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Colorado Security Deposit Return Letter

When a tenancy ends, a Colorado landlord has a set time to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Here’s what Colorado’s statute says.

Colorado rules at a glance

Security deposits in Colorado

Since August 7, 2023, a Colorado landlord can’t require a security deposit of more than two monthly rent payments (§38-12-102.5). Colorado also regulates the return tightly — and the penalties for getting it wrong are among the harshest in the country. HB25-1249, effective January 1, 2026, added new documentation and wear-and-tear rules on top.

• Return deadline — The deposit, or a written statement listing the exact reasons for keeping any part of it together with the balance, is due within 30 days after the lease ends or the premises are surrendered, whichever is later. The lease may extend this to no more than 60 days (§38-12-103(1), as amended by HB25-1249).
• Forfeiture — Missing the deadline, otherwise failing to follow the statute, or wrongfully withholding forfeits the landlord’s right to withhold any portion of the deposit — even for real damage (§38-12-103(2)).
• Treble damages — Wrongfully withholding a deposit makes the landlord liable for three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees and court costs, and the landlord bears the burden of proving the withholding wasn’t wrongful. The tenant must first give at least 7 days’ written notice of the demand and intent to sue (§38-12-103(3)). Since 2026, keeping 125% or more of the landlord’s actual damages is presumed to be bad faith (§38-12-103(3.5)).
• Wear and tear (2026) — Deductions can’t be taken for normal wear and tear or for conditions that existed before the tenancy, and a lease clause charging the tenant for such work is void. Within 14 days after a tenant’s written request, the landlord must share the photos, inspection reports, receipts, invoices or estimates supporting any deduction (§38-12-103(7)(b), (8), added by HB25-1249).
• Pet deposits & pet rent — A pet deposit can’t exceed $300 and must be refundable; monthly pet rent is capped at the greater of $35 or 1.5% of the monthly rent (§38-12-106). Assistance animals aren’t pets and can’t be charged either.

Colorado Security Deposit Return Letter FAQs

More Colorado landlord documents

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• Colorado Application Approval Letter
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• Colorado Background & Credit Check Authorization
• Colorado Rental Application
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• Colorado Property Management Agreement
• Colorado Commercial Lease
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• Colorado Short-Term Rental Agreement
• Colorado Room Rental Agreement
• Colorado Roommate Agreement
• Colorado Spanish Lease Agreement
• Colorado Sublease Agreement
• Colorado Lease Amendment

Security Deposit Return Letter in other states

• Alabama Security Deposit Return Letter
• Alaska Security Deposit Return Letter
• Arizona Security Deposit Return Letter
• Arkansas Security Deposit Return Letter
• California Security Deposit Return Letter
• Connecticut Security Deposit Return Letter
• Delaware Security Deposit Return Letter
• District of Columbia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Florida Security Deposit Return Letter
• Georgia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Hawaii Security Deposit Return Letter
• Idaho Security Deposit Return Letter
• Illinois Security Deposit Return Letter
• Indiana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Iowa Security Deposit Return Letter
• Kansas Security Deposit Return Letter
• Kentucky Security Deposit Return Letter
• Louisiana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Maine Security Deposit Return Letter
• Maryland Security Deposit Return Letter
• Massachusetts Security Deposit Return Letter
• Michigan Security Deposit Return Letter
• Minnesota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Mississippi Security Deposit Return Letter
• Missouri Security Deposit Return Letter
• Montana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Nebraska Security Deposit Return Letter
• Nevada Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Hampshire Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Jersey Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Mexico Security Deposit Return Letter
• New York Security Deposit Return Letter
• North Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
• North Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Ohio Security Deposit Return Letter
• Oklahoma Security Deposit Return Letter
• Oregon Security Deposit Return Letter
• Pennsylvania Security Deposit Return Letter
• Rhode Island Security Deposit Return Letter
• South Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
• South Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Tennessee Security Deposit Return Letter
• Texas Security Deposit Return Letter
• Utah Security Deposit Return Letter
• Vermont Security Deposit Return Letter
• Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Washington Security Deposit Return Letter
• West Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Wisconsin Security Deposit Return Letter
• Wyoming Security Deposit Return Letter