Demand letters in Colorado.
In Colorado, landlords must return a deposit within 30 days (up to 60 if the lease specifies, never more than 60), and the Small Claims Court (County Court) hears claims up to $7,500. Here's the law you need — and a generator that cites it for you.
Colorado demand letter facts at a glance
30 days (up to 60 if the lease specifies, never more than 60)
$7,500
$31 (claim up to $500); $55 (larger claim)
6 years
2 years
8% per year compounded annually (post-judgment default); 9% for tort/wrongful withholding-type claims.
Security deposit demand letters in Colorado
If your former landlord is holding your deposit, Colorado law is on your side. A landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days (up to 60 if the lease specifies, never more than 60), along with an itemized statement of any deductions. Willful retention exposes the landlord to treble (3×) the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney’s fees and costs.
Governing statute: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 · read it
Statutes of limitation in Colorado
A demand letter doesn't pause the clock — you must file suit within these windows:
| Written contracts | 6 years |
| Oral contracts | 6 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
| Property damage | 2 years |
Small claims court in Colorado
The relevant court is Small Claims Court (County Court). Limit: $7,500. Filing fee information: $31 (claim up to $500); $55 (larger claim). A dollar limit alone does not establish eligibility; check the court’s claim, venue and service requirements.
Read the limit sourceSmall-claims limit source checked: 2026-09-29. This date does not apply to the other laws on this page.
Filing fee source · Checked 2026-09-29
How Colorado compares
The same dispute is worth pursuing in one state and barely worth the paperwork in another. Here is where Colorado actually sits.
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Small Claims Court (County Court) in Colorado: $7,500. Filing fee information: $31 (claim up to $500); $55 (larger claim). Limits are not directly comparable across states because court, plaintiff and claim-specific rules differ.
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Colorado sits on the national norm — 30 days (up to 60 if the lease specifies, never more than 60) for a landlord to return the deposit, 15th tightest of the 51 and level with the 30-day median. Diarise the date you moved out and count from there. Miss it and Colorado exposes the landlord to up to 3× the amount withheld, which is the figure to quote in the letter.
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Colorado is comparatively forgiving on timing: 6 years on a written contract, the same as the 6-year median and 12th longest of the 51. That is breathing room, not licence — evidence and memories decay long before the 6 years do, and oral agreements run out at 6.
Worth putting a number on: withhold $1,500 wrongly in Colorado and the exposure reaches $4,500 once the 3× penalty applies, still inside what Small Claims Court (County Court) can award. A landlord reading your letter is weighing that figure, not the deposit.
Good to know in Colorado
Colorado pairs a 30-day deposit deadline (the lease can extend it but never past 60 days) with one of the strongest penalties in the nation: treble damages plus attorney’s fees for willful retention. Crucially, a landlord who misses the deadline forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit. Before claiming treble damages you must send a written demand and give the landlord seven days to respond, so the demand letter is a legal prerequisite, not just good practice. Small claims runs through the County Court up to $7,500.
Common demand letters in Colorado
Each generator automatically applies Colorado law where it matters.
Security Deposit Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding the return of your security deposit, citing your move-out date and your state’s legal deadline.
Create this letterUnpaid Invoice Demand Letter
A firm final notice that tells a non-paying client exactly what they owe, by when, and what happens if they ignore it.
Create this letterDemand Letter to a Contractor
A formal letter demanding a contractor finish the work, fix defective work, or refund your money under your agreement.
Create this letterDebt Collection Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding repayment of money you are owed on a personal loan, IOU, or other unpaid debt.
Create this letterLandlord Demand Letter to Tenant
A formal letter from a landlord demanding a tenant pay unpaid rent, repair damage, or cure a lease violation.
Create this letterProperty Damage Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding payment from whoever damaged your property, backed by repair estimates and photos.
Create this letterUnpaid Wages Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding an employer pay wages, overtime, or a final paycheck you earned and are owed.
Create this letterColorado demand letter FAQ
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Colorado?
What is the small claims court limit in Colorado?
How long do I have to sue in Colorado?
Do I have to send a demand letter before filing in Colorado?
Send a demand letter that cites Colorado law.
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