Parking Rules

Parking Spots with Time Limits

Most on-street parking in downtown Fort Collins is limited to two hours, enforced Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. These time limits help ensure that spaces turn over and stay available for visitors and businesses.

The Four-Hour Block Face Rule

After you leave a time-restricted space, you can't park again on the same block face or in the same lot for four hours. This applies even if you didn't use the full time limit.

Block face: A street between two intersections, including all on-street parking spaces along that stretch.

Example: You park on the south side of the 100 block of North College Avenue (between Mountain Avenue and Laporte Avenue) at 10 a.m. and leave at 11 a.m., you can't park on that same block face (College between Mountain and Laporte) again until 3 p.m., even if the posted limit is two hours.

If You Need More Time

For longer visits, choose one of the following:

• Parking garages (first hour free, but you must still check in via kiosk or ParkMobile)
• Pay-by-hour surface lots
• Permit-only lots (with a valid permit)

If you don’t see a posted time limit, you may park all day in that space.

Loading Zones

For active loading or unloading only.

• Time limit: 30 minutes
• These are not standard parking spaces

Accessible Parking

Accessible spaces are marked with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) wheelchair symbol on signs or pavement.

• Only vehicles with a valid accessible placard or plate may park here
• Placards must be clearly displayed on the dashboard or sun visor

You may not park in:

• Access aisles (striped spaces next to accessible stalls)
• Passenger loading zones marked by signs or pavement

Placards are assigned to individuals, not vehicles — they can be moved between vehicles as long as the placard holder is present.

ADA placard holders can park in any time-regulated parking space regardless of time limitation.

For information about paid parking, see Where to Park.

• Vehicles parked on public property must display current registration

• Vehicles left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours may be towed at the owner’s expense.
• For complete enforcement regulations and legal definitions, view the City of Fort Collins Traffic Code.

See Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3)

Some Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) zones near CSU have added restrictions during stadium events:

• Zone 2: Sheely Subdivision (no 2-hour parking)
• Zone 3: Mantz Subdivision
• Zone 6: Historic Fort Collins High School Neighborhood
• Zone 9: Western Heights
• Zone 10: Lake Street
• Zone 11: Gilgalad

See a map of all restricted zones(PDF, 1MB)

On CSU stadium event days:

• Only vehicles with valid permit may park in these zones
• Rules are enforced four hours before an event and through its end
• Parking without a valid permit during this time = $100 fine
• Each household may request up to two guest permits for free
• Need guest permits? Contact Parking Services in advance

It’s your responsibility to know when stadium events are happening.