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CO · State profile
Colorado landlord rules
1 of 10 values below carries a source-confirmed statute citation. The rest are conservative reference values from Aptoria's compliance data and are labeled unverified.
HB 21-1121: 60-day notice for any rent increase; HB 21-1310 caps late fees at greater of $50 or 5%.
Deposits, fees, and notices
Security deposit limit
Unverified reference value
No statewide cap
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Deposit return deadline
Source-confirmed 2026-07
One month (30 days) after the lease terminates or the tenant surrenders and the landlord accepts the premises, whichever is last — extendable by the lease up to a maximum of 60 days. A written statement of exact reasons is required for any retention; missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold, and willful retention exposes the landlord to treble damages plus fees.
C.R.S. § 38-12-103. Colorado Revised Statutes (public.law reproduction) ↗
Colorado amended its security-deposit statute effective Jan 1, 2026 — the one-month / 60-day-max return framework is unchanged, but confirm the current text for 2026 changes before citing. Prefer leg.colorado.gov for binding text.
Reference value on file: 30 days after move-out
Late fees
Unverified reference value
Capped at $50; 7 days grace
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Rent-increase notice
Unverified reference value
60 days
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Month-to-month termination notice
Unverified reference value
21 days
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Pay-or-quit notice
Unverified reference value
10 days
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Non-emergency entry notice
Unverified reference value
24 hours
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Application fee limit
Unverified reference value
No statewide cap
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Statewide rent regulation
Unverified reference value
No statewide rent regulation (check local ordinances)
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Separate pet deposit
Unverified reference value
Permitted
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Payments, fair housing, and licensing
Card surcharges on rent
Allowed within card-network limits
Returned-payment (NSF) fee
No statewide statutory cap on file
Source-of-income protection
Protected statewide
Local ordinances can extend protection beyond the statewide rule.
Property-management licensing
License generally required to manage for others
State real estate broker license required for property management for others — confirm with state commission.
Colorado next to its neighbors
Own units on both sides of a state line? These are the same reference values for every bordering jurisdiction. Open a state to see its citations.
| Rule | Colorado | Kansas | Nebraska | New Mexico | Oklahoma | Utah | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit limit | No statewide cap | 1× monthly rent | 1× monthly rent | 1× monthly rent | No statewide cap | No statewide cap | No statewide cap |
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after move-out | 30 days after move-out | 14 days after move-out | 30 days after move-out | 45 days after move-out | 30 days after move-out | 30 days after move-out |
| Late fees | Capped at $50; 7 days grace | No statewide cap (reasonableness standard) | No statewide cap (reasonableness standard) | Capped at 10% of monthly rent | No statewide cap (reasonableness standard) | Capped at $75 | No statewide cap (reasonableness standard) |
| Rent-increase notice | 60 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 15 days | 30 days |
| Non-emergency entry notice | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | Reasonable notice |
| Pay-or-quit notice | 10 days | 3 days | 7 days | 3 days | 5 days | 3 days | 3 days |
| Source-of-income protection | Protected statewide | No statewide protection on file | No statewide protection on file | No statewide protection on file | No statewide protection on file | No statewide protection on file | No statewide protection on file |
| Card surcharges on rent | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits |
Lease disclosures on file
• Lead-based paint hazards (pre-1978 housing) — EPA Pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home"
• Habitability checklist (HB 19-1170)
• Radon (HB 22-1287)
Run the numbers
Security deposit calculator
Late fee calculator
Rent increase calculator
Move-in / move-out inspection checklist
Educational information only, not legal advice. Laws, local ordinances, court interpretations, and the facts of a tenancy can change the result. Verify the current binding text and obtain advice from a qualified local professional before acting.