Find Fort Collins Public Records

Fort Collins public records are available through both city and county offices. The city is located in Larimer County and is the county seat, which means many county offices operate from Fort Collins. Residents can access public records under the Colorado Open Records Act by contacting the appropriate custodian. The city uses JustFOIA to manage public records requests online, making it simple to submit and track your request. Police records go through the Fort Collins Police Services Records unit, which has its own process and hours. Court filings and property records are handled by Larimer County offices at the Justice Center downtown. Each office maintains different documents and follows its own procedures for release.

Larimer County Handles Filings

Fort Collins is in Larimer County. The county handles court filings, property deeds, marriage licenses, and other official documents. County offices are located in Fort Collins since it is the county seat.

The Larimer County government provides public records through various departments. For general questions, call 970-498-7000 or email info@larimer.org. Staff can direct you to the right custodian for your request.

Court records are at the Larimer County Justice Center at 201 LaPorte Avenue. This is where the 8th Judicial District operates. The court handles criminal cases, civil suits, family law, probate, and other legal matters for Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County.

Fort Collins CORA Process

The City of Fort Collins keeps records of city operations. These include permits, licenses, council meetings, planning documents, budget files, and administrative records.

Visit the City of Fort Collins records page to learn about requesting public records. You can submit requests online, by email, or in person. The city aims to provide records to residents in a timely manner.

The city uses a JustFOIA portal for online requests. This system lets you submit a request, upload supporting documents, and check the status of your request. It is faster than mailing or faxing requests.

The city responds within three business days as required by C.R.S. § 24-72-203. If more time is needed to locate or review records, the city can extend the deadline by up to seven additional days. Staff will notify you if an extension is needed.

Fort Collins charges $30 per hour for research and retrieval after the first free hour. This is lower than the state maximum of $41 per hour. Copies are typically $0.25 per page. Electronic records are often sent by email at no extra cost. Always ask for a cost estimate before staff begins work on a large request.

Police Services Records

The Fort Collins Police Services department maintains police reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents. These are criminal justice records governed by both CORA and the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act.

The Police Services Records unit is open seven days a week. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 970-221-6540 for questions about police records.

You can email record requests to policerecordsrequest@fcgov.com. You can also fax requests to 970-221-6284. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours.

For information about getting records released to you, visit the records release page. Call 970-221-6540 and select Option 5 to speak with a records employee. They can explain what records are available and how to get copies.

Some police records cannot be released while an investigation is active. Others may need redaction to protect victims, witnesses, or investigative methods. Body-worn camera footage is available through CORA but requires review and redaction before release, which can take longer.

Larimer County Court Records

Court records for Fort Collins are filed in the 8th Judicial District. The Larimer County Justice Center is at 201 LaPorte Avenue in Fort Collins. Call 970-494-3508 or 970-494-3509 with questions about court records.

You can email court record requests to 08RecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us. Fax requests to 970-494-3580. The court clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Court fees in Larimer County include a $5 name search fee and $0.75 per page for paper file copies. E-filed documents cost $0.25 per page. Research time is $25 per hour, which is lower than many Colorado counties. Certified copies cost $20 per document.

Some court records are available online through LexisNexis Colorado Courts. This third-party database provides access to many Colorado court cases. Keep in mind that official certified copies must come from the court clerk, not from online vendors.

For court records not held locally, use the Colorado Judicial Branch record request form. Contact the State Court Administrator's Office at 720-625-5000 or public.access@judicial.state.co.us for help.

Property and County Records

Property records are at the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder's office. These include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other documents related to real estate. Many records can be searched online for free.

The county assessor handles property tax records. These are separate from ownership records. Contact the assessor's office for questions about property valuations and tax assessments.

For general county records requests, visit the Larimer County public records information page. The county is committed to providing transparent and timely access to records as required by CORA.

Larimer County Human Services has its own records request process. Visit larimer.gov/humanservices/records-requests for information. The Human Services office is at 1501 Blue Spruce Drive in Fort Collins. Email requests to RecordsRequests@larimer.org or call 970-498-6444. These requests can take up to 30 business days to process.

Human Services charges $40 per hour for research and retrieval after the first free hour. Physical copies cost $0.25 per page. If the estimated cost exceeds $100, you must pay a $50 deposit before work begins.

Vital Records

Birth and death certificates are not available from the city or county. Colorado law requires you to request these from the state.

Order birth and death certificates from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Birth certificates cost $20 for the first copy and $13 for each additional copy. Death certificates have the same fee structure. The state has birth records from 1910 forward and death records from 1900 forward.

Marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk. For a copy of a marriage license from Larimer County, contact the Clerk and Recorder's office. The state only verifies marriage records. It does not issue certified copies.

Divorce records are at the clerk of district court where the divorce was granted. If your divorce was in Larimer County, contact the district court clerk at the Justice Center. The state will confirm that a divorce occurred but does not provide the actual decree.

Help and Legal Resources

If you need help with a CORA request or legal questions, several resources are available:

• Colorado Legal Services offers free legal help to qualifying residents
• The Colorado Bar Association has a lawyer referral service
• Poudre River Public Library District provides legal research databases
• The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition can answer questions about open records laws

Many records are already posted online. Check city and county websites before filing a CORA request. Building permits, business licenses, property records, and some court dockets can be searched for free. This saves time and avoids fees for records already available.

The first hour of research and retrieval is free under C.R.S. § 24-72-205. After that, Fort Collins charges $30 per hour while the county charges $40 per hour. These rates are adjusted every five years for inflation. Get a cost estimate before work begins on complex requests.

Public Records in Other Cities

If you need records from nearby cities, each has its own process:

Cities in Larimer County may share some county services but each city keeps its own municipal records. Contact the specific city clerk for records related to that city's operations.