Premises Liability in Colorado
Colorado's Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115) is the controlling, exclusive statutory remedy for injuries from the condition of, or activities on, real property — it replaced the common-law approach. A landowner's duty depends on the injured person's statutory class: trespasser, licensee, or invitee. The two-year general injury deadline (C.R.S. § 13-80-102) typically applies.
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to a Colorado attorney promptly — strict deadlines apply.
If you’re hurt on someone else’s property in Colorado — a slip, a fall, a falling object — your claim is governed by a specific statute, not ordinary negligence rules.
The Premises Liability Act controls
Colorado’s Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115) is the controlling, exclusive statutory remedy for injuries caused by the condition of, or activities on, real property. It replaced the old common-law approach, so claims are framed under the Act rather than general negligence.
Your status sets the landowner’s duty
How much a landowner owes you depends on your statutory class:
- Trespasser — the landowner is liable only for willful or deliberate harm.
- Licensee (there with permission, e.g., a social guest) — liable for dangers the landowner actually knew of.
- Invitee (there for the landowner’s benefit, e.g., a customer) — liable for dangers the landowner knew or should have known of.
Invitees get the most protection; trespassers the least. Determining your class is often the first issue in a case.
The deadline
The two-year general personal-injury deadline typically applies (C.R.S. § 13-80-102). Colorado’s 50% comparative-fault bar can also reduce or eliminate recovery (C.R.S. § 13-21-111).
For an overview of Colorado injury rules, see the personal injury hub. To get matched with a local Colorado premises liability attorney, connect with a lawyer.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Can I sue under regular negligence for a fall on someone's property in Colorado?
- Generally no. The Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115) is the controlling, exclusive statutory remedy for injuries caused by the condition of or activities on real property — it replaced the common-law approach.
- Does my status on the property matter?
- Yes. The landowner's duty depends on your statutory class: trespasser (liable only for willful or deliberate harm), licensee (dangers the landowner actually knew of), or invitee (dangers the landowner knew or should have known of).
- How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Colorado?
- The two-year general personal-injury deadline typically applies (C.R.S. § 13-80-102). Deadlines are strict, so confirm yours with a lawyer.
Sources
Related guides
- Colorado Car Accident Claims Colorado is an at-fault auto state: you pursue the driver who caused the crash and their insurer. A three-year deadline applies to motor-vehicle claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)), and modified comparative negligence bars recovery once you're 50% or more at fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). Colorado sets minimum liability limits (commonly 25/50/15) — confirm the current statute.
- Colorado Motorcycle Accident Claims Colorado has no universal helmet law — only riders and passengers under 18 must wear one (C.R.S. § 42-4-1502), and eye protection is required for everyone. Motorcycle crash claims follow Colorado's at-fault framework: a three-year deadline for motor-vehicle claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101) and modified comparative negligence that bars recovery once you're 50% or more at fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111).
- Colorado Truck Accident Claims Colorado truck crash claims follow the state's at-fault framework: a three-year deadline for motor-vehicle claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101) and modified comparative negligence that bars recovery at 50% or more fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). Federal FMCSA rules — hours of service, maintenance, driver qualification — layer on top, and a violation can be evidence of negligence. Cases often involve multiple defendants.
- Dog Bite Claims in Colorado Colorado imposes strict liability on a dog owner for economic damages when a person suffers serious bodily injury or death from a dog bite while lawfully on public or private property — regardless of the dog's prior viciousness or the owner's knowledge (C.R.S. § 13-21-124). Exceptions include trespassing, knowingly provoking the dog, working dogs, and certain professionals. Lesser injuries fall outside this strict-liability rule.
- Medical Malpractice in Colorado Colorado medical malpractice claims have a two-year deadline with a three-year statute of repose (C.R.S. § 13-80-102.5). Colorado caps damages under the Health Care Availability Act (C.R.S. § 13-64-302). Importantly, HB 24-1472 raised the caps on an escalating schedule starting Jan 1, 2025 — there's no single fixed figure, so confirm the current cap.
- Wrongful Death Claims in Colorado Colorado's Wrongful Death Act (C.R.S. §§ 13-21-201 to 13-21-204) sets who may sue on a tiered, year-based scheme: the surviving spouse generally has the exclusive right in the first year, then spouse and/or heirs, and parents may sue for an unmarried decedent with no descendants. A two-year deadline generally applies. Colorado caps noneconomic damages, but HB 24-1472 raised the cap — confirm the current figure; there's no cap for a felonious killing.
- Related area: Workers' Compensation in Colorado