• Rubbish Ordinance
• Amended Rubbish Ordinance

The Rubbish Ordinance provides it is unlawful for an owner to allow the ‘accumulation’ of rubbish on property.  If a complaint is received, Code Compliance staff members determine if the rubbish has accumulated to a point that it constitutes a violation of the Ordinance.   The staff member will attempt to contact the Owner/Tenant and first seek voluntary compliance.  If the issue is not resolved, the staff member will issue a Notice of Violation which would require the owner to correct the violation within thirty (30) days from the date of the Notice. 

If the owner believes the Notice has been issued in error or without just cause, the owner may appeal the violation Notice to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners within seven (7) days from the date of the Notice.

Absent an appeal and/or compliance within the prescribed timeframe, the Ordinance provides the County may apply to the Larimer County District or County Court for an administrative entry and seizure warrant describing items to be removed from the property in order to reach compliance with County regulations.  Application to the Court also includes a request that the Court authorize the County to enter the subject property to remove the items.  The Larimer County Community Development Director must first approve the matter for referral to the County Attorney’s Office to initiate the court action. 

If the County removes rubbish from the property, all costs associated with the removal must be paid by the property owner, the costs together with a 10% penalty for collection expenses is certified to the Larimer County Treasurer for collection in the same manner as other taxes are collected. 

Rubbish: means any trash, junk, garbage, litter, refuse, debris, scrap, lawn or garden waste (excluding household compost), unlicensed or inoperable motor vehicles or mobile or manufactured homes, dead animal carcasses, and any object or material which causes or is likely to cause a public hazard or nuisance. Rubbish does not include collector’s items properly stored in accordance with 42-12-103 Colorado Revised Statutes.