Colorado landlord-tenant law FAQ
54 answers to common Colorado landlord questions. Every answer is a verified fact with its official source and last-checked date.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Colorado?
Under C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5(1), except as described in subsection (2), a landlord shall not require a tenant to submit a security deposit in an amount that exceeds the amount of two monthly rent payments under the rental agreement. On and after January 1, 2027, subsection (1) does not apply if the landlord and tenant have executed a post-closing occupancy agreement pursuant to a purchase contract whereby the landlord purchased the residence from the tenant. The official 2026 compilation source note states the section was added by L. 2023 (SB 23-184), ch. 402, effective August 7, and the entire section was amended by L. 2026 (SB 26-054), ch. 61, p. 251, § 1, effective August 12, 2026. Example: beginning January 1, 2027, a seller who stays in the home under a post-closing occupancy agreement after selling the residence to the landlord is outside the two-month cap in subsection (1).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5 · last checked 2026-11-12 · Full security deposit limit page
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Colorado?
Within 30 days after the lease ends or the premises are surrendered, whichever is later (a lease may extend this to no more than 60 days). Include a written statement of the exact reasons for anything kept.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-103(1) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full deposit return deadline page
How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental in Colorado?
When the landlord must enter to fix a habitability condition, it must give written notice at least 24 hours in advance, stating the date, time and estimated duration. The exception is conditions that imminently threaten life, health or safety, or ongoing serious damage. The tenant may reasonably decline the proposed time, and the landlord must offer an alternative. Bed-bug inspections require 48 hours' notice (§ 38-12-1004). Title 38 sets no general entry-notice rule outside these situations.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-503(6); § 38-12-1004 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full notice to enter page
How much notice does a landlord need to give to raise the rent in Colorado?
With no written agreement, a landlord may increase residential rent only upon at least 60 days' written notice (C.R.S. § 38-12-701(2)(a)). C.R.S. § 38-12-701(2)(b) provides that a landlord shall not terminate a residential tenancy in which there is no written agreement by serving a tenant with a notice to terminate tenancy with the primary purpose of increasing a tenant's rent in a manner inconsistent with that section. In residential tenancies, a landlord shall not increase rent more than one time in any twelve-month period of consecutive occupancy by the tenant, regardless of whether there is a written rental agreement for the tenancy, the length of the tenancy, or whether the tenant's rental agreement is for a fixed tenancy, a month-to-month tenancy, or an indefinite term (C.R.S. § 38-12-702(1)). C.R.S. § 38-12-701(1) is a 21-day notice rule for certain nonresidential tenancies and is not part of this residential answer. Official source notes: C.R.S. § 38-12-701 was added in L. 2017 (SB 17-245), the entire section was amended in L. 2021 (HB 21-1121, effective June 25, 2021), and subsection (2)(b) was amended in L. 2024 (HB 24-1098, effective April 19, 2024). C.R.S. § 38-12-702 was added in L. 2021 (HB 21-1121, effective June 25, 2021). No 2025 or 2026 amendment to either section appears in the official 2026 CRS source notes.
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-701(2), 38-12-702(1) · last checked 2026-11-12 · Full rent increase notice page
Can a landlord charge a late fee in Colorado, and how much?
A late fee may be charged only if rent is at least 7 calendar days late and the fee is disclosed in the lease; maximum is the greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent. A tenant cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-105(1) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full late fees page
What notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Colorado?
