Colorado Housing Resources & Tenant Rights

Colorado has strengthened renter protections sharply in the last few years. As of April 2024, landlords need “cause” to evict or refuse to renew most tenancies (HB24-1098); source of income is a protected class statewide (HB20-1332); the warranty of habitability was expanded in 2024 (SB24-094); and the security-deposit statute was overhauled effective January 1, 2026 (HB25-1249). The core rules are in C.R.S. Title 38, Article 12. The Colorado Division of Housing (DOH) and Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) fund affordable housing. This page covers the statewide rules, the eviction timeline, and links to every Colorado city we cover.

Public Housing & Vouchers in Colorado

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are run by local authorities — the Denver Housing Authority, the Colorado Springs Housing Authority, and others — while the Colorado Division of Housing (DOH) administers vouchers in parts of the state without a local PHA. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) finances affordable apartments and allocates Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — search HUD’s LIHTC database or read how to find LIHTC housing. Because most Colorado landlords cannot refuse vouchers (below), a voucher should not block your search.

Apply to several authorities at once. Use HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA and how to apply for Section 8 guides. City waitlist status is on the city pages below.

For-Cause Eviction (HB24-1098, 2024)

Signed April 19, 2024, HB24-1098 added a new part to C.R.S. Article 12 (sections 38-12-1301 to -1307). A landlord cannot serve a termination notice, demand possession, or file an eviction unless there is “cause” — such as nonpayment, a lease violation, or a defined no-fault reason — and generally cannot simply refuse to renew at the end of a lease. Important exemptions include short-term rentals, owner-occupied or owner-adjacent single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, mobile-home lots, employer-provided housing, and tenants who have lived there less than 12 months. This puts Colorado among the minority of states that require a reason to end most tenancies.

Source of Income & Rent Control

Under HB20-1332, source of income is a protected class statewide — a landlord generally cannot refuse you because you would pay with a Housing Choice Voucher or other lawful assistance. One key exception: the protection does not apply to landlords with three or fewer rental units, so the smallest landlords may still decline a voucher. See our source-of-income protections guide.

There is no rent control in Colorado: C.R.S. 38-12-301 preempts counties and municipalities from enacting it, and there is no statewide cap. Your protection against an increase comes from your lease term and the notice required before a change.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Colorado

• Dial 211 (Colorado 211) to reach local rental and prevention funds and your regional Coordinated Entry for shelter and rapid re-housing
• The Colorado Division of Housing funds emergency and prevention assistance through county and nonprofit partners; the pandemic-era statewide program has ended, so check what is currently open
• LEAP (Low-income Energy Assistance Program) helps with winter heating bills — see utility assistance programs
• The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Brothers Redevelopment’s housing counseling provide one-time help and guidance statewide

See our emergency rental assistance guide for the national picture.

Colorado Tenant Law: Key Protections at a Glance

Security deposits

Colorado caps the security deposit at two months’ rent (C.R.S. 38-12-102.5, since 2023). The landlord must return it within one month after you move out (a lease can extend this to no more than 60 days), and missing the deadline forfeits the right to keep any of it (C.R.S. 38-12-103). Willful failure to return can expose the landlord to triple damages plus attorney’s fees. Note that Colorado overhauled its deposit statute (HB25-1249) effective January 1, 2026, adding tenant protections — check the current requirements when you move out. See how to recover your security deposit.

Eviction process & how long it takes

Self-help eviction is illegal, and since 2024 the landlord must also have cause. The sequence:

• 10-day demand to pay rent or cure a lease violation (rent is “late” only after 10 calendar days; a 7-day grace period applies before late fees)
• Forcible entry and detainer (FED) complaint filed in county court; you receive a summons with a first appearance date
• Hearing — you can raise defenses, including the habitability and for-cause protections; bring your lease, receipts, and photos
• Writ of restitution: if the landlord wins, the court issues a writ (typically 48 hours after judgment) and the sheriff carries out the eviction

An uncontested Colorado eviction commonly runs about three to six weeks from the demand. Because the for-cause and habitability rules give tenants real defenses, do not assume you have to leave — get help from Colorado Legal Services and read how to avoid eviction.

Other Housing Programs in Colorado

• Public housing — government-owned affordable apartments run by local authorities; the waitlist is separate from Section 8
• HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Emergency Housing Vouchers & rapid re-housing — access through Coordinated Entry by calling 211
• Eviction prevention — our eviction prevention hub explains what to do before your court date

Major Colorado Cities We Cover

• Denver affordable housing resources
• Colorado Springs affordable housing resources

Where to Get Help in Colorado

Free legal aid: Colorado Legal Services handles eviction defense, habitability, and discrimination; plain-language help is at lawhelp.colorado.gov.

State housing agencies: the Colorado Division of Housing for programs and vouchers, and CHFA for affordable housing and LIHTC.

Find your local PHA: HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA guide.

211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for rental help, shelters, and utility assistance.

HUD fair housing: file at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination or call 1-800-669-9777.

Next Steps

Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool routes you to the right mix of Colorado programs in about two minutes.

If you got a notice, remember Colorado now requires cause to evict and gives strong habitability defenses — do not assume you have to leave. Get help from Colorado Legal Services and read eviction prevention.