The Loveland Municipal Code is the full set of local laws for Loveland, Colorado, and you can read it for free on the Municode Library site, organized by numbered Title, Chapter, and Section.1Municode Library. Loveland, CO – Code of Ordinances A citation like 16.32.020 points you to Title 16, Chapter 32, Section 020. The sections below walk through the rules residents, landlords, and small businesses actually bump into: property upkeep, building on your lot, running a business or short-term rental, pets, parking, marijuana, and what happens if you’re cited.
Property Upkeep Rules Neighbors Report
Code enforcement in Loveland is largely complaint-driven. An officer usually gets involved because someone called, not because of a patrol. The rules that generate those calls live in Title 16 (nuisances) and a few neighboring titles.
Weeds and grass cannot exceed eight inches in height under Section 16.32.020. Tall native grasses and ornamental grasses in natural areas are exempt as long as they don’t threaten public health or safety. Noxious weeds such as Canada thistle and meadow knapweed are governed separately by the Larimer County Weed District and may have to be removed regardless of height.
Sidewalk snow is on you. Residents must clear the public sidewalk next to their property within 24 hours after a storm ends.2City of Loveland. Snow Operations If the city clears it for you, expect the bill and a possible fine.
Vehicles draw their own rules. On private property, a vehicle left without the owner’s consent for 24 hours or more counts as abandoned under Section 10.28.010.3Municode Library. Loveland Code of Ordinances Title 10 – Vehicles and Traffic – Chapter 10.28 On public streets, abandoned vehicles are towed and stored at the owner’s expense.4City of Loveland. Downtown Loveland Parking RVs, trailers, and motor homes parked on public streets have a 72-hour limit, and no vehicle on any street or alley can be used for sleeping.
Building, Remodeling, and ADUs
Title 18, the Unified Development Code, controls zoning districts, building heights, setbacks, lot coverage, and landscaping. You need a development permit before starting construction, and planning staff reviews site plans and inspects the work.
Accessory Dwelling Units
Loveland allows accessory dwelling units on residential lots. An ADU can be up to 900 square feet, with larger sizes possible on bigger lots if a planner approves. Water and sewer run through the primary residence, but the ADU needs its own electrical meter from Loveland Utilities.5City of Loveland. Accessory Dwelling Units Talk to a city planner early to confirm your lot qualifies.
Historic Properties
If your property is on the Loveland Historic Register, any exterior modification requires a Landmark Alteration Approval before the city issues a building permit.6City of Loveland. Alteration Certificates and Design Review The Historic Preservation Commission reviews proposals under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Interior remodeling that doesn’t touch doors or windows, repainting a previously painted surface, and minor maintenance are exempt. Work done without approval can trigger enforcement, and no building permit will issue until the alteration review is complete.
Contractor Licenses and the Homeowner Exemption
Several trades need a city contractor license, each tied to an International Code Council exam: General Building Contractor (A) for all structures, Building Contractor (B) for structures up to three stories, Residential Building Contractor (C) for homes, Master Mechanical, Roofing (S-1), and Signs (S-3). If you’re working on your own residence or an accessory structure for personal use, you don’t need a contractor license. The exemption does not cover fire alarm or fire sprinkler installation or repair, which always requires a licensed professional.7City of Loveland. Loveland Municipal Code 15.04.200 – Contractor Licenses
Running a Business or Short-Term Rental
Title 5 sets licensing rules and Title 3 sets tax rules. The city sales tax is 3% on most retail transactions and services. As of January 1, 2026, the combined sales tax rate in Loveland (state, county, and city combined) is 6.95% after a Larimer County voter-approved increase took effect.8City of Loveland. Sales Tax Announcements
Specialized permits apply to industries like liquor sales, tobacco retailing, and door-to-door solicitation. The code’s definition of “business” is broad enough to pull in home-based operations above certain activity thresholds, so working from home does not automatically exempt you.
Short-Term Rentals
Rent your property for 29 days or less and the city treats it as a short-term rental, subject to both a 3% sales tax and a separate 3% lodging tax.9City of Loveland. Lodging Tax/Short Term Rentals Rentals of 30 days or more are exempt from both. There’s no separate lodging tax license; you apply for a sales tax license and indicate that you collect lodging tax.
If you rent exclusively through a marketplace facilitator like Airbnb or VRBO, the platform handles collection and remittance and you don’t need a sales tax license. The moment you also book guests through your own website or any other channel, you need one to cover that non-platform revenue. Filing and payment run through the city’s Citizen Access portal or on paper.9City of Loveland. Lodging Tax/Short Term Rentals
Pets, Leashes, and Barking Complaints
Title 6 covers animals, with enforcement by NOCO Humane’s Animal Protection and Control division. A pet not on a leash or not reliably responding to its owner’s commands is “at large” under Section 6.20.010 and can be impounded.
Barking and other pet noise falls under Section 6.20.020. The standard is whether the noise is unreasonable and disturbs the peace in an excessive, continuous, or untimely way; the code sets no specific minute threshold. Once a formal complaint is filed, the owner has seven to ten days to correct the problem. A second complaint after that window triggers further enforcement.
Parking Fines and What a Ticket Really Costs
Title 10 adopts the 2020 Colorado Model Traffic Code with local amendments, so most driving rules track state law. Parking fines are set locally:
- General parking violation: $40
- Trailer parking violation (Section 10.20.030): $100
- Residential area parking violation (Section 10.20.040): $100
- Handicapped zone violation: $150
- Electric vehicle charging station violation: $150
Every traffic infraction and penalty assessment also adds a $35 court cost and a $15 surcharge on top of the base fine.10City of Loveland. Fine Schedule A $40 parking ticket actually costs $90. During snowstorms, parking restrictions on major arterials and emergency routes can be enforced to keep plows moving.
Marijuana Businesses Are Banned
Colorado legalized recreational marijuana statewide, but Loveland used its local option to prohibit marijuana establishments inside city limits. Chapter 7.65 bans cultivation facilities, product manufacturing, testing facilities, and retail stores. Operating one is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 in fines, up to one year in jail, or both, and each day of operation counts as a separate offense.11Municode Library. Loveland Code of Ordinances Chapter 7.65 – Marijuana Establishments Prohibited Neighboring communities in Larimer County may allow what Loveland forbids, which catches some operators off guard. Personal possession and use under state law is a separate matter from running a commercial establishment.
If You’re Cited: Municipal Court and Penalties
The Loveland Municipal Court handles alleged violations of city ordinances. For adults, the maximum penalty for a single code violation is a fine of up to $2,650, up to one year in jail, or both. For anyone under 18, the fine cap is the same $2,650 but jail is not an option.12City of Loveland. Sentencing
Most property maintenance and nuisance cases start with a notice and a correction period before fines land. Repeated violations or a refusal to correct the problem are what move a case from a warning to the courtroom. Keeping your property maintained, your licenses current, and your sidewalks shoveled is almost always cheaper than the alternative.