Under C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(d), a tenant or lessee who holds over without permission of the landlord after any default in the payment of rent, after ten days' notice in writing has been duly served requiring in the alternative the payment of the rent or the possession of the premises, has committed an unlawful detention; except that, for a nonresidential agreement or an employer-provided housing agreement, three days' notice is required, and for an exempt residential agreement, five days' notice is required. No such agreement shall contain a waiver by the tenant of that notice requirement. It is not necessary, in order to work a forfeiture of such agreement for nonpayment of rent, to make a demand for such rent on the day it becomes due, but a failure to pay such rent upon demand, when made, works a forfeiture. Under subsection (4)(a), it is not an unlawful detention as described in subsection (1)(d), (1)(d.5), (1)(e), (1)(e.5), or (1)(j) if the tenant or lessee is a victim-survivor of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, domestic violence, or domestic abuse, which was the cause of, contributed to, or resulted in the alleged unlawful detention and which has been documented by at least one of the listed methods (a police report; a valid civil, criminal, or emergency protection order or restraining order issued under article 14 or 14.5 of title 13 or section 18-1-1001; a self-attestation affidavit meeting the statute's content rules; or a letter signed by a qualified third party as described in the statute). Subsection (4)(b) provides that a person is not guilty of an unlawful detention under subsection (4)(a), including for nonpayment of rent, if the tenant agrees to and remains compliant with the requirements described in subsection (4)(e) and if the alleged violation was caused by or resulted from that unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, domestic violence, or domestic abuse against the tenant or lessee. A rental, lease, or other agreement must not contain a waiver of the protections in subsection (4). Subsection (4)(e) and the other paragraphs of subsection (1) are not fully restated here. Example: for an ordinary residential tenancy, the written pay-or-possess notice in subsection (1)(d) is ten days, not three; the three-day period in that subsection applies to a nonresidential agreement or an employer-provided housing agreement.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(d) · last checked 2026-11-12 · Full eviction notice (nonpayment) page
Can cities in Colorado pass rent control?
Yes. Counties and municipalities may not enact any ordinance or resolution that would control rent on private residential property (voluntary affordable-housing agreements and deed restrictions excepted).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-301 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full rent control / state preemption page
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Colorado?
For most residential tenancies, a landlord may not serve a notice to terminate or start an eviction without cause as listed in § 38-12-1303. This includes non-renewal of a month-to-month tenancy. A tenant (or an exempt landlord) ends a month-to-month tenancy with at least 21 days' written notice before the end of the period (§ 13-40-107(2)(c)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-1303; § 13-40-107 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full ending a month-to-month tenancy page
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Colorado?
No state statute requires landlords to pay interest on security deposits; C.R.S. title 38, art. 12, part 1 was reviewed by full-text search.
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-101 to -106 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full interest on deposits page
Is a move-in or move-out inspection checklist required in Colorado?
No state statute requires a move-in inspection or checklist (full-text search of C.R.S. title 38, art. 12; Full-text search by that search). The deposit return rules in § 38-12-103 still apply.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 12; § 38-12-103 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full move-in/move-out checklist page
Is landlord retaliation illegal in Colorado?
A landlord may not retaliate after a good-faith complaint about habitability or safety (to the landlord, a nonprofit or a government agency), joining a tenants' association, or using habitability remedies. Prohibited retaliation includes raising rent, cutting services, ending or not renewing the tenancy, bringing or threatening eviction, harassment, or charging fees.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-509(1) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full retaliation protections page
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Colorado?
A landlord may not remove or exclude a tenant without court process (except for drug-lab cleanup, mutual consent, or abandonment). This includes willfully cutting utilities or removing doors, windows or locks. The tenant can recover actual damages plus the greater of 3 months' rent or $5,000, along with fees, and the court may restore possession.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-510 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full lockouts and utility shutoffs page
What can a tenant do if the landlord won't make repairs in Colorado?
If the warranty of habitability is breached and the problem is not fixed, the tenant may end the lease without penalty with 10 to 60 days' written notice. Other remedies are available under the section, including termination when a condition recurs within 6 months.
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-507(1), 38-12-503 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full repairs and habitability remedies page
What disclosures must a landlord give tenants in Colorado?
Before a lease is signed, the landlord must give a signed radon disclosure with the statutory bold warning and any known test results. A tenant must also receive a copy of a written lease.
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-803(2), 38-12-801(1), (3) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full required lease disclosures page
What can a landlord do with property a tenant leaves behind in Colorado?
