No Statewide Rent Control or Rent Caps
- Colorado continues to prohibit statewide or local rent control. This means there is no legal cap on how much a landlord can increase rent for private residential properties, as the 1981 Rental Housing Act remains in effect.
- Recent attempts to repeal the rent control ban (including bills in 2019 and 2024) have failed, so landlords can generally raise rent as much as the market allows, provided they follow notice requirements.
Notice Requirements for Rent Increases
- Landlords must provide tenants with advance written notice before increasing rent:
- 30 days’ notice is required for rent increases under 10%.
- 60 days’ notice is required for rent increases of 10% or more.
- For tenants on a month-to-month lease, these notice periods apply. For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be increased during the lease term unless the lease specifically allows it.
Lease Renewal and Eviction Protections
- As of 2025, Colorado law (HB 24-1098) requires landlords to provide a legally defined reason (“for cause”) to refuse lease renewal or evict a tenant, except for tenants who have lived in the unit for less than 365 days.
- Acceptable reasons include non-payment of rent, lease violations, property damage, or other legally specified causes.
Other Key Tenant Rights in 2025
- Habitability Standards: Landlords must provide safe, habitable housing and address critical repairs within 24 hours and other uninhabitable conditions within 72 hours of tenant notification.
- Privacy: Landlords must give at least 24 hours’ notice before entering a rental unit, except in emergencies.
- Pet Fees: Pet deposits are capped at $300, and monthly pet rent cannot exceed $35 or 1.5% of rent, whichever is greater.
- Anti-Discrimination: Landlords cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or source of income.
Rent Increase Rules (2025)
| Situation | Notice Required | Rent Cap? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increase < 10% | 30 days | No | Applies to month-to-month leases |
| Increase ≥ 10% | 60 days | No | Applies to month-to-month leases |
| During fixed-term lease | Not allowed* | No | Unless lease allows mid-term increases |
| After 1+ year in unit (month-to-month) | 60 days | No | Enhanced notice for long-term tenants |
*Unless the lease agreement specifically allows for mid-term rent increases.
While Colorado does not limit how much rent can be increased, landlords must provide proper advance notice and cannot evict or refuse to renew a lease without cause (for tenants of more than one year). Tenants have strengthened rights to habitability, privacy, and protection from arbitrary or retaliatory actions.
Sources
- [1] https://www.hemlane.com/resources/colorado-rent-control-laws/
- [2] https://innago.com/colorado-landlord-tenant-laws/
- [3] https://www.tjcrealestate.com/blog/2025-rental-laws/
- [4] https://www.steadily.com/blog/how-much-can-a-landlord-raise-rent-in-colorado
- [5] https://www.avail.co/education/articles/colorado-landlord-tenant-laws-overview-for-landlords
