Denver Landlord-Tenant Rules
Denver adds local rules on top of Colorado landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| Rental licensing & inspection | Any residential rental property in Denver rented or offered for rent as a residence for 30 days or more needs a Residential Rental Property License from the Department of Excise and Licenses (ordinance passed May 3, 2021). To apply, the owner must have the property inspected by a qualified third-party inspector (certified by ASHI, InterNACHI or the Master Inspector Certification Board, and ICC-certified as an R5, C5 or C8 Combination Building Inspector), and must apply within 90 days of the inspection. At multi-unit properties at least 10% of units (or one, if fewer than 10 units) must be inspected, chosen at random. The license lasts four years and does not transfer to a new owner. Fees are a $50 application fee plus a license fee from $50 (single unit) to $500 (251 or more units). Owners of unlicensed units cannot legally rent them and face fines and citations from $150 to $5,000. Main license page: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Business-Licensing/Business-Licenses/Residential-Rental-Property. The article number comes from the Municode link on the city's Eviction Help page. Tenants can check whether a property is licensed in Denver's online permitting center, by address, or by calling 3-1-1. Unlicensed properties can be reported anonymously. |
|---|---|
| Required notices/registration | Landlords may not let a tenant start an occupancy of more than 30 days until the tenant has a copy of a written lease signed by both sides. The landlord must give the tenant a copy of the signed lease within 7 days of signing, electronically or on paper if the tenant asks. Landlords must also give the tenant the current city 'Denver Tenant Rights & Resources' notice when the lease is signed and every time they serve a rent demand under C.R.S. 13-40-104. The Denver Housing Authority and other voucher providers must also give it when they terminate a subsidy or tenancy. The current version is at denvergov.org/EvictionHelp. The PDF at this URL is labeled 'Version: June 2025'. Rules PDF: https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/1/housing-stability/documents/tenant-legal-service-ordinance-rules-and-regulations-bf-signed.pdf. Tenants who did not get the notice or a written lease can complain to HOST (tenantlegalservices@denvergov.org). Complaints can be anonymous. |
| Tenant right to counsel | Denver's Tenant Legal Services ordinance (D.R.M.C. Ch. 27, Art. IX) funds full legal representation for 'covered individuals': tenants, including Denver Housing Authority residents, with household income at or below 80% of area median income. It covers eviction cases, suits for unpaid rent, related appeals, and subsidy terminations. The right is subject to appropriation, and the lowest-income tenants may get priority. City-funded providers: Colorado Poverty Law Project (303-532-2641), Community Economic Defense Project (303-838-1200), Colorado Affordable Legal Services (303-996-0010) and Colorado Legal Services (303-837-1313). A free eviction clinic runs in Room 163 of the City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St., 8 a.m. to noon, Monday to Friday. Eligibility definitions and the 'subject to appropriation' wording are from the HOST rules PDF: https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/1/housing-stability/documents/tenant-legal-service-ordinance-rules-and-regulations-bf-signed.pdf |
| Local fair housing / source of income | Denver's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance bans housing discrimination on more grounds than state law. Its listed protected classes include ethnicity, citizenship, immigration status, age, protective hairstyle and source of income, along with the classes state law already covers. Landlords must consider any lawful source of income, including housing choice vouchers, the same way as ordinary wages when reviewing a rental application. Complaints go to the Denver Anti-Discrimination Office (DADO) within 180 days of the act: dado@denvergov.org or (720) 913-8450. The source-of-income wording is from the city's Tenant Rights & Resources notice. |
| Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line | The Denver Housing Code (D.R.M.C. Ch. 27, Sec. 27-16 et seq.) sets minimum standards for rental units, covering heat, utilities, sanitation, pests and safety. The Department of Public Health and Environment's Residential Health and Housing program enforces it. Report violations by calling 3-1-1 (720-913-1311), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday. For urgently unsafe conditions, call Denver Police non-emergency at (720) 913-2000. The hours and the non-emergency number come from the rental license FAQ page. Source: D.R.M.C. Sec. 27-16 et seq. |
| Rental assistance | The Department of Housing Stability (HOST) offers temporary rent and utility help to residents facing financial hardship. Call 1-844-926-6632 or visit denvergov.org/renthelp. Colorado Housing Connects, at the same number, answers general landlord-tenant questions. Current funding levels and eligibility limits were not shown on the pages loaded. Source: City program (no code section) |
| State preemption | Colorado law bars Denver from adopting rent control on private residential property. This rule is covered on the Colorado state page. The statute was not reloaded for this city page. Source: C.R.S. Sec. 38-12-301 |
Eviction cases in Denver are heard in: Denver County Court, Civil Division (Forcible Entry and Detainer)
Eviction court, fees and help
Right to a lawyer in eviction cases
Yes, for tenants at or below 80% of area median income, subject to appropriation (D.R.M.C. Ch. 27, Art. IX). Official source
Local agencies
- Department of Housing Stability (HOST) — Runs Denver's tenant legal services program, the eviction clinic and rent/utility assistance, and takes complaints about missing tenant-rights notices. Phone 720-913-1534.
