Colorado pet rent laws cap monthly pet rent at $35 or 1.5% of your monthly rent, whichever is greater, and limit pet security deposits to $300 refundable. Both rules come from House Bill 23-1068, which took effect January 1, 2024 and applies to any lease signed or renewed on or after that date.1Colorado General Assembly. HB23-1068 Pet Animal Ownership In Housing The law does not require landlords to allow pets. It sets the ceiling for what they can charge when they do.
How the Monthly Pet Rent Cap Works
Under C.R.S. § 38-12-106, monthly pet rent cannot exceed $35 or 1.5% of your monthly rent, whichever amount is higher.2Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 38-12-106 – Security Deposits – Limitation on Pet Security Deposit and Rent – Definition The word “greater” is the one to read carefully. The 1.5% figure only beats $35 once your base rent climbs above roughly $2,333 a month. Below that, $35 is your cap.
A few examples:
- At $1,800 rent, 1.5% is $27. The cap is $35.
- At $2,500 rent, 1.5% is $37.50. The cap is $37.50.
- At $3,200 rent, 1.5% is $48. The cap is $48.
The cap applies per lease, not per animal. Two dogs does not double what your landlord can charge. Any lease clause pushing pet rent above the statutory ceiling violates § 38-12-106, and you can raise that violation in a dispute.
The $300 Refundable Deposit Rule
Colorado caps pet-related security deposits at $300, and the deposit has to be refundable.2Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 38-12-106 – Security Deposits – Limitation on Pet Security Deposit and Rent – Definition A landlord who calls the charge a nonrefundable “pet fee” is working around the statute. Flag it before you sign.
Because it is a security deposit, it follows Colorado’s standard deposit-return rules. Your landlord has one month after the lease ends to return it, unless the lease extends that to a maximum of 60 days. If they keep any portion, they owe you a written itemization of what was withheld and why. Miss the deadline entirely, and the landlord forfeits the right to keep any of it.3Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 38-12-103
What Happens if Your Pet Causes More Than $300 in Damage
The $300 cap limits the upfront deposit, not the landlord’s ability to recover actual damage. If your dog chews through the baseboards or the cat destroys the carpet and the repair bill exceeds $300, the landlord can document the damage with photos and contractor estimates, then bill you for the difference. If you refuse, they can pursue the balance in small claims court.
What the Law Doesn’t Do: No-Pet, Breed, and Weight Policies
HB 23-1068 controls what landlords charge. It does not control which pets they accept. A landlord can still enforce a no-pet policy, ban specific breeds, set weight limits, or cap the number of animals per unit. The bill’s legislative declaration notes that breed and weight restrictions create barriers for pet owners, but the operative sections leave those restrictions in place for rental housing.4Colorado General Assembly. Colorado House Bill 23-1068 – Concerning Pet Animal Ownership In Housing
Service and Assistance Animals Are Not Pets
The rent caps, deposit caps, and breed policies do not apply to service animals or emotional support animals, because no pet-related charges are allowed for them in the first place. Under C.R.S. § 24-34-803, a person with a disability has the right to keep a service animal in housing without any extra charge.5FindLaw. Colorado Revised Statutes 24-34-803 – Rights of Individuals With Service Animals The federal Fair Housing Act extends similar protection to emotional support animals through the reasonable accommodation process, which requires landlords to waive pet deposits, pet fees, and breed or weight restrictions.6U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Assistance Animals
If your disability or the animal’s role is not obvious, the landlord can request reliable documentation from a licensed healthcare provider confirming both the disability and the animal’s connection to it.6U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Assistance Animals Denials are limited to narrow grounds: the specific animal poses a direct safety threat, would cause significant property damage that no other accommodation could prevent, or the request would impose an undue burden on the housing provider. Get documentation from your actual treating provider, not an online letter mill. Thin paperwork is where these requests fall apart.
Renters Insurance Fills the Liability Gap
The $300 deposit does not cover you if your dog bites a neighbor or damages someone else’s property. Renters insurance with liability coverage typically does, including medical bills and legal fees if you get sued.
Two things to know before you rely on it. Many insurers exclude breeds they consider aggressive, including pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans, which pushes you toward specialty insurers at higher premiums. And renters insurance generally does not cover damage your pet causes to your own rental unit or belongings, so scratched floors still come out of the deposit or your pocket.
Disclose your pet’s breed and any bite history when you buy or renew the policy. Failing to do so can void coverage. If your landlord requires renters insurance as a lease condition, confirm the policy actually covers your pet before you count on it.