Colorado landlord and tenant rules

Seayora publishes 15 Colorado rules, covering security deposits, notice periods, late fees, applications, evictions, rent regulation, fair housing, tenant protections, contractor sales tax. Every one is composed from the statute it cites and links to that statute on the state’s own code site.

Colorado at a glance

RuleColorado
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Colorado?30 days
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Colorado?2 months of rent
How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Colorado?10 days to pay
How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Colorado?60 days
How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Colorado?21 days
How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Colorado?$50 or 5%, whichever is greater
Is there a grace period for paying rent in Colorado?7 days
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Colorado?Actual processing cost; any unused part refunded
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Colorado?Only a sheriff executing a writ of restitution may remove a tenant in Colorado.
How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Colorado?The summons states the answer date, which is at least seven days and not more than fourteen days after service.
What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Colorado?Serve a 10-day demand for compliance or possession
Is there rent control in Colorado?Prohibited by state law
Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Colorado?Protected, except some owners of five or fewer homes
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Colorado?Prohibited; no set period
Do contractors charge sales tax in Colorado?Depends on the contract

Security deposits in Colorado

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Colorado?

In Colorado, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. One month by default; a lease may extend it to 60 days. From 1 January 2026 a landlord who keeps 125 % or more of the actual damages is presumed to have kept an unreasonable amount (HB25-1249). This is C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Colorado?

In Colorado, a security deposit is capped at 2 months of rent. Two monthly rent payments (SB23-184, from 7 August 2023). This is C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Notice periods in Colorado

How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Colorado?

In Colorado, before starting a nonpayment case a landlord must serve a written notice giving the tenant 10 days to pay the rent due. This is C.R.S. §§ 38-12-701, 13-40-104, 13-40-107.

Rent increases need 60 days. No statute sets an entry-notice period — 24 hours is customary. Late rent: 10-day demand for compliance (5 for exempt residential agreements).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Colorado?

In Colorado, a landlord must give 60 days written notice before raising the rent. This is C.R.S. §§ 38-12-701, 13-40-104, 13-40-107.

Rent increases need 60 days. No statute sets an entry-notice period — 24 hours is customary. Late rent: 10-day demand for compliance (5 for exempt residential agreements).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Colorado?

In Colorado, a landlord must give 21 days written notice to end a tenancy or decline to renew it. This is C.R.S. §§ 38-12-701, 13-40-104, 13-40-107.

Rent increases need 60 days. No statute sets an entry-notice period — 24 hours is customary. Late rent: 10-day demand for compliance (5 for exempt residential agreements).

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Late fees in Colorado

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.

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.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Is there a grace period for paying rent in Colorado?

Yes. In Colorado, a landlord may not charge a late fee until the rent is at least seven calendar days late. The late fee itself is limited too: a late fee may not exceed $50 or 5% of the past-due rent, whichever is greater. 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.

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.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Applications in Colorado

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Colorado?

In Colorado, a landlord may charge an application fee only if the whole of it goes to the costs of processing the application, the fee must be the same for every applicant for the landlord’s units, and any part not used must be refunded within 20 calendar days. This is C.R.S. § 38-12-903.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Evictions in Colorado

Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Colorado?

No. Only a sheriff executing a writ of restitution may remove a tenant in Colorado. In Colorado a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104, 13-40-107.5, 13-40-111, 13-40-122.

Colorado raised the nonpayment demand from three days to ten in 2019, and again requires a landlord with more than five units to give ten days.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Colorado?

In Colorado, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104, 13-40-107.5, 13-40-111, 13-40-122. The summons states the answer date, which is at least seven days and not more than fourteen days after service.

Colorado raised the nonpayment demand from three days to ten in 2019, and again requires a landlord with more than five units to give ten days.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Colorado?

In Colorado, an eviction for unpaid rent runs through 4 steps, each set by the statute or court rule beside it: (1) Serve a 10-day demand for compliance or possession — C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(d), 13-40-107.5; (2) File a complaint in forcible entry and detainer — C.R.S. § 13-40-110; (3) Answer by the date on the summons — C.R.S. § 13-40-111; (4) Writ of restitution, 48 hours after judgment — C.R.S. § 13-40-122. Colorado raised the nonpayment demand from three days to ten in 2019, and again requires a landlord with more than five units to give ten days. The procedure as a whole is set by C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104, 13-40-107.5, 13-40-111, 13-40-122.

Colorado raised the nonpayment demand from three days to ten in 2019, and again requires a landlord with more than five units to give ten days.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Rent regulation in Colorado

Is there rent control in Colorado?

