Yuma County covers 2,394 square miles of Colorado’s eastern high plains, a broad expanse of dryland and irrigated agricultural land along the Republican River and its tributaries, bordering Nebraska to the north and Kansas to the east. The county was established in 1889 and named for the city of Yuma, Arizona — a name that was itself borrowed from the Yuma (Quechan) people of the lower Colorado River. The county seat is Wray (~2,200), a compact agricultural city on the Republican River at the intersection of US-34 and CO-59, approximately 180 miles east of Denver and 50 miles south of the Nebraska border. The county’s second-largest community is the city of Yuma (~3,500), located in the central-western portion of the county along CO-59 and US-36.
Yuma County is one of Colorado’s most productive agricultural counties outside of Weld, generating significant corn, dryland wheat, sunflower, and cattle output from both irrigated land along the Republican River and dryland fields on the upland plains. The Republican River — shared with Nebraska and Kansas under a historic interstate compact — is the county’s most important natural resource and the source of the irrigation water that makes corn production possible in eastern Colorado. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by CRS Title 38, Article 12. No rent control. Evictions are filed in Yuma County District Court in Wray (13th Judicial District).
SB 24-094: 72hr begin remedial action; 24hr life-safety
Late Fee Grace Period
7 days; max $50 or 5% past-due rent
Security Deposit Return
30 days; triple damages for wrongful withholding
Court
Yuma County District Court — Wray (13th Judicial District)
HB 25-1249
Security deposit cap: 1 month’s rent (effective Jan 1, 2026)
Yuma County Landlord Rules & Colorado Law
CRS Title 38 applied to Wray & Yuma’s Republican River agricultural market — practical considerations for landlords in Colorado’s corn belt
Category
Details
Wray & Yuma: A Two-City Market
Yuma County’s rental market is divided between its two principal communities with a combined population of approximately 5,700 — roughly 57% of the county’s total. Wray (~2,200), the county seat, sits in the Republican River valley at the eastern edge of the county and serves as the county’s government, healthcare, and legal services hub. Yuma (~3,500) is the county’s slightly larger commercial center, positioned at the junction of CO-59 and US-36 in the county’s western portion. Both communities have small but stable rental markets anchored by county government employees, school district staff, healthcare workers, and the agricultural service economy. The county’s population has been relatively stable over recent decades compared to some eastern Colorado plains counties, reflecting its more diverse agricultural base — irrigated corn as well as dryland wheat — that sustains a larger permanent farming workforce than purely dryland counties.
Just-Cause Eviction (HB 24-1098)
Effective April 19, 2024. 90-day written notice required for no-fault non-renewals of tenancies of 12+ months. Valid causes include: nonpayment, material lease violations, criminal activity, nuisance, landlord/family occupancy, sale, substantial renovation, or withdrawal from the rental market. Exemptions: owner-occupied SFH/duplex/triplex, sub-12-month tenancies, STRs, and employer housing. Agricultural employer housing provided on qualifying farm or ranch operations may qualify for the employer housing exemption, which is relevant in Yuma County’s farming economy. One rent increase per 12-month period maximum.
The Republican River & Irrigated Agriculture
The Republican River — which rises in eastern Colorado and flows northeast through Yuma County before entering Nebraska and Kansas — is the defining geographic and economic feature of the county. The Republican River Compact of 1943, negotiated among Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, governs the allocation of the river’s waters among the three states and has been a source of legal dispute and renegotiation for decades. Colorado’s Republican River allocation supports irrigated agriculture in the Republican River valley, where center-pivot irrigation systems produce irrigated corn — the county’s dominant crop — as well as alfalfa, soybeans, and other crops. This irrigated agriculture sustains a larger and more diverse farming workforce than dryland-only counties, providing more stable year-round agricultural employment and rental demand. Dryland wheat, sunflower, and millet production on the county’s uplands rounds out the agricultural economy. Yuma County is one of the rare eastern Colorado counties where both irrigated and dryland farming co-exist at significant scale, giving it somewhat greater economic resilience than purely dryland neighbors.
High Plains Climate & Habitability
Yuma County’s high-plains climate mirrors its eastern Colorado neighbors: cold winters with temperatures dropping to -10°F and below, hot summers exceeding 100°F, persistent winds year-round, frequent severe thunderstorms with large hail in summer, and occasional blizzards in winter. SB 24-094’s requirements to begin remedial action within 72 hours and address life-safety issues within 24 hours apply fully. At these temperatures, heating system failures are medical emergencies. The nearest significant contractor base is in Burlington (Kit Carson County), Sterling (Logan County), or Akron (Washington County), all approximately 50–75 miles distant. Pre-arrange HVAC and plumbing contractor relationships before entering any tenancy. Hail damage to roofs is a recurring maintenance risk; maintain adequate insurance coverage.
Security Deposits & HB 25-1249
Effective January 1, 2026, HB 25-1249 caps security deposits at one month’s rent. At Wray and Yuma’s very modest rent levels this is not a practical constraint. Return within 30 days; itemized statement required; triple damages for wrongful withholding. Late fees: 7-day grace period; maximum $50 or 5% of past-due rent. In communities of 2,000–3,500 people, the landlord-tenant relationship has strong social dimensions. Good documentation, early and open communication, and neighbor-minded problem resolution are the most effective tools for successful property management in this market.
