Fort Collins, CO vs Loveland, CO: Development Impact Fees Compared (2026)
A single-family home pays about $38,504 in Fort Collins vs $15,352 in Loveland — Fort Collins is $23,152 (151%) higher. Every figure below is normalized per dwelling unit by category, with links to each jurisdiction’s official sources.
City
Fort Collins, CO
$38,504
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$20,875
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$17,629
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
—
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Parks & recreation Neighborhood Parkland Capital Expansion Fee — Sec. 7.5-71. Representative SFD 1,801-2,400 sf tier. Full SFD range $3,699 (<=900sf) to $5,872 (>3,601sf). VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. | per dwelling unit | $5,075 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Parks & recreation Community Parkland Capital Expansion Fee — Sec. 7.5-28. Representative SFD 1,801-2,400 sf tier. Full SFD range $2,525 to $3,940. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. | per dwelling unit | $3,342 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Fire / EMS Fire Protection Capital Expansion Fee — Sec. 7.5-30. Representative SFD 1,801-2,400 sf tier. Full SFD range $817 to $1,304. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. | per dwelling unit | $1,130 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Police Police Capital Expansion Fee — Sec. 7.5-29. Representative SFD 1,801-2,400 sf tier. Full SFD range $496 to $790. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. | per dwelling unit | $683 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
General government / capital Government Facilities Capital Expansion Fee — Sec. 7.5-31 (new for 2026). Representative SFD 1,801-2,400 sf tier. Full SFD range $868 to $1,388. Replaces part of former general-government CEF. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. | per dwelling unit | $1,204 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
General government / capital Capital Equipment Expansion Fee (governmental) — Sec. 7.5-31.5 (new for 2026, additive to Government Facilities fee). Representative SFD 1,801-2,400 sf tier. Full SFD range $177 to $283. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. | per dwelling unit | $246 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Transportation / roads Transportation Capital Expansion Fee (City TCEF) — City TCEF, Sec. 7.5-32 schedule. Representative SFD 1,801-2,400 sf tier. Full SFD range $3,442 to $10,445. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. | per dwelling unit | $8,660 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Transportation / roads Larimer County Regional Road TCEF (collected by City) — SEPARATE DISTRICT FEE: levied by Larimer County's Regional Road TCEF program (per IGA) but collected by the City of Fort Collins at building permit and adopted via City Ordinance 182, 2025. Additive to the City TCEF. By sq ft: $268 (<=900) to $698 (>3,601). VERIFIED in Exhibit B to Ordinance 182, 2025 in the Nov 3, 2025 Council packet. | per dwelling unit | $535 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Drainage / stormwater Stormwater Plant Investment Fee (PIF) — One-time drainage development fee per gross acre; applies when impervious surface >350 sf. On a typical ~7,000 sf (0.16 acre) SFD lot this is roughly $1,930. Multifamily basic calc uses gross sq ft x $0.276 x runoff coefficient. Fort Collins Utilities stormwater service area only. VERIFIED verbatim in 2025 Water Development Fees sheet. | per acre | $12,012 | City of Fort Collins Utilities Jan 1, 2025High |
Parks & recreation Neighborhood Parkland CEF - SFD, up to 900 sq. ft. (alt tier) — Smallest SFD tier; alternate to the 1,801-2,400 sf primary row. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $3,699 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Parks & recreation Neighborhood Parkland CEF - SFD, over 3,601 sq. ft. (alt tier) — Largest SFD tier; alternate to the 1,801-2,400 sf primary row. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $5,872 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Transportation / roads City TCEF - SFD, over 3,601 sq. ft. (alt tier) — Largest SFD transportation tier; alternate to primary. VERIFIED verbatim in Ordinance 168, 2025. