Colorado Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Colorado, a landlord has 30 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: C.R.S. §38-12-102.5). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
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Colorado deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- 2 months' rent
As of 2026. Source: C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Colorado landlord have to return the deposit?
30 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: C.R.S. §38-12-102.5). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.
Is there a limit on how much deposit a Colorado landlord can charge?
Yes: 2 months' rent (as of 2026; source: C.R.S. §38-12-102.5). If you paid more than the cap, say so in the letter; the excess is usually recoverable too.
How much can I sue for in Colorado if the landlord ignores this?
$7,500 exclusive of interest and costs; a larger claim cannot be split into multiple small claims cases (filing waives the excess). Claims of $7,500-$25,000 go on the County Court civil docket. The court is the Small Claims Court (a division of County Court), and the filing fee is $31 (claims up to $500) / $55 ($500.01-$7,500) per the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule (JDF 1). As of 2026; source: Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys).
Do I need a lawyer in Colorado small claims?
Attorneys are generally not allowed - an attorney may appear only when representing themselves or their own business (as full-time employee, officer, general partner or member), or after a party files notice of representation, which then entitles the other side to counsel too (C.R.S. §13-6-407). Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys) (as of 2026).
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Colorado compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Colorado: C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗.
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Arizona (14 days), Kansas (30 days), Nebraska (14 days), New Mexico (30 days), Oklahoma (45 days), Utah (30 days), Wyoming (30 days).
The rest of what Colorado requires
The figures below are Colorado's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Colorado page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 21 days C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 10 days to pay or quit Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-104; § 13-40-107 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 10 days Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-104; § 13-40-107 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $7,500 Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Court (a division of County Court) · filing fee $31 (claims up to $500) / $55 ($500.01-$7,500) per the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule (JDF 1) Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-6-403 (limit); §13-6-407 (attorneys) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Limited to the actual cost of screening Colorado General Assembly (HB19-1106) ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Colorado DMV (Form DR 2173) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Colo. Rev. Stat. §15-14-705 (form §15-14-741) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-102(11)(a) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Clerk and Recorder · no witnesses C.R.S. § 38-30-113 ↗
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Colorado legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →