land Use Code home occupation rules. Fort Collins (the county seat and largest city) is an incorporated municipality with its own separate home occupation requirements that differ from county rules — residents in Fort Collins must follow city rules, not county rules.

Last verified 2026-05-06. Not legal advice.