Colorado Landlord-Tenant Law and Regulations

Colorado Landlord-Tenant Guide for Landlords

Colorado landlords need to be familiar with state landlord-tenant laws when managing their rental units. This includes everything from screening laws and lease requirements to renewal laws and eviction procedures. 

Complying with Colorado landlord-tenant laws helps avoid disputes, ensure compliance with all state laws, and build strong landlord-tenant relationships. This guide gives property owners an overview of key laws to ensure the property management process goes smoothly. 

Colorado Rental Application and Tenant Screening Laws for Landlords 

How Much Can Colorado Landlords Charge for Application and Screening Fees? 

Landlords may only charge an application fee that covers the actual expenses incurred by landlords to run a screening report. 

A landlord who collects an application fee must: 

• Charge every applicant the same fee 
• Provide applicants with a disclosure of what fees will be used for or an itemized list of screening expenses 
• Provide applicants with a receipt for the application fee 
• Return any portion of the screening fee that is not used

Do Colorado Landlords Have to Accept Portable Tenant Screening Reports? 

Landlords who accept a portable tenant screening report (PTSR) may not charge an additional tenant screening fee. Landlords must accept any portable screening reports completed within the last 30 days. 

Note: Colorado HB25-1236 states that applicants using housing subsidies do not have to include credit scores, credit history, or adverse credit events in their PTSR. 

Fair Housing Laws

When screening tenants, landlords must comply with applicable fair housing laws. Landlords must comply with federal fair housing laws and Colorado fair housing laws. Federal fair housing laws prohibit Landlords from discriminating against applicants based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability. Colorado adds additional protected classes and prohibits landlords from discriminating against applicants based on ancestry, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, and source of income (for example, section 8 applicants). 

To ensure compliance with fair housing laws, landlords should: 

1. Create objective screening criteria before listing a unit. 
2. Apply the same screening criteria to all applicants. 
3. Document approvals and denials and keep records of all screening reports. 
4. When required, provide applicants with an adverse action notice or denial notice. 
5. Make tenant decisions based on objective business factors and avoid subjective decisions about applicants. 

What Must Be Included in a Colorado Residential Lease Agreement? 

A Colorado lease agreement should include the names of all parties, the property address – including unit number, the lease term, the rent amount, rent due date, and security deposit information. A good lease should also cover maintenance responsibilities, property rules, renewal information, all property rules, yard maintenance requirements, pest control policies, guest rules, and pet policies. 

Beyond these general terms, Colorado leases must also include: 

• Authorized Agent Information: The name and address of the landlord or the landlord’s authorized agent. 
• Lead-based paint disclosure: required for all units built before 1978. 
• Total Price Disclosure: Landlords must clearly disclose the total monthly price of the rental unit, including all required fees and costs. 
• Radon disclosure: Before lease signing, landlords must provide tenants with a radon disclosure, explaining the risks of radon and disclosing any knowledge of the property’s radon levels; landlords must also provide the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment brochure. 

Our Colorado Lease Agreement includes all required terms, clauses, and disclosures. Customize it online in minutes. 

Create Colorado Lease Agreement

Colorado Security Deposit Laws for 2026 

How much can Colorado landlords charge for the security deposit in 2026? 

As of January 1, 2026, Colorado security deposits are capped at one month’s rent. Recent changes to Colorado laws give tenants the right to pay the security deposit in installments over 6 months. 

How long do landlords have to return the security deposit? 

A landlord must return the security deposit within 30 days of the end of the tenancy. The lease agreement may extend this deadline to 60 days from the end of the tenancy; however, this extension must be in writing in the lease agreement, and the deadline may not exceed 60 days. 

What are legitimate reasons for withholding portions of the security deposit? 

Colorado law allows landlords to withhold portions of the security deposit for: 

• Damage beyond normal wear and tear 
• Unpaid rent 
• Cleaning or repairs due to the condition of the property when the tenant moved out 
• Unpaid utilities owed by the tenant 

If a landlord withholds any portion of the security deposit, the landlord should provide the tenant with an itemized statement of deductions or security deposit accounting statement. 

Colorado Rent Payment Laws: Late Fees, Rent Increases, and Rent Control Laws, and Electronic Payments

Can Colorado landlords charge late fees? 

Colorado landlords may charge late fees, but there are some important regulations that landlords need to be familiar with. 

1. There is a statewide grace period of 7 days. Late fees cannot be charged until rent is at least 7 days late. 
2. Late fees may not exceed $50 or 5% of the rent due, whichever is greater. 
3. Late fees must be disclosed in the lease agreement. 
4. Nonpayment of late fees is not grounds for an eviction.

Are there statewide rent control laws in Colorado? 

There is no statewide rent control law in Colorado. Landlords may increase rent by any amount after providing proper notice. Rent cannot usually be increased during a fixed-term lease unless the lease specifically allows for it. 

When increasing rent at renewal, landlords should issue proper notice of the rent increase, which is usually 30-60 days, depending on the terms of the lease. 

Can Colorado landlords require that tenants make payments electronically? 

In most cases, Colorado law requires landlords to offer tenants at least one payment option that is not electronic. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that tenants who do not have access to electronic banking have a method of paying rent. 

