Colorado Landlord-Tenant Law 2026: The Plain-English Guide
Colorado overhauled parts of its landlord-tenant law in recent years — the nonpayment notice went from 3 days to 10 days, and the warranty of habitability got real enforcement teeth. Denver adds local requirements on top. Here's the plain-English version.
Security deposits
- No state cap on the amount.
- Return within 30 days (one month) of move-out, with a written itemized statement. The lease can extend this to 60 days if agreed in writing.
- Penalty: bad-faith withholding = up to 3x the deposit — one of the steepest penalties in the country.
Use our Security Deposit Deadline Finder and deductions guide.
Rent rules
- No rent control — prohibited by state law.
- Late fees must be in the lease and reasonable.
- Raising rent: 30 days' notice for month-to-month tenancies is standard. See how to raise rent legally.
Eviction in Colorado
- Nonpayment: 10-Day Demand for Compliance or Possession (changed from 3 days in 2019).
- Lease violations: 10-Day Notice to Cure or Quit.
- No-fault (month-to-month): 21 days' notice to terminate (landlord or tenant).
- Cases go to County Court — fast docket, hearings often within 2–3 weeks. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 4–6 weeks.
Self-help is illegal. Full process: how to evict a tenant.
Repairs and habitability
Colorado's Warranty of Habitability (CRS 38-12-502) is strong:
- Landlords must maintain the property fit for human habitation — waterproofing, plumbing, heating, electrical, common areas, appliances provided with the unit.
- Tenant remedies after written notice and a reasonable time: repair-and-deduct (up to $10,000 or half a month's rent per incident, with strict procedures), terminate the lease, or sue for damages and rent reduction.
- Retaliation for habitability complaints is prohibited.
Entry rights
Colorado has no state statute on entry notice. Standard practice: 24 hours' notice in the lease, reasonable times, emergencies excepted.
Denver: the extra layer
Denver requires rental licenses for most landlords, mandates lead-paint compliance, and has its own inspection programs. Denver's "just cause" eviction proposals have been debated — check current local law before acting.
The bottom line
Colorado is middle-ground: 10-day notices (not 3), 3x deposit penalties, and a habitability statute with real remedies. Landlords who respond to written repair notices promptly and handle deposits carefully will have no problems.
This is general information, not legal advice. Denver has local licensing and inspection requirements — consult a Colorado landlord-tenant attorney for specific situations.