How long does an eviction take in Colorado?
For unpaid rent, expect about 5.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 4 to 11.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Colorado actually earn?
We'll prefill Colorado's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,822/mo
- Property tax 0.47%–0.49%
- Insurance $964–$1,655/yr
- Vacancy 4.6%–4.8%
The Colorado eviction timeline
Each step comes from Colorado's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 5.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
10 days10 days' written notice to pay the rent or move out (5 days for an exempt residential agreement); a lease can't waive this notice (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-104(1)(d)); the notice must also tell the tenant about their mediation and repayment-plan rights (§ 13-40-106)
- 2
File and get a judgment
7–28 days · typical 14Answer due by the return date on the summons, generally 7-14 days after filing; trial 7-10 days after an answer
- 3
Judgment to lockout
10–21 daysA residential writ cannot be executed until at least 10 days after judgment
- 4
If the tenant appeals
14-day window14 days to appeal a county court judgment; bond required, and in nonpayment cases the tenant must deposit the rent
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Colorado
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Statewide$85–$135County court: $85 under $1,000; $105 for $1,000-$15,000; $135 for $15,000-$25,000
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Colorado yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Colorado yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,822/moColorado median gross rent, ±$15. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: Yes
Cause required for most tenants after 12 months (HB24-1098)
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Local rules: Denver and Boulder have local right-to-counsel programs; statewide rent control is preempted.
Colorado scores 69 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Colorado eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Colorado?
A nonpayment eviction in Colorado typically takes about 5.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 4 to 11.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Colorado?
10 days' written notice to pay the rent or move out (5 days for an exempt residential agreement); a lease can't waive this notice (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-104(1)(d)); the notice must also tell the tenant about their mediation and repayment-plan rights (§ 13-40-106).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Colorado by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Colorado?
The court filing fee is $85-$135 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Colorado?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Colorado costs a landlord roughly $3,000 to $4,200: about 5.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,822/month (about $2,300), court and service fees of about $190-$392 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 11.5 weeks can pass $7,200. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Colorado landlord-friendly for evictions?
Colorado scores 69 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 35.4/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 20/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Colorado: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcecoloradojudicial.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcecoloradojudicial.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcecoloradojudicial.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcecoloradojudicial.gov ↗
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Just causeofficial sourceleg.colorado.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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