Colorado Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Colorado rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: It is unlawful for a landlord to remove or exclude a tenant without court process, including by willfully removing doors, windows or locks other than for repair, unless the tenant agreed, the unit was abandoned (shown by things like returned keys, removal of belongings, notice, or long… C.R.S. § 38-12-510
The rules in Colorado
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | It is unlawful for a landlord to remove or exclude a tenant without court process, including by willfully removing doors, windows or locks other than for repair, unless the tenant agreed, the unit was abandoned (shown by things like returned keys, removal of belongings, notice, or long absence with rent unpaid), or it is required for an illegal drug-lab cleanup. The tenant may sue to stop the violation and must be awarded actual damages plus the greater of three times the monthly rent or $5,000, along with costs and reasonable attorney fees; the court may order possession restored. Text from the Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 edition; later session laws may have changed it. Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-510 |
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| Landlord shutting off utilities | A landlord may not remove or shut out a tenant without going to court, and unlawful removal includes willfully cutting off utilities. If a landlord willfully and unlawfully causes heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or other essential services to be cut off, the tenant may sue to stop it and must be awarded actual damages plus statutory damages of the greater of three times the monthly rent or $5,000, along with costs and reasonable attorney fees; the court may also restore possession. Text from the Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 edition; later session laws may have changed it. Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-510 |
| Landlord retaliation | A landlord may not retaliate (raise rent, cut services, end or not renew the lease, bring or threaten eviction, harass, or charge fees) because the tenant made a good-faith complaint about a habitability condition to the landlord, a nonprofit, or a government agency; joined or organized a tenants' association; or used habitability remedies. The tenant need only show that the protected activity was a motivating factor. Remedies: the greater of three months' rent or three times actual damages, plus attorney fees. The tenant may also terminate the lease and raise retaliation as a defense to eviction. The statute sets no presumption period. Last amended by HB 24-1098 and SB 24-094 (2024). A separate rule bars retaliatory rent increases against tenants covered by Part 13 (§ 38-12-1307). Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-509 |
Related questions
Colorado vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | It is unlawful for a landlord to remove or exclude a tenant without court process, including by willfully removing doors, windows or locks other than for repair, unless the tenant agreed, the unit was abandoned (shown by things like returned keys, removal of belongings, notice, or long absence with rent unpaid), or it is required for an illegal drug-lab cleanup. The tenant may sue to stop the violation and must be awarded actual damages plus the greater of three times the monthly rent or $5,000, along with costs and reasonable attorney fees; the court may order possession restored. C.R.S. § 38-12-510 | A landlord may not remove or shut out a tenant without going to court, and unlawful removal includes willfully cutting off utilities. If a landlord willfully and unlawfully causes heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or other essential services to be cut off, the tenant may sue to stop it and must be awarded actual damages plus statutory damages of the greater of three times the monthly rent or $5,000, along with costs and reasonable attorney fees; the court may also restore possession. C.R.S. § 38-12-510 | A landlord may not retaliate (raise rent, cut services, end or not renew the lease, bring or threaten eviction, harass, or charge fees) because the tenant made a good-faith complaint about a habitability condition to the landlord, a nonprofit, or a government agency; joined or organized a tenants' association; or used habitability remedies. The tenant need only show that the protected activity was a motivating factor. Remedies: the greater of three months' rent or three times actual damages, plus attorney fees. The tenant may also terminate the lease and raise retaliation as a defense to eviction. C.R.S. § 38-12-509 |
| Arizona | A landlord may not recover or take possession of a rental by action or otherwise, including by willfully cutting essential services, except after abandonment or surrender or as the landlord-tenant act permits. If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover the greater of two months' periodic rent or twice actual damages. If the lease ends, the landlord must return the security the tenant is owed. A.R.S. §§ 33-1374, 33-1367 | A landlord may not take back a rental by willfully cutting off electricity, gas, water or other essential services, and may not terminate utilities provided under the lease except for repairs or as the act allows. If the landlord willfully cuts services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and recover the greater of two months' periodic rent or twice actual damages. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, cooling, water, hot water or essential services, after reasonable notice the tenant may buy the service and deduct the reasonable cost from rent, recover damages for reduced rental value, or get reasonable substitute housing and not pay rent for that period. A.R.S. §§ 33-1374, 33-1367, 33-1364 | A landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an eviction after the tenant (1) complained to a building or housing code agency about a health or safety violation, (2) complained to the landlord about a § 33-1324 maintenance violation, (3) organized or joined a tenants' union, or (4) complained to a wage-price stabilization agency. A complaint within 6 months before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. A.R.S. § 33-1381 |