Property held under a statutory lien, including a landlord's lien on a tenant's personal property, is presumed abandoned when the owner has not contacted the lienholder for at least 30 days. At least 15 days before selling or disposing of it, the lienholder must mail notice to the owner's last known address by registered or certified mail.
Verified Source: C.R.S. 38-20-102, 38-20-116 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full abandoned property page
Can a tenant break a lease early for domestic violence or military service in Colorado?
A victim of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, domestic violence or domestic abuse who fears imminent danger may end the lease by written notice with evidence (a police report from the past 60 days, a protection order, or a qualifying professional's statement). The tenant owes one month's rent after moving out, payable within 90 days.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-402(2) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full early termination (dv/military) page
Is there a grace period before a late fee can be charged in Colorado?
No late fee may be charged until rent is at least 7 calendar days late. Fees are capped at the greater of $50 or 5% of past-due rent and must be disclosed in the lease. Tenants cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-105(1) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full late fee grace period page
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Colorado?
A landlord may charge an application fee only if the whole fee covers the landlord's actual or average cost of processing the application. A landlord must also accept a portable tenant screening report from an applicant (§ 38-12-904(1.5), HB23-1099). Landlords must accept a portable tenant screening report that meets the statute when an applicant provides one, and may not charge that applicant an application fee (C.R.S. § 38-12-904(1.5)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-903; § 38-12-904(1.5) (HB23-1099) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full application fees & screening page
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 or other source of income in Colorado?
Yes, with exemptions. Colorado bans refusing to rent because of a person's source of income (C.R.S. § 24-34-502(1)(l)). The source-of-income rules in (1)(l) to (1)(p) do not apply to a landlord with three or fewer units for rent (§ 24-34-502(1.5)(a)). Separately, a landlord with five or fewer single-family rental homes and no more than five total units need not accept federal housing choice vouchers for those homes (§ 24-34-502(1.7)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 24-34-502(1)(l), (1.5)(a), (1.7) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full source of income discrimination page
How does the eviction court process work in Colorado?
The summons orders the tenant to appear and answer 7 to 14 days after it is issued, and no default judgment for possession may be entered before close of business on the appearance date.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 13-40-111(1) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full eviction court process & timeline page
Can a tenant fix something and deduct it from rent in Colorado?
For a habitability breach, the tenant may hire a licensed or qualified professional (not a relative) and deduct the cost from rent. The tenant must give 10 days' written notice (48 hours if health or safety is at risk), give the landlord time to fix it, and provide a receipt. A broken appliance may be replaced after 3 days' notice.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-507(1)(c) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full repair and deduct page
Does a landlord have to provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Colorado?
In a rental unit with fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage, the owner must replace any missing or non-working carbon monoxide alarm before a new tenant moves in, provide batteries at move-in, and replace or fix an alarm when the tenant reports a problem.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-45-104(3)(a) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full smoke & co detectors page
What happens if a tenant stays after the lease ends in Colorado?
Under Colorado's eviction statute, holding over after the lease term ends or after termination counts as unlawful detention only for nonresidential property and for the residential premises exempted in § 38-12-1302 (the exempt categories under the for-cause eviction law). For other residential tenancies, the for-cause rules in part 13 of art. 12 apply instead.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(c) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full holdover tenants page
What is the domestic violence early termination rule in Colorado?
A victim of domestic violence, domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior or stalking who fears imminent danger may end the lease by written notice with evidence, and then owes one month's rent after moving out, due within 90 days. Code text: "then the residential tenant may terminate the residential rental agreement or lease agreement and vacate the premises without further obligation."
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-402(2) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full domestic violence early termination page
What is the military lease termination (federal scra, all states) rule in Colorado?
Federal law that applies in every state: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a tenant may end a residential lease after entering military service, or after getting permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days, by delivering written notice and a copy of the orders to the landlord. For a lease with monthly rent, termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice. Any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Code text: "The lessee on a lease described in subsection (b) may, at the lessee's option, terminate the lease at any time after" entering military service, the date of the military orders, or the date of a stop movement order (50 U.S.C. 3955(a)(1)(A)-(C)).