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $10,445 | City of Fort Collins Jan 1, 2026High |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Meter Fee (3/4-inch domestic) — One-time fee based on meter size; SFD detached/attached use standard 3/4-inch service (1-inch if fire suppression). Other sizes: 1" $599.91, 1.5" $930.72, 2" $1,170.25. Source is the 2025 Water Development Fees sheet (most recent published); applies in Fort Collins Utilities water service area only. VERIFIED verbatim. | per meter | $437 | City of Fort Collins Utilities Jan 1, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Plant Investment Fee (PIF), single-family 3/4-inch (base, plus lot-area charge) — ADDITIVE variable: plus $0.494 per sq ft of lot area, capped at 1/2 acre (21,780 sf max). Example: a 7,000 sf lot = $914 + $3,458 = ~$4,372. The $914 amount shown is the fixed base only. 1-inch service base is $1,548. Fort Collins Utilities service area only. VERIFIED verbatim in 2025 Water Development Fees sheet. | per dwelling unit | $914 | City of Fort Collins Utilities Jan 1, 2025High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Wastewater Plant Investment Fee (PIF) — One-time wastewater development fee per living unit. Fort Collins Utilities wastewater service area only; parcels served by Boxelder/South Fort Collins Sanitation Districts pay that district instead. VERIFIED verbatim in 2025 Water Development Fees sheet. | per dwelling unit | $4,476 | City of Fort Collins Utilities Jan 1, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Supply Requirement (WSR / raw-water acquisition fee), single-family — WSR = raw water/water-rights acquisition fee, $63,800 per acre-foot or $0.196 per gallon (2025; per-acre-foot figure independently confirmed on the City's WSR page (source 4) and the Chamber page (source 7), which document the reduction from $68,200 to $63,800). For SFD computed as (10 gal x outdoor area sf) + (12,200 gal x #bedrooms), x $0.196/gal. Amount shown is the City's own published 3-bedroom / 2,000 sf-outdoor example; actual fee varies with bedrooms and lot. Can be satisfied with City water certificates/credits in lieu of cash. Fort Collins Utilities service area only. VERIFIED verbatim in 2025 Water Development Fees sheet. | per dwelling unit | $11,802 | City of Fort Collins Utilities Jan 1, 2025High |
City
Loveland, CO
$15,352
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$15,352
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$0
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
$18,934
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Parks & recreation Parks Capital Expansion Fee | per dwelling unit | $4,955 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
Parks & recreation Recreation Capital Expansion Fee — Separate Recreation CEF (Chilson Recreation Center). Additive to Parks CEF. Confirmed against Exhibit A 2025 column. | per dwelling unit | $2,173 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
Open space Trails Capital Expansion Fee | per dwelling unit | $729 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
Open space Open Lands (Open Space) Capital Expansion Fee | per dwelling unit | $1,222 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
Library Library Capital Expansion Fee | per dwelling unit | $999 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
General government / capital Cultural Services (Museum) Capital Expansion Fee | per dwelling unit | $833 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
Police Law Enforcement (Police) Capital Expansion Fee | per dwelling unit | $1,208 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
General government / capital General Government Capital Expansion Fee — Single-family CEF total per Exhibit A 2025 column = $13,617.00 (sum of all 8 categories; arithmetic confirmed). | per dwelling unit | $1,498 | City of Loveland Jan 1, 2025High |
Fire / EMS Fire Impact Fee (LFRA) - SF 1,200-2,399 sq ft tier — Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) impact fee, separate from City CEFs, effective Jan 1, 2026 (BBC Research nexus study). Step fee by home size; representative ~2,200 sq ft home falls in the 1,200-2,399 SF tier = $1,735. Verbatim-confirmed against LFRA Impact Fee Schedule PDF. Base tier (up to 1,200 SF) = $986. Larger tiers: 3,600-4,799 SF = $4,075; 4,800+ SF = $5,894. | per dwelling unit | $1,735 | Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) Jan 1, 2026High |
