Colorado rent late fee law & calculator
Under Colo. Rev. Stat. §38-12-105: Greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent. Grace period: 7 calendar days.
Late fee due
$75.00
Paid 9 days late; grace ends 7 days after due
Colorado maximum for this rent
$75.00
5% is of the amount of rent past due — assuming the full month's rent is unpaid
A late fee is only collectible if your lease authorizes it. General information, not legal advice.
What Colo. Rev. Stat. §38-12-105 requires
- Maximum fee: Greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent
- Grace period: 7 calendar days
- Lease requirement: the fee must be authorized in the written rental agreement — an unauthorized fee is uncollectible.
- No fee until rent is 7 calendar days late, and the fee must be disclosed in the rental agreement
- Only one late fee per late payment — no daily accrual — and a late fee can't be deducted from a rent payment to manufacture a new default
- Nonpayment of a late fee alone is not grounds for eviction; violations carry statutory penalties (2021's SB 21-173)
Rules as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current text of Colo. Rev. Stat. §38-12-105 before relying on a number, and check city and county ordinances, which can be stricter. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a Colorado attorney for your situation.
Not in Colorado? Every state's late-fee rules → Also for Colorado landlords: the security-deposit return deadline →
Frequently asked questions
How much can a Colorado landlord charge for late rent?
The greater of $50 or 5% of the amount of rent past due, charged once per late payment — never daily. The fee must be in the written rental agreement, and it can't be imposed until the rent is at least seven calendar days late (C.R.S. §38-12-105).
Late fees that apply themselves
Set the rule once — LetsGoLandlord applies fees on schedule, on their own ledger line. Free for 14 days.