Verified Source: 50 U.S.C. § 3955 (federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full military lease termination (federal scra, all states) page
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Colorado?
Landlords filing an eviction (forcible entry and detainer) in county court pay the county court civil docket fee: $85 when the money judgment sought is under $1,000, $105 for $1,000 to under $15,000, and $135 for $15,000 to $25,000. Tenants pay $0 to file an answer, even with a counterclaim.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 13-32-101(1)(c)(I), (1)(c)(V) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full eviction filing fees page
Can a landlord deny a tenant for criminal or credit history in Colorado?
Colorado limits how far back landlords may look when they use criminal or credit history. Arrest records may not be considered at any time, and most convictions older than five years may not be considered (with listed exceptions such as meth manufacture/distribution, sex-offender registration offenses, and certain person crimes). Rental and credit history may not be considered beyond seven years. Landlords must also accept a portable tenant screening report that meets the statute when an applicant provides one. Statute text: "the landlord shall not consider an arrest record of a prospective tenant from any time or any conviction of a prospective tenant that occurred more than five years before the date of the application" (C.R.S. § 38-12-904(1)(b); credit look-back § 38-12-904(1)(a)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-904; § 38-12-904(1.5) (HB23-1099) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full criminal & credit history rules page
What is the property manager licensing rule in Colorado?
In Colorado, renting or leasing real estate for others for compensation is a real estate broker activity that requires a license from the Real Estate Commission. A salaried on-site manager working for the owner of an apartment building is exempt for customary on-site duties. Statute text: "It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, association, or corporation to engage in the business or capacity of real estate broker in this state without first having obtained a license from the commission" (C.R.S. §§ 12-10-201(6)(a), 12-10-202 (2024 C.R.S.)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 12-10-201(6)(a), 12-10-202 (2024 C.R.S.) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full property manager licensing page
Does a landlord need just cause to evict in Colorado?
Since April 19, 2024, Colorado landlords generally need cause to end a residential tenancy, either a listed fault ground (such as nonpayment or a lease violation) or a no-fault ground (demolition or conversion, substantial renovation, or owner or family move-in) with at least 90 days' written notice. It does not apply to tenants of less than 12 months, short-term rentals, some owner-occupied 1-3 unit homes, or employer-provided housing. Statute text: "A landlord shall not serve a notice to terminate tenancy or a demand for possession or otherwise proceed with an action for unlawful detainer pursuant to article 40 of title 13 unless there is cause for the eviction." (C.R.S. §§ 38-12-1302, 38-12-1303 (2024 C.R.S.)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-1302, 38-12-1303 (2024 C.R.S.) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full just-cause eviction page
What is the tenant buyout disclosures rule in Colorado?
The state landlord-tenant statute (C.R.S. Title 38, art. 12 (Tenants and Landlords), 2024 C.R.S., reviewed by full-text search on 2026-10-17: full-text search for "buyout" and payments to vacate) has no provision on tenant buyout agreements or buyout disclosures. Local ordinances or other state or federal laws may still apply.
Verified Source: C.R.S. Title 38, art. 12 (Tenants and Landlords), 2024 C.R.S. · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full tenant buyout disclosures page
What is the eviction record sealing rule in Colorado?
In Colorado every eviction case record is suppressed from public view as soon as the case is filed. It becomes public only if the court enters an order giving the landlord possession, and even then the parties can agree to keep it suppressed. Courts may not publish the parties' names online. (2024 C.R.S.) Statute text: "Upon the commencement of an action pursuant to this article 40, any court record of the action is a suppressed court record." (C.R.S. § 13-40-110.5 (2024 C.R.S.)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 13-40-110.5 (2024 C.R.S.) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full eviction record sealing page
What is the pet deposits/fees & service/esa animals rule in Colorado?
