Colorado Landlord-Tenant Laws

• 30 days (one month) after termination of lease or surrender and acceptance, whichever is last
• 60 days if the lease specifies a longer period
• Landlord must provide supporting documentation within 14 days of tenant's request (HB 25-1249, effective 1/1/2026)
• Landlord must hold returned check for at least 1 year and disburse within 15 days of tenant's written request (HB 25-1249)

• Default return period: 30 days after lease termination or surrender/acceptance, whichever is LAST
• Lease may extend return period up to 60 days maximum
• Cannot retain any portion for normal wear and tear
• Cannot retain for pre-existing damage (HB 25-1249, effective 1/1/2026)
• If retaining any portion, must provide written statement listing EXACT reasons for retention
• +8 more requirements

Within 30-60 day return window

• CANNOT retain for normal wear and tear (minor damage from normal property use without negligence)
• CANNOT retain for pre-existing damage or defective conditions (HB 25-1249, effective 1/1/2026)
• MAY retain for: nonpayment of rent, abandonment, nonpayment of utility charges, repair work, or cleaning contracted by tenant
• MAY retain for: nonpayment of other lawful charges listed in the lease (HB 25-1249)
• MAY retain for: necessary repair work for damage or defective conditions caused by tenant (HB 25-1249)
• +5 more requirements

• 10-day Demand for Compliance (cure or quit)
• 3-day Notice to Quit (no right to cure)
• 3-day Notice to Quit (no right to cure)
• 10-day notice requiring cessation or quit

• Curable lease violation: 10-day Demand for Compliance — tenant may cure within 10 days to avoid eviction
• Repeat violation (same provision previously violated and cured): 3-day Notice to Quit — no right to cure
• Substantial violation (C.R.S. § 13-40-107.5): 3-day Notice to Quit for: violent felony, drug-related felony, endangering property, public nuisance on or near premises
• Nuisance/disturbance interfering with quiet enjoyment: 10-day notice requiring cessation or quit (C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(j))
• Domestic violence victims cannot be evicted solely because DV occurred — victim's conduct as a result of being a victim does not constitute nuisance (C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(j)(III))
• +3 more requirements

• April 19, 2024 (immediate effect)
• 90 days' notice required
• Tenant has resided for 12+ months (tenants under 12 months may be non-renewed without cause)

• Landlords CANNOT evict residential tenants without legally recognized cause (effective 4/19/2024)
• Landlords MUST offer lease renewals to existing tenants — cannot refuse to renew without cause
• 'For cause' grounds include: nonpayment of rent, material lease violations, criminal activity, nuisance/disturbance, negligent property damage
• 'No-fault' eviction grounds (with 90 days' notice): demolition/conversion, substantial repairs (30+ days), landlord/family member occupancy, sale of property, tenant refuses new lease with reasonable terms, history of 3+ late payments (10+ days late)
• Exemptions: short-term rentals (<30 days), owner-occupied or adjacent properties (with unit limits), employer-provided housing, tenants who have resided less than 12 months
• +6 more requirements

• Remedial action must commence within 24 hours of notice
• Remedial action must commence within 72 hours of notice
• 14 calendar days for general uninhabitable conditions; 7 calendar days for conditions materially interfering with life, health, or safety
• Tenant may terminate lease 14 days after notice if same condition recurs within 6 months

• Colorado has a STATUTORY warranty of habitability (C.R.S. § 38-12-503), substantially updated by SB 24-094 (2024)
• Warranty is an ONGOING maintenance obligation throughout the entire lease term
• Habitability remediation is at landlord's expense — NOT tenant's
• Conditions materially interfering with life, health, or safety: landlord must commence remedial action within 24 hours
• General uninhabitable conditions: landlord must commence remedial action within 72 hours
• +8 more requirements

10 days' written notice to landlord (48 hours if condition materially interferes with life, health, or safety)

• Tenant may repair and deduct from rent if landlord breaches warranty of habitability
• Standard notice: 10 days' advance written notice of intent to hire professional to remedy condition
• Emergency: 48 hours' notice if tenant has good faith belief condition materially interferes with life, health, or safety
• If landlord fails to repair within notice period OR fails to provide alternative housing, tenant may proceed
• Professional must be licensed or otherwise qualified and NOT a relative of the tenant
• +6 more requirements

No general state requirement; 48 hours for bedbug inspections; lease terms govern

• Colorado does NOT have a comprehensive state statute on landlord entry notice
• Entry rights are primarily governed by the lease agreement
• Bedbug inspection or treatment: landlord must give at least 48 hours' written or electronic notice (C.R.S. § 38-12-1004)
• Best practice: 24-48 hours' written notice for non-emergency entry (many local ordinances require this)
• Emergency entry is generally permitted without notice under common law principles
• +3 more requirements

Protection applies when tenant engages in protected activity

• Landlord may NOT retaliate against tenant for: reporting habitability issues to landlord, third parties, or government agencies (C.R.S. § 38-12-509(1)(a)(I))
• Also protected: organizing or joining tenants' organization (C.R.S. § 38-12-509(1)(a)(II))
• Also protected: exercising any right or remedy under the warranty of habitability statutes (C.R.S. § 38-12-509(1)(a)(III))
• Retaliatory actions include: increasing rent, decreasing services, terminating or not renewing lease without consent, filing for eviction
• Non-renewal of a lease can be retaliatory under the 2024 amendments
• +3 more requirements

• 3 days' notice
• 21 days' notice
• 91 days' notice
• Expires on its date; under HB 24-1098, landlord must offer renewal for 12+ month tenants

• At-will tenancy (no written lease): 3 days' notice to quit
• Month-to-month, tenant in residence less than 1 year: at least 21 days' notice
• Month-to-month, tenant in residence 1 year or more: at least 91 days' notice
• Fixed-term lease: ends on its stated date unless renewed
• Under HB 24-1098: landlord MUST offer renewal to tenants with 12+ months' residency — cannot simply refuse to renew
• +4 more requirements

Ongoing; applies to all housing transactions

• Federal Fair Housing Act protections: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability
• Colorado adds: sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, ancestry
• Must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities
• Landlords must pay for reasonable modifications for tenants with disabilities (HB 24-1318, effective 2024) — previously tenant's expense
• Service and emotional support animals: no pet deposits or pet rent
• +4 more requirements