Colorado Landlord Guide — Get Your Action Plan in 60 Seconds

Tenant behind on rent? Damage beyond wear and tear? Holding over after the lease ended? Describe the situation in your own words and get a plain-English breakdown, severity rating, step-by-step next steps, and ready-to-send notices — specific to Colorado law.

Colorado landlord law, at a glance

• Security deposit: you must return it within 30 days of move-out, with an itemized statement for deductions.
• Tenant entry: No state law sets a minimum notice period — check your lease, which may require one.
• Eviction: you must go through the courts. Self-help eviction is illegal.

Under C.R.S. § 38-12-103, the deposit must be returned with a written statement of deductions within one month (30 days), extendable by the lease up to 60 days; a willful violation can yield treble damages plus attorney's fees. Colorado has no general statutory entry-notice minimum — only bed-bug inspections require at least 48 hours' written notice (§ 38-12-1004); repeated no-notice entries can support a quiet-enjoyment claim. Rent enjoys a statutory 7-day grace period: no late fee until rent is 7+ calendar days late, and fees are capped at the greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent (§ 38-12-105). Self-help eviction is explicitly unlawful under § 38-12-510, with damages of three times monthly rent or $5,000, whichever is greater.

Free legal help in Colorado

• Colorado Legal Services — (303) 837-1313 — Free civil legal help statewide; housing incl. evictions, lockouts, unsafe conditions.
• Colorado Poverty Law Project — (303) 532-2641 — Tenant-focused nonprofit: free eviction legal defense, mobile-home and fair-housing work.
• LawHelp Colorado — State legal-aid directory and know-your-rights portal.
• Call or text 211 for free local referrals.

Common questions