CRS Title 38, Article 12 — statutes, procedures, and landlord rights applicable in Yuma County
⚡ Quick Overview
10
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
10
Days Notice (Violation)
30-50
Avg Total Days
$85
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type10-Day Demand for Compliance or Possession
Notice Period10 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes
Days to Hearing7-14 days
Days to Writ48 hours after judgment days
Total Estimated Timeline30-50 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-$500
⚠️ Watch Out
HB 24-1098 (2024) increased notice period from 3 to 10 days for nonpayment. Tenant can cure by paying full rent owed. Late fees cannot be charged during the 10-day period. Landlord must accept partial payment if offered during notice period in some cases.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the County Court. Pay the filing fee (~$85).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Colorado eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Colorado attorney or local legal aid organization.
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Established 1889; named for Yuma, AZ. County seat: Wray (~2,200) — Republican River valley; US-34/CO-59 junction; 180 mi east of Denver. Second city: Yuma (~3,500) — largest city in county; commercial hub at CO-59/US-36. Republican River — 1943 interstate compact with Nebraska and Kansas governs water allocation. Irrigated corn & dryland wheat — one of eastern CO’s more diverse agricultural counties. 13th Judicial District. Borders Nebraska (north) and Kansas (east & south).
Yuma County
Wray & Yuma Landlord Essentials
Modest but stable market — target government, school district, and healthcare employees for most reliable tenancies. Irrigated corn farming supports a more stable year-round agricultural workforce than dryland-only counties. Agricultural employer housing may qualify for HB 24-1098 exemption. Pre-arrange contractors from Burlington, Sterling, or Akron (50–75 mi); plains winters reach -10°F; summer hail is a recurring risk. HB 24-1098: 90-day no-fault notice. HB 25-1249: 1-month deposit cap Jan 1, 2026. Evictions: 13th Judicial District, Wray.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Yuma County, Colorado
Yuma County covers 2,394 square miles of Colorado’s eastern high plains, occupying the southeastern corner of the state’s northeastern quadrant and sharing borders with Nebraska to the north and Kansas to the east. The county was established in 1889 and takes its name from the city of Yuma — which had itself been named for the Yuma (Quechan) people of the lower Colorado River, a naming choice that reflects the 19th-century frontier practice of borrowing place names from distant American West locations. The Republican River — which rises near Julesburg in northeastern Colorado, flows northeast through Yuma County, and continues into Nebraska and Kansas before joining the Smoky Hill River to form the Kansas River — is the county’s defining natural feature and the source of the irrigation water that distinguishes Yuma County from its more arid dryland-only neighbors.
The Republican River: Water, Law, and Agriculture
The Republican River has been the subject of one of the most contested and long-running water law disputes in the American West. The Republican River Compact of 1943 established allocations of the river’s waters among Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, setting limits on the consumptive use that each state could make of the river. The compact was intended to resolve interstate water conflicts, but the development of extensive groundwater irrigation in all three states — particularly center-pivot irrigation drawing on the High Plains (Ogallala) Aquifer and its connection to the Republican River system — created new disputes about whether groundwater pumping counted against the compact allocations. Nebraska sued Colorado in the United States Supreme Court, which ultimately found Colorado in violation and imposed a compliance plan requiring reduced groundwater pumping in the Republican River basin.
The practical consequence for Yuma County agriculture has been the implementation of the Republican River Water Conservation District and a complex system of groundwater pumping limits, augmentation plans, and fallowing programs that have shaped agricultural practices in the Republican River valley. Landlords with agricultural tenants in Yuma County should understand that water availability constraints are a material factor in farming viability here, and that agricultural income can be affected by regulatory pumping limits as well as commodity prices and weather.
Wray, Yuma, and the County’s Agricultural Identity
Wray, the county seat, is a compact city of approximately 2,200 on the Republican River at the eastern edge of the county. It serves as the county government center, the location of the district courthouse, the healthcare hub (Wray Community District Hospital), and the commercial anchor for the county’s eastern farming communities. US-34 connects Wray westward to Akron (Washington County) and ultimately to Denver, while CO-59 runs north into Nebraska. Yuma, slightly larger at approximately 3,500, occupies the county’s western portion at the junction of CO-59 and US-36. Yuma functions as the county’s commercial center with its somewhat larger retail and service base. The communities of Eckley and Idalia serve as small agricultural service points in the county’s interior.
Yuma County’s rental market, while modest in scale, benefits from a somewhat more stable agricultural base than purely dryland counties. Irrigated corn production along the Republican River corridor supports a larger year-round farm workforce than dryland wheat alone, and the county’s diversified agricultural output — corn, wheat, sunflowers, millet, cattle — provides more economic resilience than single-crop counties. The most stable tenant segments are government employees, school district staff, healthcare workers, and the permanent agricultural service workforce. Colorado’s HB 24-1098 requires 90-day notice for no-fault non-renewals of tenancies of 12 months or more; HB 25-1249’s 1-month deposit cap takes effect January 1, 2026. The high-plains climate requires proactive maintenance — pre-arranged contractors for HVAC and plumbing, adequate insurance for hail damage, and heating systems maintained to SB 24-094’s standards. Evictions are handled by the 13th Judicial District courthouse in Wray.
Yuma County landlord-tenant matters are governed by CRS Title 38, Article 12. Just-cause eviction (HB 24-1098): 90-day no-fault non-renewal notice required; agricultural employer housing may qualify for the employer housing exemption. Habitability (SB 24-094): 72-hour begin remedial action; 24-hour for life-safety; plains winters reach -10°F and below; summer hail is a recurring maintenance risk; pre-arrange contractors from Burlington, Sterling, or Akron (50–75 miles). Security deposits: HB 25-1249 caps at 1 month’s rent from Jan 1, 2026; return within 30 days. Late fees: 7-day grace; max $50 or 5% past-due rent. No rent control. One rent increase per 12 months maximum. Evictions filed in Yuma County District Court in Wray (13th Judicial District). Consult a licensed Colorado attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Yuma County, Colorado and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always consult a licensed Colorado attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
