Colorado

Security deposit timelines in Colorado

Your landlord generally has 30 days in Colorado to return your security deposit or provide an itemized written statement of deductions. A lease can set a longer period — but not more than 60 days — so check your rental agreement, including leases signed before 2026, which may use that longer period. DepositsBack.app helps you take the next step: a state-specific security deposit notice sent by USPS Certified Mail, with tracking that stays attached to your case. This page summarizes general information from Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-103 and official state sources.

Colorado security deposit facts
General return deadline
30 days
After tenant moves out
Relevant statute
Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-103
Cited in your DepositsBack.app notice
Penalty for non-compliance
Up to 3× wrongfully withheld
May vary by case
Small-claims court limit
$7,500
Colorado County Court Small Claims Division.
Bad-faith qualifier. Penalty damages in Colorado require proof of bad faith by the landlord.

What DepositsBack.app helps with in Colorado

  • Free deadline check tied to Colorado’s 30-day rule
  • State-specific security deposit notice citing Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-103, prepared and reviewed before mailing
  • USPS Certified Mail with tracking, acceptance, and delivery timestamps attached to your case
  • Response Center — paste their email/text/SMS or upload a photo of the letter; AI extracts the issues, amounts, and dates
  • Complete Case Bundle (included after delivery) with notices, mailing history, attorney handoff sheet, and official resources

Official Colorado resources

Frequently asked
Common questions about Colorado

The general deadline is 30 days. Landlords must return the security deposit or provide an itemized written statement of deductions within 30 days after the tenant vacates; a lease — including a lease signed before 2026 — may set a longer period, but not more than 60 days.

You may still be able to send a notice. We show general state information and official sources so you can review your situation and decide your next step.

The Complete Case Bundle includes your notices, USPS Certified Mail history, case summary, evidence checklist, attorney handoff sheet, and official state resources — all in one downloadable ZIP.

If the deadline in your lease (30 days by default, or a longer period up to 60 days if your rental agreement specifies one) passes without a return of your deposit or an itemized statement of deductions, your records — DepositsBack.app notice, USPS Certified Mail delivery confirmation, and any response uploaded to your case — document the timeline. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-103, willful retention can make a landlord liable for three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs, and the statute generally requires at least seven days' written notice of intent to sue; Colorado small-claims court generally hears disputes up to $7,500. You can review your situation alongside the statute and official state resources, and decide whether to consult a Colorado attorney or proceed with self-help next steps.

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Have your lease ready? You can upload it after the check.