Colorado caps an extra pet deposit at $300, and it must be refundable. Monthly pet rent can't exceed the greater of $35 or 1.5% of the monthly rent. (2024 C.R.S.) Statute text: "A landlord shall not demand or receive an additional security deposit of more than three hundred dollars from a prospective or current tenant as a condition of permitting the tenant's pet animal to reside at the residential premises with the tenant, and the security deposit must be refundable to the tenant." (C.R.S. § 38-12-106 (2024 C.R.S.)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-106 (2024 C.R.S.) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full pet deposits/fees & service/esa animals page
What is the manufactured / mobile home parks rule in Colorado?
Under Colorado's Mobile Home Park Act, park management can end a home owner's tenancy only for the reasons the Act lists, must give at least 10 days' written notice to pay rent or remove the home for nonpayment, and must give 60 days' written notice before any rent increase. (2024 C.R.S.) Statute text: "The management of a mobile home park may terminate a tenancy only for one or more of the following reasons" (C.R.S. §§ 38-12-203(1), 38-12-204(1)-(2) (Mobile Home Park Act, 2024 C.R.S.)).
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-203(1), 38-12-204(1)-(2) (Mobile Home Park Act, 2024 C.R.S.) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full manufactured / mobile home parks page
What federal protections does a tenant have after foreclosure in Colorado?
Federal law that applies in every state: under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (made permanent in 2018), whoever takes over a home through foreclosure must give a bona fide tenant at least 90 days' notice to vacate. A tenant with a bona fide lease signed before the notice of foreclosure (the date title passes) can stay until the lease ends, unless the unit is sold to a buyer who will live there as a primary residence; that buyer must still give the 90-day notice. Month-to-month and at-will tenants also get the 90 days. A tenancy is bona fide only if the tenant is not the borrower or the borrower's child, spouse or parent, the deal was at arm's length, and the rent is not far below market (unless it is subsidized). State or local laws with longer notice or more protection still apply, and any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Statute text: "the provision, by such successor in interest of a notice to vacate to any bona fide tenant at least 90 days before the effective date of such notice" (Pub. L. 111-22, SEC. 702(a)(1)).
Verified Source: Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-22, div. A, title VII, SEC. 702 (12 U.S.C. 5220 note), as amended by Pub. L. 111-203, SEC. 1484, and restored by Pub. L. 115-174, SEC. 304 (federal law, all states) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full tenant rights after foreclosure (federal ptfa, all states) page
Does Colorado have rent control?
Counties and cities may not enact rent control on private residential housing.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-301 · last checked 2026-10-22 · Full rent control / stabilization page
What is the warranty of habitability in Colorado?
Every rental agreement includes a warranty that the premises are fit for human habitation at move-in and will be kept that way for the whole tenancy.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-503 · last checked 2026-10-22 · Full habitability / warranty of habitability page
What disclosures must a landlord give in Colorado?
Since January 1, 2025, every rental agreement must include a statement in at least 12-point bold type that every tenant is entitled to safe and healthy housing under the warranty of habitability.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-503 · last checked 2026-10-22 · Full required disclosures (mold, lead, radon, bedbug, asbestos, flood zone) page
What is the eviction notices for other grounds (lease violation, no-fault) rule in Colorado?
For most no-fault evictions (such as demolition or conversion), the landlord must give the tenant at least 90 days' written notice to leave.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-1303 · last checked 2026-10-22 · Full eviction notices for other grounds (lease violation, no-fault) page
What is the deposit bank holding / separate account rule in Colorado?
No state statute requiring landlords to keep ordinary residential security deposits in a separate account was found in C.R.S. title 38, article 12. A separate trust account rule applies only to mobile home park deposits.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 12 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full deposit bank holding / separate account page
What is the scra / military lease termination rule in Colorado?
No state statute lets service members end a residential lease early; C.R.S. title 38, art. 12 and title 28 (military and veterans) were reviewed by full-text search. Federal SCRA rules still apply.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 12; title 28; § 38-12-101 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full scra / military lease termination page
Do landlords need a rental license or registration in Colorado?
