Evictions in Colorado (Forcible Entry and Detainer)
Colorado eviction is called Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED). For residential nonpayment of rent, the landlord must serve a written demand for payment or possession — generally a 10-day notice for standard residential tenancies. This area was amended in 2024 and is amendment-prone, so confirm the current rule. Self-help eviction — lockouts or utility shutoffs — is illegal; only a sheriff acting on a court order may remove a tenant.
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. Colorado eviction rules were amended in 2024 and change often — confirm the current rule on the official source below, or talk to a Colorado attorney.
In Colorado, a landlord can’t simply remove a tenant. Eviction is a court process with required notice.
Eviction is “FED” (§ 13-40-101 et seq.)
A Colorado eviction is a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) action (C.R.S. § 13-40-101 et seq.). It is a court proceeding, and the landlord must follow each step before a tenant can be removed.
The notice for nonpayment (§ 13-40-104)
For residential nonpayment of rent, the landlord must serve a written demand for payment or possession — generally a 10-day notice for standard residential tenancies (C.R.S. § 13-40-104). Shorter periods can apply to some non-residential or employer-housing situations.
Confirm current: This area was amended in 2024 and is amendment-prone. Always check the latest version of the statute before relying on a specific number of days.
Self-help eviction is illegal
A landlord cannot lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off utilities to force you out. Self-help eviction is illegal — only a sheriff acting on a court order may remove a tenant.
For deposit and habitability rules that often come up in these disputes, see landlord–tenant. For more statewide property basics, see the real estate hub.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- What is an eviction called in Colorado?
- Forcible Entry and Detainer, or FED — a court action governed by C.R.S. 13-40-101 and following. A landlord cannot lawfully remove a tenant without going through this process.
- How much notice is required for nonpayment of rent in Colorado?
- Generally a 10-day written demand for payment or possession for standard residential tenancies; some non-residential or employer-housing situations use shorter periods (C.R.S. 13-40-104). This area was amended in 2024 — confirm the current rule.
- Can a Colorado landlord change the locks or shut off utilities?
- No. Self-help eviction — lockouts and utility shutoffs — is illegal. Only a sheriff acting on a court order may remove a tenant.
Sources
Related guides
- Buying and Selling a Home in Colorado Colorado real property is conveyed by deed and recorded with the county clerk and recorder. Colorado is a race-notice recording state, so a later buyer who takes without notice of a prior unrecorded interest and records first can win. Standard residential contracts are promulgated by the Colorado Real Estate Commission, most sales use a licensed broker, and a Seller's Property Disclosure is customary.
- Colorado Landlord–Tenant Rules: Deposits & Habitability Colorado landlords must return a security deposit, with a written statement of any deductions, within one month after the tenancy ends — unless the lease sets a longer period not to exceed 60 days. A landlord who misses the deadline forfeits the right to withhold any of the deposit, and willful wrongful retention exposes the landlord to treble damages plus attorney fees. Every residential lease also includes an implied warranty of habitability.
- Foreclosure in Colorado (Public Trustee) Colorado uses a public trustee foreclosure system, C.R.S. 38-38-101 and following. A neutral county public trustee administers the notice, publication, and sale process for foreclosures on deeds of trust. This is distinct from purely judicial or purely private foreclosure systems used in other states, and the public trustee's role is to run the process as a neutral official.
- HOAs and CCIOA in Colorado Colorado common-interest communities — condominiums and HOAs — are governed by the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA), C.R.S. 38-33.3-101 and following. CCIOA sets out association powers, owner rights, assessments, and governance for these communities, providing the statewide framework that shapes how an HOA or condo association can operate and what owners can expect.
- Holding Title in Colorado Colorado co-owners hold title as tenants in common (the default) or as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Joint tenancy must be expressly created with words like 'joint tenants' or 'JTWROS' and is available only to natural persons. Importantly, Colorado does not recognize tenancy by the entireties — any attempt to create one is treated as a joint tenancy.
- Related area: Business Law in Colorado