2026 Landlord/Tenant New CO Laws

Colorado has introduced several important changes impacting how landlords advertise, screen tenants, handle deposits, and manage leases. These updates focus on transparency, tenant protections, and clearer rental practices. Below is a concise summary for your landlord clients.

1. Fee Transparency (“No More Junk Fees” — Effective Jan. 1, 2026)

Beginning in 2026, all mandatory charges must be included in one clearly advertised rental price. Landlords can no longer list a low rent and add required fees separately. Optional services and utilities can still be itemized but must be clearly disclosed.

2. Security Deposit Reform (Effective Jan. 1, 2026)

New rules limit what landlords can deduct from security deposits and strengthen documentation requirements. Deposits cannot be kept for normal wear and tear or pre-existing conditions. Funds must be returned within 30 days (or up to 60 if stated in the lease), along with written explanations and supporting documentation for any deductions.

3. Tenant Screening Updates (Effective Jan. 1, 2026)

Portable Tenant Screening Reports are now easier for applicants to use. Landlords must accept reports directly from tenants. Applicants using subsidies no longer need to provide credit history or adverse credit information as part of the report.

4. Expanded Enforcement Authority (Effective Jan. 1, 2026)

The Colorado Attorney General and local governments now have broader authority to enforce housing laws, pursue civil or criminal action in certain cases, and place neglected multifamily properties into receivership when necessary.

5. Lease Terms After a Tenant’s Death (Effective Sept. 1, 2025)

Landlords may not charge liquidated damages, accelerate rent, or recapture concessions after a lease ends due to a tenant’s death. The law provides a process allowing landlords to take possession of the unit without a formal eviction.

6. Protections for Tenants Using Subsidies (Effective May 29, 2025)

Housing subsidies must be treated as valid income, and landlords must follow specific notice procedures before evicting a tenant for nonpayment when subsidies are involved. These updates reinforce state fair housing standards.