No state statute requiring landlords to register rental units was found in C.R.S. title 38, article 12.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 12 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full rental licensing / registration page
Does a landlord have to give notice before not renewing a lease in Colorado?
For covered tenancies (generally tenants of at least 12 months, with exemptions such as some owner-occupied small buildings and short-term rentals), a landlord may not end or refuse to renew without cause. No-fault endings (such as demolition, conversion, or owner move-in) are allowed only at the end of the lease term and with at least 90 days' written notice.
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-1302, 38-12-1303 (2024) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full lease renewal / non-renewal notice page
What is the tenant relocation assistance rule in Colorado?
No state statute requiring landlords to pay tenant relocation assistance was found in C.R.S. title 38, article 12 (2024 edition).
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, article 12 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full tenant relocation assistance page
What is the right to cure / redeem rule in Colorado?
For nonpayment, a residential tenant must get 10 days' written notice to pay the rent or give up possession. For other lease violations, the notice must give 10 days to comply. Tenants cannot waive the nonpayment notice. Nonresidential and employer-provided housing use 3 days and exempt residential agreements use 5 days.
Verified Source: C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(d), (1)(e) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full right to cure / redeem page
What are the Airbnb / short-term rental rules in Colorado?
Short-term rental properties are excluded from Colorado's for-cause eviction law (C.R.S. 38-12-1301 and following).
Verified Source: C.R.S. 38-12-1302(1)(a) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full short-term rentals (airbnb) page
What happens to the lease when a tenant dies in Colorado?
No state statute addresses ending a lease or handling property after a tenant's death; C.R.S. title 38, art. 12 was reviewed by full-text search.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 12; § 38-12-101 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full death of a tenant page
Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Colorado?
If a tenant proves a warranty of habitability defense in an eviction case, the court denies possession to the landlord, conditioned on the tenant paying any rent owed to the landlord or into the court registry within 30 days after the amount is set. The court also orders repairs.
Verified Source: C.R.S. 38-12-507(2)(g) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full rent withholding / escrow page
What is the rental / transient occupancy tax rule in Colorado?
Colorado state sales tax applies to the entire amount charged for rooms or accommodations, including hotels, guesthouses and similar lodging. Permanent residents with a written occupancy agreement of at least 30 consecutive days are exempt. Local lodging taxes may also apply.
Verified Source: C.R.S. 39-26-102(11), 39-26-104(1)(f), 39-26-704(3)(a) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full rental / transient occupancy tax page
Can the city inspect my rental property in Colorado?
No state statute creating a residential rental inspection program was found in article 12 of title 38 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 12 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full rental inspections page
What rights does a tenant have after foreclosure in Colorado?
No state statute gives residential tenants a right to stay after foreclosure; C.R.S. title 38, art. 38 was reviewed by full-text search. Federal law (Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act) may apply.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 38; § 38-38-305.5 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full foreclosure tenant protections page
What is the rent receipts, payment methods & cash rule in Colorado?
Under C.R.S. § 38-12-802, a landlord who receives a rent payment in person in cash or by money order must give the tenant a receipt at that time showing the amount and date. For other payments, the landlord must give a receipt within seven days if the tenant asks, unless an existing procedure already gives the tenant a record of the amount, recipient and date. A receipt may be electronic unless the tenant asks for paper, and may be part of a billing statement. Separately, HB25-1090 (2025 Colo. Sess. Laws ch. 94, effective January 1, 2026 unless a referendum petition was filed) added C.R.S. § 6-1-737(4)(d): a landlord may not require a fee for processing rent or other payments if a means of payment that is cost-free to the tenant is not reasonably accessible to the tenant. Neither law otherwise requires a landlord to accept cash or any particular payment method.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-802; § 6-1-737(4)(d) (HB25-1090) · last checked 2026-10-31 · Full rent receipts, payment methods & cash page
Can a tenant sublet an apartment in Colorado?