- Department of Excise and Licenses — Issues Residential Rental Property Licenses and takes complaints about unlicensed rentals.
- Denver Anti-Discrimination Office (DADO) — Investigates housing discrimination complaints under the Denver Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, including source of income. Phone (720) 913-8450.
- Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (via 3-1-1) — Enforces the Denver Housing Code's minimum housing standards. Report problems through 3-1-1.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does Denver add on top of Colorado law?
Rental licensing & inspection: Any residential rental property in Denver rented or offered for rent as a residence for 30 days or more needs a Residential Rental Property License from the Department of Excise and Licenses (ordinance passed May 3, 2021). To apply, the owner must have the property inspected by a qualified third-party inspector (certified by ASHI, InterNACHI or the Master Inspector Certification Board, and ICC-certified as an R5, C5 or C8 Combination Building Inspector), and must apply within 90 days of the inspection. At multi-unit properties at least 10% of units (or one, if fewer than 10 units) must be inspected, chosen at random. The license lasts four years and does not transfer to a new owner. Fees are a $50 application fee plus a license fee from $50 (single unit) to $500 (251 or more units). Owners of unlicensed units cannot legally rent them and face fines and citations from $150 to $5,000.; Required notices/registration: Landlords may not let a tenant start an occupancy of more than 30 days until the tenant has a copy of a written lease signed by both sides. The landlord must give the tenant a copy of the signed lease within 7 days of signing, electronically or on paper if the tenant asks. Landlords must also give the tenant the current city 'Denver Tenant Rights & Resources' notice when the lease is signed and every time they serve a rent demand under C.R.S. 13-40-104. The Denver Housing Authority and other voucher providers must also give it when they terminate a subsidy or tenancy. The current version is at denvergov.org/EvictionHelp.; Tenant right to counsel: Denver's Tenant Legal Services ordinance (D.R.M.C. Ch. 27, Art. IX) funds full legal representation for 'covered individuals': tenants, including Denver Housing Authority residents, with household income at or below 80% of area median income. It covers eviction cases, suits for unpaid rent, related appeals, and subsidy terminations. The right is subject to appropriation, and the lowest-income tenants may get priority. City-funded providers: Colorado Poverty Law Project (303-532-2641), Community Economic Defense Project (303-838-1200), Colorado Affordable Legal Services (303-996-0010) and Colorado Legal Services (303-837-1313). A free eviction clinic runs in Room 163 of the City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St., 8 a.m. to noon, Monday to Friday.; Local fair housing / source of income: Denver's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance bans housing discrimination on more grounds than state law. Its listed protected classes include ethnicity, citizenship, immigration status, age, protective hairstyle and source of income, along with the classes state law already covers. Landlords must consider any lawful source of income, including housing choice vouchers, the same way as ordinary wages when reviewing a rental application. Complaints go to the Denver Anti-Discrimination Office (DADO) within 180 days of the act: dado@denvergov.org or (720) 913-8450.
← All Colorado landlord-tenant rules
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.