Previously Asked Questions & Answers

I hear that the City is planning to create quiet zones to stop the trains from blasting their horns at all hours of the day and night. Is this true?
I read in the local newspaper that the City plans to close the airport. How long will that take?
What is the population of Longmont as of Jan. 1, 2019? Who says so?
I can’t afford to live in Longmont anymore. Can you help?
Do I need a permit to rent out a room in my house?
We had another big snow storm hit the City. How come the City won’t plow my street?
I keep hearing loud plane noises? Where do I go to report issues?

    I hear that the City is planning to create quiet zones to stop the trains from blasting their horns at all hours of the day and night. Is this true?

    To have trains pass through the city without sounding their horns, safety modifications must be made to the BNSF railroad crossings. To establish a quiet zone in the City of Longmont, a set of very specific safety requirements must be met for each of the 17 crossings that fully compensate for the absence of the train horn. This work can be very expensive and the City Council is currently listening to resident feedback. Learn more at https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-n-z/transportation/traffic/rr-quiet-zones.


    The City of Longmont has no jurisdiction over the trains operating on the tracks within the Longmont city limits. This includes operating during rush hour or blocking city intersections. The trains operate under federal authority. If you have a questions or complaints about the operation of trains in Longmont, please contact BNSF at 1-800-832-5452.

    top of the page

    I read in the local newspaper that the City plans to close the airport. How long will that take?

    The City has no plans for closing Vance Brand Municipal Airport. The airport is an important economic engine for the City and additional investment is planned. There are plans underway to expand the runways to increase business at the airport. Read more about these plans.
    top of the page

    What is the population of Longmont as of Jan. 1, 2019? Who says so?

    As of Dec. 31, it's estimated that 96,192 people live in Longmont, which is up 1.5 percent from the start of 2018.

    According to a report from the Planning and Development Services Department, there were 86,270 people living in Longmont as of the 2010 Census. The year-end population estimate in 2017 said the population had reached 94,777.
    The estimate for last year is derived by putting together four variables: number of dwelling units, vacancy rate, average household size and population living in group quarters. In 2018, the city had a net total of 37,673 dwelling units, a 1.9 percent vacancy rate, an average household size of 2.58 and 842 people living in group quarters, or group homes. The city then uses a formula to find the estimated population. It multiplies the total dwelling units by the occupancy rate to find the number of occupied dwelling units, then multiplies that by the average household size. It then adds the number of people living in group homes to that number to get the total, 96,192.
    top of the page

    I can’t afford to live in Longmont anymore. Can you help?

    We heard from many residents during the past several months about the affordability of living in Longmont. We know that groceries, rent and basic utilities cost more than ever – the City has had to raise utility rates in the last couple of years to keep up with the costs of providing services.
    Over the past several years, the City has offered a handful of ways for our low-income residents to cut their expenses. Those options include a property tax/rent rebate, a park and greenway maintenance fee rebate, a water bill rebate, an electric bill discount, and an electric life support discount. Now, we’re adding the grocery sales tax rebate in a program called Longmont CAReS. Of course, residents must meet qualifications in order to be eligible, so we have tried to make it easy and convenient to apply for these money-saving opportunities by creating a one-stop form. You can complete the application online at LongmontColorado.gov/LongmontCares. Or, you can pick up an application at the
    Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Avenue
    Longmont Youth Center, 1050 Lashley Street
    Longmont Utility Billing Window located in the Civic Center at 350 Kimbark Street
    top of the page

    Do I need a permit to rent out a room in my house?

    The Longmont City Council recently adopted regulations governing short-term rentals, including requirements for an annual permit and City inspections to ensure that rentals comply with building occupancy and life safety requirements and don’t create a nuisance for the surrounding neighborhood.

    A short-term rental, such as those through Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, FlipKey, etc., is a rental for fewer than 30 days of an entire dwelling or of individual rooms in an owner-occupied dwelling. All short-term rentals in Longmont require a short-term rental permit and a sales and use tax license. Existing short-term rentals are not grandfathered, and unlicensed short-term rentals will be subject to code enforcement. Learn more at bit.ly/LongmontShortTermRentals.

    top of the page

    We had another big snow storm hit the City. How come the City won’t plow my street?

    Longmont's designated snow routes are designed to create an efficient network for accessibility throughout town utilizing arterial and collector roadways.

    Arterial roads provide access to destinations across town (east-west or north-south) or to transportation networks outside of town.

    Collector roads move traffic in/out of neighborhoods and provide access to schools, hospitals, and other local destinations. Collectors also funnel traffic to arterial roadways. If you have to travel during or after a storm, plan your trip using snow routes as much as possible for the best conditions. Learn more about the City's snow & ice control program at LongmontColorado.gov.snow and view a map of the Snow Routes.

    top of the page

    I keep hearing loud plane noises? Where do I go to report issues?

    While the City works hard to educate Vance Brand Municipal Airport users on the importance of being good neighbors, the City of Longmont has no jurisdiction in regards to aircraft in flight. This jurisdiction is solely reserved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Any complaints regarding low flying aircraft can and should be reported to the FAA FSDO at 800.847.3808 or 7-ANM-DEN-FSDO@faa.gov. Whether contacting the City or the FAA, it is helpful to report the day, time, location, and aircraft information so that the proper parties can be contacted. Overflight aircraft information (including altitude) can be obtained by going to www.flightaware.com and searching by the city name.

    top of the page