Renting out a property in Colorado comes with more responsibility than ever in 2025. If you are a landlord who plans to self-manage, it is critical to understand the legal requirements that now apply to you.
Several important housing laws were updated in 2024 and are now in full effect this year. Ignoring them can lead to fines, lawsuits, or major disruptions to your rental business.
In this video below, we explore four of the most relevant updates to Colorado rental law. Whether you own one property or manage several, this is essential information.
1. Just Cause Evictions (House Bill 24-1098)
Effective as of April 19, 2024, this bill changed how and when landlords can end a lease. Colorado now requires that you provide a valid reason to either terminate a tenancy or not renew a lease.
Acceptable reasons include:
- Non-payment of rent
- Major or repeat lease violations
- Material breaches of the rental agreement
The law also introduces six situations considered no fault evictions, such as:
- Planning to sell, renovate, or demolish the property
- Moving in yourself or housing a family member
- Offering a reasonable renewal that the tenant declines
- Tenant repeatedly paying rent late
In all no fault cases, landlords must give tenants at least 90 days' notice and wait until the lease ends before moving forward.
2. Warranty of Habitability (Senate Bill 24-094)
This law reinforces the responsibility of landlords to provide livable conditions. While the warranty of habitability has existed since 2008, the 2024 update added new procedures and recordkeeping requirements that take full effect in 2025.
Highlights include:
- Defined response times for addressing habitability issues
- Requirements to maintain detailed communication records
- Clarified definitions of what counts as uninhabitable
- Mandated inclusion of a specific clause in new leases starting January 1, 2025
Perhaps most importantly, landlords may be required to pay for a comparable unit or hotel stay for up to 60 days if the issue affects the tenant’s health or safety.
3. Occupancy Limits (House Bill 24-10007)
This legislation removed local rules that limited how many unrelated people could live together in a rental unit. For example, Fort Collins’ U + 2 rule no longer applies.
Municipalities are still allowed to enforce limits based on safety standards or the building code, but not based on family relationships.
This change creates new opportunities for landlords to accommodate more tenants legally, as long as the space meets building and health codes.
4. Pet Regulations (House Bill 23-1068)
With the majority of renters in Colorado owning pets, this new law sets fair and consistent limits on pet-related fees.
Key rules include:
- A maximum refundable pet deposit of $300 per pet
- Pet rent may not exceed $35 per month or 1.5 percent of rent, whichever is greater
- The pet rent limit applies per unit, not per pet
Landlords must also ensure that total security deposits do not exceed twice the monthly rent, which includes pet deposits.
These guidelines help prevent excessive fees while still allowing property owners to manage potential risks.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Allegiant Can Help
Keeping up with legal updates is not easy, especially when you are managing a property on your own. Allegiant Property Management specializes in helping landlords stay compliant, avoid costly mistakes, and protect their investments.
If you are unsure about these new laws or would rather leave the details to professionals, we are here to help. Garrett and the team offer honest, value-based property management with clear communication and legal understanding.
