Colorado Rent Increase Notice Laws: How Much Notice to Give

Colorado landlords must give at least 60 days of written notice before raising rent and may raise it only once in any 12 month period. A fixed term lease still controls until it ends.

Colorado rent increase notice at a glance

Rule	Colorado	Law
Notice before a rent increase	A landlord generally must give at least 60 days of written notice before increasing rent.	Colorado Revised Statutes, title 38, article 12 (rent increase notice)
Notice before a rent increase	Rent may not be increased more than once in any 12 month period.	C.R.S. section 38-12-702
Statewide cap on increases	There is no statewide percentage cap on rent increases, but rent may be raised only once in any 12 month period of continuous occupancy.	C.R.S. section 38-12-702
Retaliation protection	A landlord may not raise rent, cut services, threaten eviction or charge fees because a tenant raised a habitability issue, joined a tenant organization or used other legal rights.	C.R.S. section 38-12-509

How much notice to give

Give the notice in writing, keep a copy and record how and when it was delivered.

Notice before a rent increase. A landlord generally must give at least 60 days of written notice before increasing rent. (Colorado Revised Statutes, title 38, article 12 (rent increase notice))

Notice before a rent increase. Rent may not be increased more than once in any 12 month period. (C.R.S. section 38-12-702)

Fixed-term leases

During a fixed-term lease, rent usually stays as written until the term ends unless the lease itself allows an increase. Plan increases for the renewal.

Caps that limit the increase

Statewide cap on increases. There is no statewide percentage cap on rent increases, but rent may be raised only once in any 12 month period of continuous occupancy. (C.R.S. section 38-12-702)

Rent control status. Counties and cities may not enact rent control on private residential property, although voluntary affordable housing agreements are allowed. (C.R.S. section 38-12-301)

Timing and retaliation

Retaliation protection. A landlord may not raise rent, cut services, threaten eviction or charge fees because a tenant raised a habitability issue, joined a tenant organization or used other legal rights. (C.R.S. section 38-12-509)

Mistakes to avoid

• Raising rent during a fixed term without a clause that allows it.
• Sending the notice by text or email when the lease or the law calls for written delivery another way.
• Increasing rent right after a repair request or complaint.
• Not keeping proof of when the notice was delivered.