Fire / EMS Fire Impact Fee (LFRA) - SF up to 1,200 sq ft tier — Alternate LFRA tier (home up to 1,200 SF). Excluded from total; representative 1,200-2,399 SF tier used instead. Verbatim-confirmed against LFRA PDF. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $986 | Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) Jan 1, 2026High |
Fire / EMS Fire Impact Fee (LFRA) - SF 2,400-3,599 sq ft tier — Alternate LFRA tier (2,400-3,599 SF). Excluded from total. Verbatim-confirmed against LFRA PDF. Larger tiers: 3,600-4,799 SF = $4,075; 4,800+ SF = $5,894. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $2,836 | Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) Jan 1, 2026High |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water System Impact Fee - indoor (per home sq ft, Inside City) — Inside-city rate. Charged per finished home square foot (indoor). For a representative 2,200 sq ft home: ~$4,817. Outside-city rate is $3.2844/sq ft (excluded). Verbatim-confirmed against 2026 Utilities Attachment C, p.21. | per sq ft | $2.19 | City of Loveland Utilities (Loveland Water and Power) Jan 1, 2026High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Wastewater System Impact Fee - indoor (per home sq ft, Inside City) — Inside-city rate. Per finished home square foot (indoor). For a representative 2,200 sq ft home: ~$4,762. Outside-city rate is $3.24705/sq ft (excluded). Verbatim-confirmed against 2026 Utilities Attachment C, p.21. | per sq ft | $2.16 | City of Loveland Utilities (Loveland Water and Power) Jan 1, 2026High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Raw Water Impact Fee - indoor (per home sq ft, Inside City) — Raw Water Impact Fee charged per finished home square foot (indoor). Additive to the Water System Impact Fee. For a representative 2,200 sq ft home: ~$1,662. Verbatim-confirmed against 2026 Utilities Attachment C, p.21. | per sq ft | $0.76 | City of Loveland Utilities (Loveland Water and Power) Jan 1, 2026High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water System Impact Fee - outdoor (per lot sq ft, Inside City) — Outdoor-usage component charged per LOT square foot (not home). Source: 'If a dedicated irrigation meter provides all the water for outdoor use, then only indoor water impact fees apply.' Excluded from per-DU total because it is lot-size dependent and avoidable; for a ~6,500 sq ft lot it adds ~$3,118. Verbatim-confirmed against 2026 Utilities Attachment C, p.21. alternative · not added to total | per sq ft | $0.48 | City of Loveland Utilities (Loveland Water and Power) Jan 1, 2026High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Raw Water Impact Fee - outdoor (per lot sq ft, Inside City) — Outdoor raw-water component charged per LOT square foot; waived with a dedicated irrigation meter. Excluded (lot-size dependent / avoidable). Verbatim-confirmed against 2026 Utilities Attachment C, p.21. alternative · not added to total | per sq ft | $0.17 | City of Loveland Utilities (Loveland Water and Power) Jan 1, 2026High |
What drives the difference
Fort Collins’s $38,504 per single-family home is $23,152 (151%) above Loveland’s $15,352. The largest single difference is in water connection (tap / sdc): Fort Collins charges about $13,153 there versus nothing in Loveland — a $13,153 swing that accounts for much of the overall gap. The two also differ in how much falls on water and sewer connection charges: $17,629 in Fort Collins versus $0 in Loveland.
Keep comparing
Fort Collins vs Loveland impact fees — FAQ
- Which has higher impact fees, Fort Collins or Loveland?
- Fort Collins, CO is higher. A single-family home pays about $38,504 per unit in Fort Collins versus $15,352 in Loveland, CO — $23,152 (151%) more, as of 2026.
- How much more does it cost to build a home in Fort Collins than in Loveland?
- About $23,152 more per single-family home — $38,504 in Fort Collins, CO versus $15,352 in Loveland, CO, a difference of 151% in total development impact and connection fees.
- What's the difference between impact fees in Fort Collins and Loveland for a single-family home?
- Fort Collins, CO charges about $38,504 per single-family home ($20,875 impact + $17,629 water/sewer connection), while Loveland, CO charges about $15,352 ($15,352 impact + $0 connection). Figures are normalized from official sources for 2026.