Eviction in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster), Colorado
Where eviction cases are filed in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)
- Eviction court
- Adams County Court (17th Judicial District) - Adams County Justice Center — County court (Forcible Entry and Detainer) Court page
- Filing fee
- Landlord (plaintiff) county civil filing fee by claim amount: $95 ($0-$999.99), $115 ($1,000-$14,999.99), $145 ($15,000-$25,000); tenants pay $0 to answer or counterclaim in eviction (FED) cases Colorado Judicial Branch List of Fees; C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(c)(III.5), (1)(c)(V)
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 10-day written demand to pay rent or deliver possession. Exempt residential agreements get 5 days; employer-provided housing gets 3 days. The tenant may pay the full amount in the notice, plus any rent that has since come due, at any time until the judge enters a judgment for possession. Payment can go to the landlord or the court, and the case is then dismissed. Colorado rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $2,089/month HUD
- Renter households
- 59,315 (31% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-23
Where eviction cases are filed in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)
Eviction cases in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster) are heard by the Adams County Court (17th Judicial District) - Adams County Justice Center (County court (Forcible Entry and Detainer)).
- Adams County Justice Center — 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601 · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center
Clerk's Office 303-659-1161 (windows 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; phones 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed to the public 12-1 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month). A Court Resource Center for self-represented parties is in the courthouse. The 17th Judicial District also serves Broomfield County.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)
Landlord (plaintiff) county civil filing fee by claim amount: $95 ($0-$999.99), $115 ($1,000-$14,999.99), $145 ($15,000-$25,000); tenants pay $0 to answer or counterclaim in eviction (FED) cases
Issuing a writ/execution is $45 (C.R.S. 13-32-104(1)(b)). Fee waiver: JDF 205/206. Sheriff or process-server fees are extra.
Source: Colorado Judicial Branch List of Fees; C.R.S. 13-32-101(1)(c)(III.5), (1)(c)(V)
How eviction cases work locally
| Free legal clinics | The 17th Judicial District posts a schedule of free legal clinics for self-represented parties. Source: Official source |
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The Colorado eviction process
Colorado state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster):
- Landlord serves a written demand or notice: 10 days for nonpayment or curable violations, 90 days for no-fault grounds, or as otherwise required. Cause is required for covered tenancies.
- Landlord files a forcible entry and detainer complaint; records are automatically suppressed unless and until possession is granted
- Summons commands the tenant to appear 7 to 14 days after the summons is issued; the tenant files a written answer at or before the appearance date
- Tenant may pay the full amount owed until judgment for possession, and the case is then dismissed
- Trial and judgment for possession, rent, and damages
- Writ of restitution issues no sooner than 48 hours after judgment and expires after 49 days
- Sheriff executes the writ in daytime, no sooner than 10 days after judgment (30 days for tenants receiving SSI, SSDI, or Colorado Works, with exceptions)
Full Colorado eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,643 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,754 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,089 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,734 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,049 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster): $1,781/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; city rules (if any) live on city pages.
Eviction help in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)
Free legal help
- Colorado Legal Services — Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Coloradans, including evictions.
Rental assistance
- Colorado Housing Connects — Statewide helpline (1-844-926-6632) with information for renters and landlords and referrals to housing resources
Other Colorado counties
- Eviction in City and County of Denver
- Eviction in El Paso County (Colorado Springs)
- Eviction in Arapahoe County (Aurora / Centennial / Littleton)
- Eviction in Jefferson County (Lakewood / Golden / Arvada)
- Eviction in Larimer County (Fort Collins / Loveland)
- Eviction in Boulder County (Boulder / Longmont)
- Eviction in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)
- Eviction in Weld County (Greeley)
Related
- Colorado landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Colorado
- Colorado eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Colorado (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)?
What is the fair market rent in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.