✓ Law Verified June 2026
This guide explains colorado rent increase laws in plain English — whether there is a cap on how much your landlord can raise your rent, how much notice they must give, which Colorado cities have local rent control, and what to do if an increase looks illegal. All figures are from Colorado law, verified as of June 2026.
In This Colorado Guide:
Colorado Rent Increase Rules at a Glance
| Statewide rent cap | NO. Colorado has no statewide cap on rent increase amounts. Landlords may raise rent by any amount, provided they give proper written notice and comply with timing and frequency rules under C.R.S. § 38-12-701. There is no maximum percentage or dollar limit on how much rent can be increased. |
| Notice required before increase | Colorado uses a tiered notice system based on the size of the increase. For rent increases of less than 10%, landlords must provide at least 30 days’ written notice. For rent increases of 10% or more, landlords must provide at least 60 days’ written notice. The notice must state the new rent amount and the date it takes effect. For mobile home park residents, a minimum of 60 days’ written notice is required for any rent increase regardless of amount, under C.R.S. § 38-12-204. For nonresidential month-to-month tenancies with no written agreement, at least 21 days’ notice is required. |
| How often rent can be raised | A landlord may not increase rent more than once in any 12-month period of consecutive occupancy, regardless of whether there is a written rental agreement or the type of tenancy (month-to-month or otherwise). This applies to both standard residential tenancies and mobile home park lots. |
| During a fixed-term lease | NO, a landlord generally cannot raise rent during a fixed-term lease in Colorado. Rent can only be increased at the end of the lease term or upon renewal, unless the lease itself contains a specific clause permitting mid-lease rent increases. If the lease is silent on rent increases, the rent remains locked for the entire lease term. Month-to-month tenancies may see increases at any time with proper written notice and subject to the once-per-12-months rule. |
Retaliatory increases: YES, Colorado prohibits retaliatory rent increases. Under C.R.S. § 38-12-509, a landlord may not increase rent, decrease services, or take other adverse action in retaliation against a tenant who has filed an official complaint, reported a code violation, or participated in a tenant organization.
If a landlord takes adverse action within 90 days of a tenant’s protected activity, the law presumes the action is retaliatory, and the burden shifts to the landlord to prove otherwise.
Additionally, under C.R.S. § 38-12-1307, a landlord may not increase rent in a discriminatory, retaliatory, or unconscionable manner to force out a tenant when the landlord lacks permissible grounds for eviction or nonrenewal.
Colorado Cities With Local Rent Control
NONE. No city or county in Colorado has a local rent control ordinance. Colorado state law (C.R.S. § 38-12-301) prohibits municipalities from enacting any ordinance or resolution that would control rents on private residential or commercial property.
Exempt properties: Because Colorado has no rent control or rent cap, there is no exemption framework. All private residential rental properties are subject to the same notice and frequency rules. The one exception under C.R.S. § 38-12-301 is that voluntary agreements between a municipality and a property owner to limit rent (such as deed-restricted affordable housing) are permitted and are not preempted.
State preemption: YES. Colorado preempts local rent control. C.R.S. § 38-12-301, originally enacted in 1981 as part of the Rental Housing Act, declares that rent control on private residential housing is a matter of statewide concern and prohibits any county or municipality from enacting ordinances or resolutions that control rents.
Multiple legislative efforts to repeal this preemption (including HB23-1115) have been introduced but none have passed as of June 2026. The preemption remains in full effect.
What to Do If Your Rent Increase Is Illegal
If you believe your landlord has raised your rent illegally in Colorado — for example, without proper notice, more than once in 12 months, during a fixed-term lease without authorization, or in retaliation — you may be able to take the following steps: (1) Document everything in writing, including the notice you received, the date, the amount, and any communications with your landlord.
(2) Contact Colorado Legal Services at coloradolegalservices.org for free legal assistance. (3) File a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at StopFraudColorado.gov or coag.gov.
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(4) A rent increase notice that violates C.R.S. § 38-12-701 or § 38-12-204 is invalid and has no force or effect — you may be able to continue paying your previous rent amount while disputing the increase. (5) Many tenants can raise an affirmative defense of retaliation or improper notice in court if the landlord attempts an eviction based on the disputed increase.
(6) Check with your local county court for tenant rights resources and self-help guidance.
Other Colorado rent rules: (1) MOBILE HOME PARKS: Mobile home park residents have additional protections under C.R.S. § 38-12-204. A landlord may not increase lot rent on a mobile home park resident if the park does not have a current, active registration with the Colorado Division of Housing.
The rent increase notice for mobile home parks must include the name, address, and telephone number of the park management and owner. (2) ALGORITHMIC PRICING: The Colorado Attorney General has actively pursued enforcement against landlords who use algorithm-driven rent-setting software (such as RealPage) to coordinate pricing.
The AG secured agreements from landlords including Cortland Management to stop using non-public data from such software, and joined a federal lawsuit against RealPage for price-fixing. (3) DEFECTIVE NOTICE: A 30-day notice issued for a rent increase of 10% or more is considered defective and may void the increase entirely, give the tenant grounds to dispute it, and in some cases allow the tenant to terminate the lease without penalty.
(4) COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT: A landlord may not increase rent if the landlord has unpaid penalties or is out of compliance with final agency orders from the Colorado Division of Housing. (5) NO-FAULT EVICTION PROTECTIONS: Colorado law prevents landlords from using rent increases as a tool to circumvent tenant protections — a landlord may not substantially increase rent at the end of a rental period simply to force out a tenant when the landlord does not have permissible grounds for eviction or nonrenewal (C.R.S. § 38-12-1307).
You May Also Like
Official Colorado Sources & Resources
- Colorado Attorney General: https://coag.gov/office-sections/consumer-protection/
- Colorado Rent Statute: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_38-12-701
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: hud.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Understanding Colorado Rent Increase Laws
Whether a Colorado rent increase is legal depends on the cap (if any), the notice given, and whether the increase is retaliatory. Colorado rent increase laws protect tenants from surprise hikes by requiring a minimum notice period before any increase takes effect.
If you believe a Colorado rent increase violates these rules, document the notice you received, check the math against the cap, and contact your local housing authority or legal-aid office.
Knowing the Colorado rent increase rules before your lease renews puts you in a much stronger position.
This Colorado rent increase guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Rent caps change — verify with your state or a local legal-aid office.
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws change and vary by city and county within a state. Verify current rules with your state, your local court, or a free legal-aid office before acting. If you are facing eviction, contact a local tenant attorney or legal-aid organization right away.