A Colorado lease termination notice must be in writing, delivered before the end of the current rental period, and give the other party the number of days set by statute: at least 21 days for a tenancy of one month up to six months, at least 28 days for six months up to a year, and at least 91 days for a tenancy of a year or more.1Justia. C.R.S. § 13-40-107 Miss the window and the lease rolls into another rental period, with rent owed for it.
How Much Notice You Have to Give
The required notice depends on how long the tenant has been in the property:1Justia. C.R.S. § 13-40-107
- At least 21 days for a tenancy of one month or longer but less than six months.
- At least 28 days for a tenancy of six months or longer but less than one year.
- At least 91 days for a tenancy of one year or longer.
The notice has to land before the current rental period ends, and the lease then terminates at the end of that period. Count the days carefully. If the notice is short by even a day, the tenancy continues, and the tenant remains on the hook for the next month’s rent.
Fixed-Term Leases Work Differently
A fixed-term lease ends on the date written in the agreement. Landlords are often still required to give notice of non-renewal using the same 21, 28, or 91-day schedule, and residential landlords face for-cause eviction protections that limit their ability to end or refuse to renew a lease without a specific legal reason.1Justia. C.R.S. § 13-40-107
Many written leases add their own requirement, commonly 30 or 60 days of notice from a tenant who doesn’t plan to renew. Check the lease. If a tenant stays past the end date without signing a new agreement, the arrangement usually becomes month-to-month, and the statutory notice periods above apply from then on.
How to Deliver the Notice
The notice has to be in writing. Personal delivery to the landlord or tenant is the standard method. If the person isn’t available, the notice can be left with a family member or with someone who lives on or manages the property. If no one is there to receive it, it can be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises, such as the front door.2Justia. C.R.S. § 13-40-108
The notice period doesn’t start running until delivery is done correctly. A verbal warning, a text, or an email that isn’t authorized by the lease won’t trigger the clock.
What a Landlord Cannot Do
If a tenant disputes the notice or refuses to leave after it expires, the landlord’s only route to possession is the court system. Self-help is illegal. That means no changing the locks, no removing doors or windows, and no shutting off water, electricity, or other essential utilities to force a tenant out.3FindLaw. C.R.S. § 38-12-510
A landlord who does any of this can be sued for damages, and a tenant locked out unlawfully may recover court costs and attorney fees.
Security Deposit After Move-Out
Once the tenant is out, the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit. A lease can extend that deadline, but never past 60 days. If the landlord keeps any portion, they have to provide a written itemized statement showing each deduction. Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted.4Colorado General Assembly. C.R.S. § 38-12-103
A tenant who doesn’t get the deposit back, or doesn’t receive the required statement, can eventually sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld. Before filing, the tenant has to send the landlord a written notice of intent to sue and give seven days for the money to be returned.4Colorado General Assembly. C.R.S. § 38-12-103