Landlord laws
Colorado landlord-tenant law
Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 38 art. 12, Title 13 art. 40 and C.R.S. 24-34-502 (official downloads, Office of Legislative Legal Services)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | A security deposit may not exceed two months' rent. A separate pet deposit may not exceed $300 and must be refundable. Monthly pet rent may not exceed the greater of $35 or 1.5% of monthly rent. From Jan. 1, 2027, the two-month cap doesn't apply to a post-closing occupancy agreement in which the landlord bought the home from the tenant. | C.R.S. 38-12-102.5; 38-12-106 | Verified |
| Deposit return deadline | Return the deposit within 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the unit, whichever is later. The lease may extend this to no more than 60 days. If you keep any part, give a written statement listing the exact reasons, with documentation, and the balance. You may deduct only for unpaid rent, unpaid utilities, other lawful charges listed in the lease, and damage beyond normal wear and tear that didn't exist before the tenancy. Wrongful withholding costs treble the amount withheld plus attorney fees, after the tenant gives 7 days' notice. | C.R.S. 38-12-103(1)–(3.5) | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Not specified in state statute. Not specified in state statute. Part 1 of the landlord-tenant article sets no requirement to pay interest or to hold the deposit in a separate account. | C.R.S. 38-12-101 to 38-12-106 | Not in statute |
| Late fee cap and grace period | A late fee is allowed only if it is in the rental agreement and rent is at least 7 calendar days late. It may not exceed the greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent. You may charge it only once per late payment, may not charge interest on it, and must give written notice of it within 180 days of the due date. You may not evict for unpaid late fees alone. | C.R.S. 38-12-105(1) | Verified |
| Landlord entry notice | Not specified in state statute. Not specified in state statute as a general entry-notice rule. When entry is needed to fix a habitability condition, give at least 24 hours' written notice with the date, time and estimated duration. The tenant may reasonably decline that time and agree an alternative. Note: General entry rights otherwise depend on the lease (contract law). | C.R.S. 38-12-503(2)(b)(III), (6) | Not in statute |
| Rent increase notice | You may raise rent only once in any 12-month period of consecutive occupancy, whatever the lease type. Where there is no written lease, give at least 60 days' written notice of an increase. | C.R.S. 38-12-701(2); 38-12-702 | Verified |
| Rent control status | State law bars counties and municipalities from enacting rent control on private residential property. Voluntary affordable-housing agreements and deed restrictions are exempt. | C.R.S. 38-12-301 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | Serve a written demand giving 10 days to pay rent or give up possession before filing. Three days applies only to nonresidential, employer-provided housing and certain exempt residential agreements. | C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(d); 13-40-106 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | For breach of a material lease term, serve 10 days' written notice to comply or give up possession. For a repeat breach of the same term after a prior notice, the tenancy ends 10 days after written notice, with no chance to cure. Substantial violations (such as certain crimes) follow separate rules. | C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(e), (e.5); 13-40-107.5 | Verified |
| Required disclosures | Give the tenant a signed copy of the written lease within 7 days. The lease must name the landlord or authorized agent and their address, and must include the source-of-income discrimination statement (unless you own 5 or fewer rental units). Before signing, give the written radon disclosure and get the tenant's signed acknowledgment. For pre-1978 housing, the federal lead-paint disclosure also applies (40 CFR 745.113). | C.R.S. 38-12-801(1), (2), (2.5); 38-12-803 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Colorado adds creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran or military status, ancestry and source of income. Its other classes match federal law. | C.R.S. 24-34-502(1)(a), (1)(l)–(m) | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
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Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.