How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Colorado?

In Colorado, a late fee may not exceed $50 or 5% of the past-due rent, whichever is greater. A landlord may not charge a late fee until the rent is at least seven calendar days late. A late fee may not be charged more than once for one late payment unless the total stays within the cap, may not carry interest, may not be taken out of a later rent payment, and must be notified to the tenant in writing within 180 days of the missed due date. This is C.R.S. § 38-12-105.

WhatColorado
Maximum late fee$50 or 5%, whichever is greater
No late fee before7 days

Notes

A late fee may not be charged more than once for one late payment unless the total stays within the cap, may not carry interest, may not be taken out of a later rent payment, and must be notified to the tenant in writing within 180 days of the missed due date.

Source

C.R.S. § 38-12-105 — last checked 2026-09-16.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora charges only the late fee written into the lease, after the grace period the lease sets, and adds no late fee of its own. This page states the statutory ceiling and waiting period so the terms of a lease can be checked against them before it is signed.

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