C.R.S. title 38, art. 12 (official text, 2024 publication, full-text search on 2026-10-31) has no general provision on subletting or assigning a lease. One narrow mobile home park rule applies: under § 38-12-1404(2), when a seller owns more than one mobile home in the same park and is not the park landlord, the seller may not enter a rent-to-own contract unless the park rental agreement or a binding addendum specifically permits the seller to sublease and sell the home and the seller has met the park landlord's requirements for sublessees and sales. Otherwise the lease terms control unless another law applies. Local ordinances or other state or federal laws may still apply.
Verified Source: C.R.S. title 38, art. 12; § 38-12-1404(2) quoted · last checked 2026-10-31 · Full subletting & assignment page
What is the condo conversion protections rule in Colorado?
Under C.R.S. § 38-33-112, a developer who converts an existing multiple-unit dwelling into condominium units must, when the declaration is recorded, notify each residential tenant in writing, sent by certified or registered mail with return receipt (complete on mailing to the tenant's last-known address) or delivered in person. That notice is the notice to terminate the tenancy, but a tenancy cannot end before the existing lease expires unless the tenant and the developer both agree. If less than 90 days remain on the lease when the notice is mailed or delivered, or there is no written lease, the developer cannot end the tenancy less than 90 days after the notice unless both agree, and a tenant with less than 90 days left on the lease may hold over for the rest of that 90-day period on the same lease terms if the tenant pays rent on time and meets the other lease conditions. The tenancy can end within the 90 days if the tenant agrees in exchange for the developer paying all moving expenses or other agreed consideration, or if the tenant fails to pay rent on time. Anyone who applies to rent after the declaration is recorded must be told of the recording, and leases signed after recording may allow termination on less than 90 days if they conspicuously disclose the plan to convert. Counties and cities may not adopt or enforce rules that conflict with this notice procedure. Example: if a month-to-month tenant with no written lease gets the notice, the developer cannot end the tenancy until at least 90 days after the notice is mailed or delivered, unless the tenant agrees or stops paying rent on time.
Verified Source: C.R.S. § 38-33-112 · last checked 2026-11-12 · Full condo conversion protections page
What is the guest & occupancy limits rule in Colorado?
A full-text search of C.R.S. title 38, article 12 (Tenants and Landlords), official 2026 Colorado Revised Statutes, found no statewide numeric occupancy cap or guest-stay limit that applies to ordinary residential tenancies. For mobile home parks, C.R.S. § 38-12-214 treats park rules that restrict who may visit the mobile home or who may reside there, or that impose resident occupancy limits stricter than applicable federal, state, and local occupancy laws, as rules that impose restrictions or requirements on the home owner's right to control what happens in or to the mobile home. A rule of that kind is presumed unreasonable under § 38-12-214(1)(c) unless management demonstrates that the rule is strictly necessary to protect the health and safety of park residents and provides that protection at the lowest expense to home owners as is reasonably possible; is strictly necessary to comply with or enforce a federal, state, or local government requirement, including local nuisance laws enforced for the welfare of other residents; is voluntarily agreed to by the home owner, without coercion or misrepresentation by management, in which case it binds only home owners who have communicated their written consent; or, in a park managed by home owners, was established by the managing home owner organization in accordance with its bylaws and more than fifty percent of the home owners are members of the organization. Subsection (2)(c) does not preclude a landlord from conducting any lawful screening of a rental application. Separately, § 38-12-223 requires a mobile home park landlord to retain, throughout the tenancy and for twelve months after it ends, a record of each request from the home owner or resident relating to guests, roommates, occupants, co-lessees, or sub-lessees, including whether the landlord approved or disapproved the request. Other laws, including local occupancy ordinances, may still apply.
Verified Source: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-214, 38-12-223; C.R.S. tit. 38, art. 12 (full-text search) · last checked 2026-11-12 · Full guest & occupancy limits page
Colorado cities with their own rules
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