No. Colorado has no statewide rent control, and its cities and counties cannot simply adopt their own: no county or municipality may enact an ordinance or resolution that would control rent on private residential property or a private residential housing unit. A voluntary agreement with a property owner, or a deed restriction, that limits rent to create affordable housing is not barred. This is C.R.S. § 38-12-301.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Fair housing in Colorado

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Colorado?

No, not in most cases. In Colorado, a landlord may not refuse to rent or show housing to a person, or set different terms, because of the person’s source of income, including public housing assistance. A landlord who owns five or fewer single-family rental homes, and no more than five rental units in all, is not required to accept a federal Housing Choice Voucher for those homes. This is C.R.S. § 24-34-502.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Tenant protections in Colorado

Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Colorado?

No. In Colorado, a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant who makes a good-faith complaint about habitability or joins a tenants’ association by raising the rent, cutting services, ending the lease, bringing or threatening an eviction, or otherwise intimidating the tenant. The statute sets no period of presumed retaliation; a tenant who proves retaliation may end the lease and recover up to three months’ rent or three times actual damages. Separately, the federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to threaten or interfere with anyone for exercising fair housing rights. This is C.R.S. § 38-12-509.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Contractor sales tax in Colorado

Do contractors charge sales tax in Colorado?

In Colorado it depends on how the contract is written. Under a lump-sum contract the contractor is the CONSUMER of the materials and charges the customer no sales tax. Under a separated or time-and-materials contract the contractor is a RETAILER of the materials and must charge the customer sales tax on them. Colorado also has county, city or special-district rates on top of the state rate, so the rate depends on where the job site is, not where the contractor is based. Source: Colorado DOR Sales 6, "Contractors and Retailer-Contractors" (consumer on lump-sum; retailer on time-and-materials).

Colorado has home-rule cities that administer their own sales tax with their own rules and their own returns; a state-plus-county quote can still be wrong inside one.

Full answer and the checkable figures.

Sources

  • C.R.S. § 24-34-502
  • C.R.S. § 38-12-105
  • C.R.S. § 38-12-301
  • C.R.S. § 38-12-509
  • C.R.S. § 38-12-903
  • C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104, 13-40-107.5, 13-40-111, 13-40-122
  • C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103
  • C.R.S. §§ 38-12-701, 13-40-104, 13-40-107
  • Colorado DOR Sales 6, "Contractors and Retailer-Contractors" (consumer on lump-sum; retailer on time-and-materials).

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.

This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.

This is a summary of a state’s published guidance, not tax or legal advice. Rates and rules change, local jurisdictions add their own, and the treatment of a specific job depends on the contract and the work. Check the citation and speak to a CPA or a state tax adviser before relying on it.

How Seayora uses these rules

Security deposits. Seayora computes the deadline this rule sets from the tenancy’s own dates, shows it on the deposit statement, and reminds the landlord before it falls due — so the answer above is not reference material sitting beside the product, it is the rule the product enforces.

Notice periods. Seayora computes the notice this rule requires from the tenancy’s own dates — for a renewal offer, a rent increase or a served notice — and will not serve one that is short unless the owner records a reason. The answer above is the rule the product enforces.

Late fees. 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.

Applications. This page states what the state allows a landlord to charge somebody applying to rent, so a fee can be checked against it before it is advertised or collected.

Evictions. Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.

Rent regulation. This page states whether the state lets its cities control rent, and any statewide limit on an increase, so a renewal can be checked before it is offered. In New York City, Seayora’s rent-increase advisor goes further: it computes the highest increase the Rent Guidelines Board order and the Good Cause standard allow for each apartment, with the law cited, and gives no number where the law is not verified.

Fair housing. This page states whether the state protects renters who pay with a housing voucher, so a listing and its screening rules can be checked against it before they are published. Seayora’s rental search assistant never filters homes by how a renter will pay the rent.

Tenant protections. When an owner prepares an eviction in Seayora, it lists any repair request opened on the unit in the last 180 days that is still open, not to stop the case but because the tenant will raise retaliation and the owner should have an answer. Every repair request keeps the date it was filed.

Contractor sales tax. Seayora resolves this rule on every invoice a contractor raises — per line, from the job site’s own address — and prints the rate, the jurisdiction and this citation on the document itself, so the estimate a customer accepts is the invoice they are billed. Where the rule is more nuanced than a single answer, Seayora refuses to guess a total rather than quoting a confident wrong one.

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