Re: Concerns with City of Ft. Collins Building Dept- process, contractor license & responsibility

[Laura]

John- 

Thank you so much for your response. I really appreciate it!  Sorry for this long email. If you can perhaps point me in the right direction, that would be great. It looks like I will be (hopefully) be receiving my certificate of occupancy this week. 

But in speaking of my concerns, 

There is one main issue, with two subcategories 

The main concern I have is the lack of help, oversight, intervention & protection for the customer/consumer when entering into a contract for services for a construction project.

I’m not sure how to address this: ie: City, County or state level. 

1) The first subcategory is: My personal situation

Feeling/being powerless and not being able to resolve the situation. 

 This has led to extreme emotional and financial stress, delayed and unknown timeframe for a resolution, facing homelessness, facing eviction and needing to hire a lawyer to progress in the remodel, with little progress (even with an attorney).

2) The second subcategory: How to make a change either at the city, county or state level.

John, you are very kind and approachable, so this is why I contacted you. 

I know that city, county & state procedures, government and politics are complicated.

I want to help make policy (may not be the right word) changes to help other consumers.

Here is why:

In obtaining a contractor I am aware that the City requires that the contractor is licensed through the city, and the one I selected is. 

 I read many positive reviews, visited his A+ Better Buisness Bureau profile, viewed a few past projects & spoke to a couple of references. 

I formulated detailed questions, which he answered well. 

I also hired an attorney to review his proposed contract and he agreed to the few suggested changes and additions. 

As the weeks and months progressed, after the contract was signed and work began, issues began to surface and by the time my house was nearly scraped (with one wall remaining) I was deep in worry and realized several manipulative actions that had occurred. 

2 years later & thousands of dollars over budget, I have found over the last 2 years that: 

 1) the city doesn’t have anything in place to help the home owner find a new contractor. (Eg: They could inspect and certify the progress as “passing” at the moment of need to change a contractor and not hold the new contractor liable for past work) 

2) the city won’t sanction or discipline the contractor for basic lack of care of the site, securing the property, etc. (only specific code violations)

3) there is nothing in place to grant the homeowner a temporary certificate of occupancy when the home is habitable, but there are some forms and tests to be completed by the contractor. 

A consumer has to hire an attorney to get any help at all. In the meantime, the consumer is stuck & under the contractor’s thumb. 

So, I’m not sure who to turn to, I don’t know what the “rank” is within the city- I guess city council? The mayor? 

Any direction you can give me, I would greatly appreciate & I understand now that you are not the official who can assist, but thank you for reading “listening”. 

Kindly and with gratitude, 

~ Laura 

On Jun 23, 2025, at 10:41 AM, John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:



Good morning Laura, 

I apologize for the delayed response, but your email ended up in my spam folder, and I only noticed your communication yesterday. Because this is a city of fort collins building issue, the county does not have a direct say in the renovation process and certificate of occupancy. What is the current status of your concerns and frustrations? I could reach out to our county building official to see if he has any guidance on how to best address your concerns. Thank you.

	John Kefalas (he/him) County Commissioner, District 1
	Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St | 2nd Floor PO Box 1190, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1190 W: (970) 498-7001 Cell:  (720) 254-7598 jkef...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org

On Tue, Jun 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM Laura <laural...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi John-
It’s been many years since I’ve felt the need to reach out to you for urgent help and direction. Several years ago it was when my very disabled son (Brendan) & I were needing help with his transition to adult care.

Today, I am writing, as I am struggling & fairly stuck in my home remodel process, (deemed “new build” by the city of Ft. Collins’ building department, 5 months into the process. ) I’m currently @ at the 2 year mark in this process.

What is very scary & concerning is that my lease at my rental in which my son Thomas, myself & our 8 pets are residing in is nearing the end, with new tenants moving in.

My contractor is not giving me details of when the final tasks will be completed & the building department will not allow us to move in.

I have many concerns & frustrations with the entire process that I’ve been through. I feel that my & my family’s well being (both mental & physical) is at stake.

I don’t know who else to turn to. Can you help in any way? Perhaps even establishing a way to communicate with anyone who could help with this process?

Thank you for anything you may be able to do,

Kindly,
~ Laura