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When can a landlord charge a late fee for rent in Colorado, and how much?

Short answer

Late fees: only after rent is at least 7 days overdue, capped at $50 or 5% of the past-due rent (whichever is greater), and only if the lease discloses it

When: A late fee may be charged only once rent is overdue by at least 7 days

A landlord cannot charge a late fee unless the rent payment is overdue by at least seven days and the fee is disclosed in the rental agreement. The fee cannot exceed $50 or 5% of the past-due rent, whichever is greater.

"A landlord cannot charge a tenant a late fee unless a rent payment is overdue by at least seven days. The maximum late fee a landlord may charges is $50 or five percent of the past due rent, whichever one is greater."
content.leg.colorado.gov
"A late fee cannot be charged unless it is disclosed in the rental agreement."
content.leg.colorado.gov

Source: content.leg.colorado.gov · Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: medium · Full rule details

Colorado rules on this topic

Late fees: only after rent is at least 7 days overdue, capped at $50 or 5% of the past-due rent (whichever is greater), and only if the lease discloses it Verified

Deadline: A late fee may be charged only once rent is overdue by at least 7 days

A landlord cannot charge a late fee unless the rent payment is overdue by at least seven days and the fee is disclosed in the rental agreement. The fee cannot exceed $50 or 5% of the past-due rent, whichever is greater.

Applies to: any number of units · Layer: Colorado · Topic: Late fees and grace periods

"A landlord cannot charge a tenant a late fee unless a rent payment is overdue by at least seven days. The maximum late fee a landlord may charges is $50 or five percent of the past due rent, whichever one is greater."
content.leg.colorado.gov
"A late fee cannot be charged unless it is disclosed in the rental agreement."
content.leg.colorado.gov

Notes: C.R.S. 38-12-105 as summarized by the Colorado Legislative Council Staff memo (October 2024). Colorado has no free official .gov statute text, so this is medium confidence.

Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction

Same topic in other places

More: Late fees and grace periods in every covered place · All Colorado landlord rules · Build a dated calendar