| Kansas | Self-help eviction is barred: a landlord may not recover or take possession of a home except after abandonment or surrender or as the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act allows. If a landlord unlawfully removes or locks out a tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover up to 1.5 months' rent or the actual damages, whichever is greater, plus the recoverable part of the deposit if the lease ends. K.S.A. 58-2569, 58-2563 | A landlord may not take possession by willfully interrupting electric, gas, water or other essential service, except after abandonment or surrender or as the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act otherwise allows. If the landlord willfully cuts essential services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover up to 1.5 months' rent or the actual damages, whichever is greater. If the lease ends, the landlord must return the recoverable part of the security deposit. K.S.A. 58-2569, 58-2563 | Landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services after a tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a K.S.A. 58-2553 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. Remedies: those in K.S.A. 58-2563 (recover possession or terminate, plus the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages) and a defense to eviction. No statutory presumption period. K.S.A. 58-2572 |
| Nebraska | Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may not recover or take possession of the unit by action or otherwise, except after abandonment, surrender, or as the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act permits. If a landlord unlawfully removes or shuts out the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and recover three months' periodic rent as liquidated damages plus a reasonable attorney's fee. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1436, 76-1430 | No. A landlord may not take possession by willfully interrupting electric, gas, water, or other essential services. If the landlord willfully and wrongfully cuts those services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover three months' periodic rent as liquidated damages plus a reasonable attorney's fee; if the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and recoverable security. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1436, 76-1430, 76-1427 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring/threaten a possession action because the tenant complained to a government agency about a housing-code violation affecting health and safety, or organized/joined a tenants' union. Tenant may use § 76-1430 remedies and raise retaliation as a defense. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439 |
| New Mexico | Self-help eviction is banned. Except after abandonment or surrender, an owner may not knowingly exclude or try to remove a resident without a court order by fraud, changing or plugging locks, blocking entrances, removing the resident's belongings, removing or disabling appliances or fixtures (except for legitimate repairs), or any willful act making the unit or belongings inaccessible or uninhabitable. The resident may abate 100% of the rent for each day denied possession, recover a civil penalty of two times the monthly rent, seek restitution of the premises or end the agreement, and recover damages. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-36, 47-8-48(C) | No. Except after abandonment or surrender, an owner may not knowingly exclude or try to remove a resident without a court order by interfering with services or utilities, including electricity, gas, hot or cold water, plumbing, heat, or telephone service. The resident may abate 100% of the rent for each day a service is cut for any part of the day, recover a civil penalty of two times the monthly rent, seek restitution of the premises or end the rental agreement, and recover damages. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-36, 47-8-48(C) | An owner may not raise rent, reduce services, or bring/threaten an eviction because, within the previous 6 months, the compliant resident complained to a code-enforcement agency, joined/organized a residents' association, exercised UORRA rights (including written repair requests), made a fair housing complaint, won or has pending a lawsuit against the owner about the residency, testified for another resident, or lawfully abated rent. Retaliation is a defense to eviction; owner is liable for 2x monthly rent plus attorney's fees. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-39, 47-8-48(C) |
