How many days does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Colorado?

Colorado law gives landlords 60 days to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 (deadline at (1); forfeiture at (2); penalty at (3)); cap at § 38-12-102.5.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Colorado?

Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 (deadline at (1); forfeiture at (2); penalty at (3)); cap at § 38-12-102.5, allowed deductions generally include nonpayment of rent and abandonment of the premises. Normal wear and tear is not deductible.

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Colorado security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Colorado

Your landlord has 60 days under Colorado law to return your security deposit, or you may be owed more than what they withheld. If they keep more than they're legally allowed, you can dispute it.

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When did you move out?

This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.

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Colorado security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

60 days

Statute

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 (deadline at (1); forfeiture at (2); penalty at (3)); cap at § 38-12-102.5

The default deadline is ONE MONTH after termination of the lease or surrender and acceptance of the premises (whichever occurs LAST) — but the lease may lawfully specify a longer period up to a hard maximum of SIXTY days, so check the lease; we compute dates from the 60-day outer bound so no asserted date is ever premature. If any portion is retained for actual cause, the landlord must provide a written statement of the exact reasons accompanied by payment of the difference; mailing to the tenant's last known address is compliance. Failing to provide the written statement in time FORFEITS all rights to withhold any portion. MANDATORY PRE-SUIT NOTICE: before filing a treble-damages action the tenant must give the landlord at least 7 days' written notice of intent to sue — a demand letter should include it. Deposit cap: two monthly rent payments (§ 38-12-102.5, on and after Aug 7, 2023). A separate 72-hour deadline with 2x damages applies to gas-hazard-forced move-outs (§ 38-12-104). Lease waivers of the section are void.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Colorado?

Allowed

✓Nonpayment of rent
✓Abandonment of the premises
✓Nonpayment of utility charges
✓Repair work or cleaning contracted for by the tenant

Not allowed

✗Normal wear and tear — "No security deposit shall be retained to cover normal wear and tear."

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Colorado?

WILLFUL retention in violation of the section renders the landlord liable for TREBLE the portion wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs — conditioned on the tenant giving at least 7 days' pre-suit written notice (§ 38-12-103(3)(a)). In the tenant's action, the LANDLORD bears the burden of proving the withholding was not wrongful ((3)(b)).

How TenantNex helps

1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
2. We generate a demand letter citing Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 (deadline at (1); forfeiture at (2); penalty at (3)); cap at § 38-12-102.5 and your exact deadline.
3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.

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Colorado tenant rights resources

HUD — tenant rights and resources
Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
Key statute: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 (deadline at (1); forfeiture at (2); penalty at (3)); cap at § 38-12-102.5 — verified against the official text on 2026-09-07.

Every fact on this page is verified against Colorado's official statutory text as of 2026-09-07. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.

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Your money is due back

60 days

Colorado law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.

If they wrongfully withhold

up to 3× your deposit

Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 (deadline at (1); forfeiture at (2); penalty at (3)); cap at § 38-12-102.5 — verified against the official statute 2026-09-07

Your 60 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 3× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.

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We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.

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Option	Price	Effort	Follow-up
Do it yourself	—	All of it	You chase
TenantNex	$39	Done for you	We chase
Small-claims services	$149–448	—	—
Hire an attorney	$300–2,000+	—	—

An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.

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We run your claim until you are paid — or you are ready to file.

Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days

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What TenantNex is — and isn't

TenantNex is not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.