What Are the Rights and Responsibilities of Colorado Landlords? 

Colorado landlords have distinct rights and responsibilities. Landlords must: 

1. Provide a habitable rental property, including functioning heat, plumbing, and electrical systems.
2. Make necessary repairs. When landlords receive notice of needed repairs, they must address them promptly. For conditions that affect a tenant’s life, health, or safety, the landlord must take remedial action within 24 hours; for other issues that impact habitability, the landlord must start remedial action within 72 hours of receiving notice. For safety issues, repairs should be completed within about 7 days. For other habitability issues, repairs should be completed in about 14 days. 
3. Comply with all security deposit regulations. 
4. Comply with federal and Colorado Fair Housing laws. 
5. Comply with eviction procedures and requirements. 
6. Respect tenant privacy and only enter for legitimate reasons after providing adequate notice. 
7. Comply with all lease terms and state landlord-tenant laws. 

Colorado landlords who comply with all responsibilities have the right to: 

1. Collect rent 
2. Screen applicants and only select qualified tenants 
3. Collect and hold a security deposit 
4. Enter the rental for legitimate reasons after giving adequate notice 
5. Enforce lease rules and provisions 
6. Terminate the tenancy due to unpaid rent or lease violations

Colorado Tenant Rights and Responsibilities Landlords Should Know 

Landlords need to be familiar with the rights of Colorado tenants to ensure legal compliance. Colorado tenants have a right to: 

• A rental unit that complies with Colorado’s warranty of habitability, which means essential services work and the unit does not pose safety or health risks. 
• Timely repairs of any issues affecting the unit’s habitability. 
• Receive the security deposit and/or an itemized list of deductions within the required timeline (either 30 or 60 days). 
• Protection from unlawful evictions. 
• Protection from discrimination based on Colorado’s fair housing laws and federal fair housing laws
• Protection from retaliation for exercising legal rights as a tenant 

Tenants receive these legal rights when they comply with all tenant responsibilities, including: 

• Paying rent on time 
• Keeping the rental unit in good condition, with no health or safety hazards
• Notifying the landlord of needed repairs 
• Complying with the terms of the lease agreement 

Colorado Eviction Notice Requirements and Procedures for Landlords 

To remove a tenant from a rental unit, landlords must comply with all state-required eviction procedures. A landlord may evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent, a substantial lease violation, or conduct that creates a nuisance or dangerous conditions for other tenants. 

Before terminating a lease for cause, landlords must provide tenants with adequate notice. The required notice periods are: 

• Notice to Terminate for Nonpayment of Rent: Landlords must provide tenants with a Colorado notice to terminate for nonpayment of rent. This notice gives tenants 10 days to pay rent or vacate the premises. Note: Landlords who own 5 or fewer rental units may issue a 5-day notice to pay or quit. 
• Notice to Cure or Quit: If a tenant violates the lease agreement, landlords should issue a 10-day notice to cure or quit, which gives the tenant 10 days to cure the lease violation or vacate the property. Note: Landlords who own 5 or fewer rental units may issue a 5-day notice to cure or quit. 
• Notice to Terminate for Substantial Lease Violations: If a tenant commits a substantial lease violation, landlords may issue a 3-day notice to quit, requiring the tenant to vacate the property within 3 days. A substantial lease violation includes: a drug-related felony, conduct that endangers other tenants or individuals, and criminal acts at the property that include a potential prison term of at least 180 days. 
• Repeat Violations: If the landlord has served a notice to cure within the last 6 months and the tenant repeats the same violation, the landlord can issue a 10-day notice to quit with no opportunity to cure. 

After a landlord has issued adequate notice, if the tenant still has unpaid rent or is violating the lease agreement, the landlord may file a Colorado forcible entry and detainer complaint. Landlords need to comply with all procedural requirements when filing an eviction, and it’s a good practice to consult with a local attorney to ensure legal compliance. 

Colorado Landlord-Tenant Laws FAQs: 2026 Guide 

Can a Landlord charge an application fee? 

Colorado landlords may charge an application fee that covers the actual cost of processing the application and screening the applicant. Landlords must charge the same fee to all applicants and include a disclosure of the costs or an itemized list of the application expenses. If the full application fee is not used for screening, unused portions should be returned to the applicant. 

Do Colorado landlords have to accept a portable screening report? 

Colorado landlords must accept a portable screening report completed in the last 30 days. If an applicant has a valid PTSR, landlords may not charge a screening fee. 

Does Colorado have statewide rent control laws? 

Colorado does not have a statewide rent control law. Colorado law prohibits the state and municipalities from having rent control or rent stabilization laws. 

How much notice do landlords need to give before entering a rental unit? 

Colorado law requires landlords to give 24 hours’ written notice before entering a rental unit. Legitimate reasons for landlords to enter are: maintenance, repairs, inspections, and property showings. In emergency situations, landlords may enter immediately without providing any notice. 

How should official notices be delivered to tenants? 

The type of delivery required depends on the specific type of notice. As a general rule, official Colorado notices should be delivered personally by a process server or third party, posted conspicuously on the property, or sent by certified/first-class mail. For eviction notices, personal service and posting on the property are generally preferred.