Landlord Entry Laws in Colorado

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Colorado?

Colorado requires landlords to give reasonable advance notice before entering under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-503 (warranty of habitability, amended by SB24-094); § 38-12-1004 (bed bugs); otherwise lease and common law. The statute does not set a specific hour count — courts typically treat 24 hours as reasonable in practice.

What is your landlord allowed to enter for in Colorado?

Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-503 (warranty of habitability, amended by SB24-094); § 38-12-1004 (bed bugs); otherwise lease and common law, permitted entry reasons in Colorado include:

• Repairs and maintenance
• Inspections
• Showing to prospective tenants
• Emergencies

What counts as an emergency in Colorado?

No notice required for conditions materially and imminently threatening life, health, or safety, or posing an active/ongoing threat of substantial damage (§ 38-12-503(2.5)(a)(I)). Common-law emergency exception applies to all other entries.

What are your remedies if your landlord enters without notice in Colorado?

If your landlord violates entry rules in Colorado, your remedies under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-503 (warranty of habitability, amended by SB24-094); § 38-12-1004 (bed bugs); otherwise lease and common law may include:

• Actual damages
• Right to terminate the lease

In practice, start by documenting the unauthorized entry (photos, texts, a written log), then send a written objection citing the statute. If violations continue, consult a local tenant-rights attorney or your state's housing court.

Important Colorado-specific notes

Colorado has no general-purpose entry-notice statute, but two targeted statutes now apply. (1) Colorado significantly amended its warranty-of-habitability statute in 2024 (SB24-094, effective May 3, 2024). C.R.S. § 38-12-503 requires at least 24 hours' advance WRITTEN notice before a landlord enters to commence or maintain remedial action, stating the date, time, and reasonable duration of entry. The tenant may reasonably deny entry and propose an alternative time; tenant may waive notice. No advance notice is required if the condition materially and imminently threatens life/health/safety or poses an active, ongoing threat of substantial damage. (2) C.R.S. § 38-12-1004 requires at least 48 hours' written or electronic notice before entry to inspect or treat for bed bugs. For non-habitability, non-bed-bug entry, the lease and common-law quiet-enjoyment doctrine control (typically interpreted as 24 hours). Denver and Boulder have additional local protections.