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Security Deposit Laws in Colorado

Colorado has capped security deposits at two months' rent since August 2023, requires return within one month (up to 60 days if the lease provides), and has no statute setting a notice period for landlord entry.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Colorado at a glance

Security deposit limit
2 months' rent
Deposit return deadline
30 days
1 month after lease termination or surrender, or up to 60 days if the lease says so
Interest on deposits
Not required by state law
Some cities have their own interest rules
Notice before landlord entry
No statutory period
No statute specifies notice

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Colorado

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Colorado?

Colorado limits security deposits to 2 months' rent.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Colorado?

Colorado rule: 1 month after lease termination or surrender, or up to 60 days if the lease says so.

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Colorado?

No. Colorado state law does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits. Some cities have their own rules.

How much notice must a landlord give before entering a rental in Colorado?

Colorado has no statute that sets a notice period for landlord entry, so the lease usually governs. Giving reasonable advance notice is common practice.

Where do the Colorado rules for residential leases come from?

They come from C.R.S. 38-12-102.5 and C.R.S. 38-12-103. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

How Colorado compares

Colorado is one of 30 jurisdictions that cap deposits by law. Its 30-day return deadline is the same as the most common deadline of 30 days; 15 jurisdictions require a faster return.

What this means in practice

Landlords: state the deposit amount, where it is held and how it will be returned in the lease, and send the refund with any deductions in writing within the deadline.

Tenants: record the unit's condition with photos and a move-in checklist, keep your receipts, and give the landlord a forwarding address in writing when you move out.

Both sides: normal wear and tear is generally not deductible. Disputes over deductions usually go to small claims court.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.