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Eviction in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker), Colorado

Where eviction cases are filed in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.

Quick facts: eviction in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)

Eviction court
Douglas County Court (23rd Judicial District) - Douglas County Courthouse — 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
31,651 (23% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024

Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-23

Where eviction cases are filed in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)

Eviction cases in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker) are heard by the Douglas County Court (23rd Judicial District) - Douglas County Courthouse (County court (Forcible Entry and Detainer)).

Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center

Douglas County moved from the 18th to the new 23rd Judicial District (with Elbert and Lincoln counties) on January 14, 2025. The date on an eviction summons is a deadline to file an Answer (by 4:30 p.m.), not a court date. Court phone 720-437-6200 (option 3, then 3); DouglasClerk@judicial.state.co.us.

How much it costs to file an eviction in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)

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. An older Douglas County court eviction notice still mentions an $80 answer fee; the current statewide fee list shows no answer fee for tenants in eviction cases. Confirm with the clerk.

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

Eviction return-date information sessionThe court hosts a WebEx room on summons return dates where tenants can get information about filing an Answer or other options; it is not a hearing.
Source: Official source

The Colorado eviction process

Colorado state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker):

  1. 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.
  2. Landlord files a forcible entry and detainer complaint; records are automatically suppressed unless and until possession is granted
  3. 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
  4. Tenant may pay the full amount owed until judgment for possession, and the case is then dismissed
  5. Trial and judgment for possession, rent, and damages
  6. Writ of restitution issues no sooner than 48 hours after judgment and expires after 49 days
  7. 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 Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)

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 Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker): $2,193/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 Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)

Free legal help

Rental assistance

Other Colorado counties

Related

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an eviction in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)?
Eviction cases in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker) are filed with the Douglas County Court (23rd Judicial District) - Douglas County Courthouse.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)?
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.
Where can I get help with an eviction in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)?
Colorado Legal Services; Colorado Housing Connects.
What is the fair market rent in Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker)?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit is $2,089 per month (1-bedroom: $1,754).

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.