Eviction in City and County of Denver, Colorado
Where eviction cases are filed in City and County of Denver, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in City and County of Denver
- Eviction court
- Denver County Court - Civil Division (FED / evictions) — County court (Forcible Entry and Detainer) - Denver County Court is separate from the state court system Court page
- 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
- 171,873 (51% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in City and County of Denver
Eviction cases in City and County of Denver are heard by the Denver County Court - Civil Division (FED / evictions) (County court (Forcible Entry and Detainer) - Denver County Court is separate from the state court system).
- City & County Building - Clerk's Office (Room 135); Civil Self Help Center (Room 281) — 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center
Civil division hears FED evictions (residential, mobile home, commercial). File in person at the Clerk's Office; DCC eFile is for attorneys. Fees may vary by case type and are paid at filing.
How eviction cases work locally
| Free eviction clinic at court | Free Eviction Clinic in Room 163, City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St., Mon-Fri 8 am-12 pm (help writing and filing answers). Source: Official source |
|---|---|
| Writ execution | Only the Denver Sheriff may enforce a court-ordered eviction. Source: Official source |
| Sheriff service fees | Denver Sheriff Civilian Division fee schedule: civil summons $35 served / $20 not served; writ of restitution $120 served plus actual costs after two hours (page shows no effective date). Source: Official source |
The Colorado eviction process
Colorado state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including City and County of Denver:
- 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 City and County of Denver
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 City and County of Denver: $1,831/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
Denver Revised Municipal Code, Chapter 27 (residential rental rules) - City and County of Denver
Applies: Entire City and County of Denver (consolidated city-county; these are both city and county rules)
- Residential rental license: License required to offer or operate residential rental property in Denver (Rental Registry Ordinance, effective May 3, 2021).
- Written lease copy: For occupancies over 30 days (from Jan 1, 2022), tenant must receive a lease signed by both parties within 7 days (electronic, or paper on request).
- Tenant Rights and Resources notice: Landlord must give the current Denver Tenant Rights and Resources notice with the lease copy and whenever a rent demand is served.
- Source-of-income discrimination: Landlords may not refuse lawful income sources such as Housing Choice Vouchers; enforced by the Denver Anti-Discrimination Office.
Eviction help in City and County of Denver
Free legal help
- Denver-funded free eviction legal services (HOST) — For households at or below 80% AMI. Providers: Colorado Poverty Law Project 303-532-2641; Colorado Economic Defense Project 303-838-1200; Colorado Affordable Legal Services 303-996-0010; Colorado Legal Services 303-837-1313.
- Colorado Legal Services — Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Coloradans, including evictions.
Right to counsel: City and County of Denver funds free eviction legal services for tenants at or below 80% of area median income (Department of Housing Stability). The city's page does not describe it as a guaranteed right to counsel or cite an ordinance. Source
Rental assistance
- Denver Temporary Rent and Utility Assistance (Department of Housing Stability) — Rent and utility help for Denver residents with financial hardship; 1-844-926-6632 or denvergov.org/renthelp
City rules in City and County of Denver
Other Colorado counties
- Eviction in El Paso County (Colorado Springs)
- Eviction in Arapahoe County (Aurora / Centennial / Littleton)
- Eviction in Jefferson County (Lakewood / Golden / Arvada)
- Eviction in Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster)
- 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 City and County of Denver?
Where can I get help with an eviction in City and County of Denver?
What is the fair market rent in City and County of Denver?
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.