Guidelines & Policies
Thank you for your interest in this year’s Housing Fair! We look forward to working with you.
In order to keep facilities in ideal condition and set clear expectations for all participants, the following guidelines have been established. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY before registering for the Housing Fair. Should you have any questions, please contact our office at (970) 491-2248.
- Registrations received after the regular registration deadline (February 1st) are assessed a $75 late registration fee. Registrations are NOT COMPLETE until all fees are paid. Requests after this date are NOT guaranteed.
- Cancellations received up until February 12th will be refunded the full amount minus a $25 processing fee. No refunds whatsoever will be given for cancellations received after this deadline.
- Your table space will be provided with two chairs. Additional chairs and tablecloths are available upon request the day of the Housing Fair.
- Requests for table location in the ballroom will be considered on a first come first served basis. Table location is NOT GUARANTEED.
- EARLY SET-UP: The ballroom will be available for early set-up for decorations at the times listed above. Any items left in the ballroom overnight are not guaranteed safe. Off-Campus Life (OCL) and the Lory Student Center (LSC) are not responsible for any items left in the ballroom.
- The Housing Fair is open from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. Please check in no later than 8:30 am. Vacant tables impact the overall appearance of the Housing Fair. Therefore, OCL reserves the right to remove your table after 9:00 am without refund. We strongly discourage Vendors packing up before 3:45pm.
- The LSC Loading dock is available for loading and unloading only, and only on Tuesday evening, the day before Housing Fair, from 3 pm-6 pm. Please note this means the loading dock is not available the morning of the event. A map to the loading dock will be included in your confirmation packet. Please do not block other vehicles, and remove your vehicle as quickly as possible to avoid ticketing. Vehicles may be parked a maximum of 20 minutes in the loading zone.
- All vendors are required to stay within a three feet radius of their tables and not solicit students more than three feet from the front of the table as this disrupts the traffic flow and is unfair to vendors at adjacent tables.
- Vendors are NOT permitted to play loud music or use airhorns/bullhorns/megaphones to attract customers as this disrupts the atmosphere of the event and is unfair to vendors at other tables.
- Unregistered vendors/solicitors are not allowed inside the ballroom. OCL staff will ask the solicitors to leave. If you see any solicitors or unregistered vendors inside the ballroom, please inform an OCL staff member.
- All decorations must meet minimum safety standards as interpreted by Environmental Health and Safety (CSU). Fire code prohibits the use of hay, straw, cornstalks, or other dry tinder in the ballroom.
- The use of nails, screws, or thumbtacks is prohibited in the ballroom. Please discuss with OCL staff the option of special rigging for hanging items.
- Any food items you plan to give away must be prepackaged and individually wrapped. Any vendor bringing food must note this on their registration. In addition, please let us know the specific brands of beverages you will be providing at your booth. We will need to get approval from LSC catering for any beverages provided prior to the event.
- We will no longer be offering the option of purchasing lunch through LSC Catering. There are several places to eat in the LSC. If you are planning on purchasing lunch in the LSC Food Court, we recommend that you get in line 15 minutes before or after the hour to avoid a long line.
1. To help ensure a good turnout, we encourage vendors to provide giveaways, goodies, and promotional items. However, please note that alcohol/controlled substance related giveaways are not allowed.
2. No fundraising or selling is permitted.
DISCLAIMER
| Important Dates and Times to Remember | |
|---|---|
| Housing Fair | Wednesday, February 17, 2027, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM |
| Registration Deadline | Early Bird ends: January 18, 2027 Regular ends: February 8, 2027 Late ends: February 12, 2027 |
| All Fees Due | February 8, 2027 |
| Cancellation Deadline | February 12, 2027 |
All requests must be submitted on the Housing Fair Registration Form. Those vendors that specify requests by the regular Registration Deadline of February 8th, 2027, will be accommodated to the greatest extent possible by the OCL and LSC Event Planning staff. This set of guidelines and policies does not guarantee that vendor requests will be met regardless of when the vendor requests are made. OCL and the LSC assume no risk for lost or stolen items or for any personal injury while attending the Housing Fair. By registering for the Housing Fair, the vendor agrees that they have read and understand the above written policies, and they agree to abide by them. OCL Housing Fair staff reserves the right to remove any vendor or display that violates the guidelines & policies listed above or is not in keeping with the informational/educational purpose of the Housing Fair.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This event is a event that has traditionally taken place every spring. This year we will have housing fairs throughout the year. It is an opportunity for students to do one stop shopping for places to live in Fort Collins. The Housing Fair brings together landlords, community resources and Colorado State University offices in order to inform students about housing options and how to successfully live off campus.
The next Housing Fair will take place on Wednesday, February 17, 2027, from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM in the Grand Ballroom, Lory Student Center, CSU campus.
The Housing Fair is hosted in the Grand Ballroom of the Lory Student Center, CSU’s busiest building with over 25,000 visitors each day.
We will be sending out Housing Fair information in January. If you do not receive the information or you do not believe that you are on our mailing list, please contact our office at (970) 491-2248 or email us at ocl@colostate.edu to request that material be sent to you. We will need to know your Name, Company, Mailing Address, Phone Number, and E-Mail Address. You may also register by clicking here.
Registration fees are based on when you register. Please see the table above for specific pricing. Special requests may require additional fees. You must register online. Registrations are not complete until all fees are paid.
The registration fee includes your booth at the event (3’x6′ table and two chairs), 2 free event-day parking passes and the opportunity to participate in the Best Booth contest.
We have a completely online registration and payment process.
Following the completion of your registration, you will receive a confirmation email. Next, you will be prompted to the online payment portion of the site. Please note: If you do not complete the credit card payment, you will not be registered for the Housing Fair. A final receipt will be issued to you by email upon your completion of the payment process which confirms your full registration for the Housing Fair.
In the last five years of in-person events, we have averaged around 1,000 people attending the Fair each year.
The Housing Fair is advertised to students in a variety of ways, including:
- Collegian ads and Housing Guide
- Digital screens on campus and in residence halls
- Social media ads, posts and blogs
- Posters on and off campus
- OCL Student Handbook
- …and more!
This year’s Housing Fair will embrace a carnival theme, celebrating the whimsical, unusual, and unexpected! Think vintage carnivals, sideshow oddities, colorful attractions, and a little bit of wonder.
Our goal is to take the mystery out of the off-campus housing process and help students navigate their options with confidence. Finding housing can sometimes feel like a carnival of confusion, but we’re here to help students discover the resources, connections, and information they need to find their perfect fit.
If you wish to incorporate this year’s carnival theme into your Housing Fair booth, we encourage you to get creative and have some fun with it! However, participation in the theme is certainly not required.
Off-Campus Life
Phone: (970) 491-2248
E-Mail: ocl@colostate.edu
Packaged and individually wrapped goods are no problem. If you will be providing beverages, please include the brand name(s) on your registration form. Please contact Nancy Rhodes at (970)491-2248 if you have any questions.
There is an early set-up time the day before the Housing Fair on Tuesday, February 16, 2027 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
You may also come and set up the morning of the Housing Fair beginning at 7:30 a.m. If you need access to the loading dock for some items, you must come on Tuesday. The loading dock will not be available Wednesday morning.