| Oklahoma | If a landlord wrongfully removes or locks a tenant out of the unit, the tenant may go to court to recover possession, or give notice and end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover up to twice the average monthly rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all recoverable deposits and all prepaid, unearned rent. 41 O.S. § 123 | If, contrary to the lease or the landlord's legal duties, the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service, the tenant may give written notice and then (1) end the lease immediately on written notice, (2) buy reasonable amounts of the service and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent, (3) recover damages for the reduced rental value, or (4) on written notice, get substitute housing and owe no rent while the problem lasts. A landlord who removes or excludes a tenant from the unit is liable under the wrongful-exclusion rule. 41 O.S. §§ 121(C), 123 | No general anti-retaliation statute. The Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not protect tenants who complain about conditions or exercise other rights. One narrow exception: a landlord may not deny a tenancy to, or retaliate against, a tenant because the tenant previously ended a rental agreement as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking (§ 113.3). 41 O.S. §§ 101-136 (no general retaliation section); 41 O.S. § 113.3 |
| Utah | It is unlawful for an owner to willfully exclude a tenant from the premises in any manner except by court process (judicial eviction). 'Willful exclusion' means preventing the tenant from entering with intent to deprive the tenant of entry. The only exception is when the tenant has abandoned the premises: the owner may then remove the contents under the abandoned-property procedure and re-rent. The section does not itself list damages for a lockout. Utah Code §§ 78B-6-814, 78B-6-801(11), 78B-6-816 | Utah's landlord-tenant statutes do not specifically address a landlord shutting off utilities to force a renter out. It is unlawful for an owner to willfully keep a tenant out of the premises in any manner except by court process. Separately, owners must maintain electrical systems, plumbing, heating, and hot and cold water, and a renter may use the written notice-of-deficient-condition process (rent abatement and ending the lease, or repair and deduct) if the owner does not correct such a problem. Utah Code §§ 78B-6-814, 57-22-3, 57-22-4(1), 57-22-6 | No statute — Utah has no general law barring landlord retaliation (for example, for complaining about repairs). One limited rule: an owner may not restrict a renter's ability to ask a public safety agency (such as police or fire) for help, and may not penalize or evict a renter for making reasonable requests for that help. Utah Code 57-22-5.1(10); Utah Fit Premises Act (57-22) and Forcible Entry and Detainer (78B-6 Part 8) checked |
| Wyoming | Wyoming's residential rental and eviction statutes have no provision that expressly bans a landlord from changing locks or removing a renter without a court order, or that sets damages for doing so. The statutes provide a court eviction process (forcible entry and detainer) with a written notice to quit served at least three days before filing; after a court order, the sheriff may remove the renter's belongings and prevent re-entry. W.S. 1-21-1003, 1-21-1211(a); W.S. 1-21-1001 to 1-21-1211 (reviewed) | Wyoming's residential rental and eviction statutes have no provision that specifically bans a landlord from shutting off utilities to force a renter out or sets damages for it. Separately, owners must maintain electrical systems, plumbing, heating, and hot and cold water, and a renter who is current on payments can use the written notice and court process for health and safety problems. W.S. 1-21-1203(a)(iii), 1-21-1206; W.S. 1-21-1001 to 1-21-1211 (reviewed) | No statute — Wyoming has no general law barring landlord retaliation (for example, for complaining about repairs or contacting an inspector). The only related rule: a landlord may not end a tenancy based solely on a tenant's or household member's status as a victim of domestic abuse or sexual violence. W.S. 1-21-1303(c); Title 1, Ch. 21, Arts. 10, 12, 13 and 14 checked |
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Compare lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation in all 50 states and DC →
Colorado Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in Colorado?
It is unlawful for a landlord to remove or exclude a tenant without court process, including by willfully removing doors, windows or locks other than for repair, unless the tenant agreed, the unit was abandoned (shown by things like returned keys, removal of belongings, notice, or long absence with rent unpaid), or it is required for an illegal drug-lab cleanup. The tenant may sue to stop the violation and must be awarded actual damages plus the greater of three times the monthly rent or $5,000, along with costs and reasonable attorney fees; the court may order possession restored. (C.R.S. § 38-12-510)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in Colorado?
A landlord may not remove or shut out a tenant without going to court, and unlawful removal includes willfully cutting off utilities. If a landlord willfully and unlawfully causes heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or other essential services to be cut off, the tenant may sue to stop it and must be awarded actual damages plus statutory damages of the greater of three times the monthly rent or $5,000, along with costs and reasonable attorney fees; the court may also restore possession. (C.R.S. § 38-12-510)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Colorado?
A landlord may not retaliate (raise rent, cut services, end or not renew the lease, bring or threaten eviction, harass, or charge fees) because the tenant made a good-faith complaint about a habitability condition to the landlord, a nonprofit, or a government agency; joined or organized a tenants' association; or used habitability remedies. The tenant need only show that the protected activity was a motivating factor. Remedies: the greater of three months' rent or three times actual damages, plus attorney fees. The tenant may also terminate the lease and raise retaliation as a defense to eviction. (C.R.S. § 38-12-509)
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.