Colorado Late Rent Fee Rules

What Colorado law says

• Fee applies only if rent is late by 7 or more days (C.R.S. 38-12-105).
• Cap is the greater of $50 or 5 percent of past due rent.
• The fee must be stated in the lease.
• Landlord must give notice of the fee within 180 days of the due date.

Steps for a landlord

• State the fee in the lease.
• Wait 7 days.
• Limit to the cap.
• Notify within 180 days.

What to put in the notice

• The lease clause that allows the late fee
• The rent due date and any grace period
• The late fee amount and the total now owed
• How and where the tenant can pay
• The date and your signature

Things to watch

• The Real Estate page gives no statute cite.
• Check the statute or a local attorney before relying on this.
• Cities and counties can add their own rules, including rent control and extra notice requirements. Check your local rules too.

About this page

We checked this page against the official sources listed below in November 2026. Where an official page did not say something, we say so. Laws change and courts read them differently, so confirm the current rule with the statute, the court or a local attorney before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.