Colorado Pet Rent Laws in 2025: A Guide for Landlords
Colorado pet rent laws govern how landlords in Colorado can charge for pets, what’s refundable, and what must be disclosed in the lease. Landlords interested in staying compliant with all of Colorado’s rental laws should start with Hemlane’s landlord tools and review Colorado-specific tenant-landlord rental rules.
When it comes to pets, most landlords want to recover the extra cost and risk that come with animals. Most tenants simply want to know if they should expect a monthly pet fee, if a pet deposit in Colorado is nonrefundable, and whether the amount charged is reasonable.
According to PawlicyAdvisor, approximately one in every two households in Colorado has a pet, so this is an issue that theoretically affects up to 50% of renters.
Accordingly, we will explore Colorado pet rent laws from a landlord's point of view, so you can confidently set pet rent, deposits, and fees without creating a dispute or violating the law.
After all, landlords want to ensure their property is well-maintained, and tenants want to rest assured that their furry family member is welcomed in a safe and secure home.
Let’s make sure everyone is working towards those goals together.
Legal Framework Governing Pets in Colorado Rentals
Colorado pet rent laws give landlords significant control over whether pets are allowed, but they have recently capped what you can charge. The starting point is still landlord discretion, which can allow pets, limit pets, or run a no-pet policy, as long as the rules are clearly outlined in the lease. That includes breed limits, size limits, or a maximum number of animals. Clear, written pet policies for rentals are what prevent disputes later.
Service and support animals are different, and we expand on this in a later section. The short version of it says that federal fair housing rules define service animals and ESAs as “not pets,” meaning Colorado pet rent laws cannot let you charge pet rent or a pet deposit for them. You still verify the need the usual FHA way, but you cannot charge extra even if your building is otherwise a no-pet facility.
Recent Legislation Landlords Must Know
House Bill 23-1068, effective January 1, 2024, is the piece that pivoted the conversation for landlords. Here is what the initial bill did:
- Pet rent cap: You can charge pet rent, but it cannot exceed $35 per month or 1.5% of the tenant’s monthly rent, whichever is higher.
- Pet deposit limit: You may take an extra pet deposit, but it cannot exceed $300 and must be refundable. A non-refundable pet deposit is not allowed in Colorado under this bill.
The goal of HB 23-1068 was to allow landlords to continue charging for pet risk, but to cap very high pet fees that were keeping renters with animals out of housing. If you stay inside those two numbers, you will be aligned with Colorado pet rent laws, and you will have an easier time selling and enforcing the lease.
Note: As of this article on {DATE OF PUBLICATION}, HB 23-1608 has not been changed from its original intent in 2024. The only adjustment is an adjacent pet/housing legislation, HB25-1207, which ties pet-allowance conditions to certain affordable-housing/tax-credit situations. However, it does not change the terms of HB 23-1068 dollar amounts landlords can charge.
Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
As stated previously, under Colorado pet rent laws, assistance animals are exempt from being considered pets. That means no pet rent, no pet fee, and no pet deposit can be charged for a qualified service animal or ESA, even if your building has a no-pet policy in place.
To get a little more specific, here are some legal definitions landlords should know
- Service animals: dogs (and sometimes miniature horses) that are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are trained to perform a task for a person with a disability, such as:
- Guiding
- Alerting
- Pulling a wheelchair
- Interrupting a seizure.
- Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide disability-related emotional or psychological support but do not require task-based training.
Colorado treats both as assistance animals for housing, so you must make reasonable accommodation, even if you have a no-pet policy lease agreement. ESAs do not have the same public-access rights as service animals, but housing protections still apply.
What you cannot charge for service animals
- No pet rent, despite Colorado's pet rent laws typically allowing it.
- No “non-refundable pet deposit.”
- No additional administrative or “pet screening” fee for the assistance animal.
What you can require for service animals
- Tenant pays for actual damage beyond normal wear and tear.
- For ESAs: reliable documentation from a licensed health professional.
- For service animals, only two questions if the need is not apparent:
- Is the animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task does the animal perform?
Anything beyond that exceeds the limits allowed by Colorado and federal housing rules.
Best Practices for Landlords
We’ve discussed HB 23-1068 extensively in terms of fees and the percentages landlords can charge. However, other grey areas can be up to the landlord’s discretion. Establishing clear, written rules is how landlords comply with Colorado pet rent laws and protect their units. Include your subjective policies in the lease, enforce them consistently for every tenant, and clearly distinguish between ordinary pets and assistance animals.
Allowed pets
Spell out what pets you will allow (or not allow). Consider dogs, cats, small animals, weight limits, breed restrictions, reptiles, and aquatic animals, such as fish, when determining the number of pets a tenant can have in their Colorado rental. If it is not clearly defined, it is hard to enforce. It would also be wise to know which animals are illegal to keep as pets in Colorado, so you can identify if someone is attempting to house an unlawful animal in your unit.
Tenant responsibilities
Define daily expectations, such as cleaning up after the animal, controlling noise levels, using designated areas, and promptly reporting any pet damage. Make it clear that pet damage can still be deducted from the security deposit.
Vaccinations and licensing
Mandate proof of current vaccines and local licensing at move-in and on renewal. This is an easy way to keep pet policies for rentals up to date.
Consequences of policy violations
Describe what happens if the rules are ignored, which can often include:
- Written warning
- Required removal of the animal
- Lease enforcement if the problem continues.
Clear steps and previously stated rules make it easier to act.
Service and support animal accommodations
Add a clause to the lease stating that assistance animals are not considered pets and are exempt from pet rent and pet deposits, but that tenants are to pay for any damage caused by those animals. That is how you stay compliant with fair housing while applying your standard Colorado pet policies.
Anti-discrimination compliance for pet policies
Apply your pet rules consistently to every tenant. Enforce pet rent, deposits, and restrictions consistently to avoid creating disparate treatment or impact based on protected traits (such as race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or familial status). If you’re a multi-unit complex, train staff on approvals, use written criteria, and document decisions to show uniform enforcement.
Key Takeaways
Colorado pet rent laws now allow you to charge for pets, but only within the limits of HB 23-1068.
- Pet rent up to $35 or 1.5% of the monthly rent
- A refundable pet deposit capped at $300
- Service animals and ESAs are exempt from all pet charges, although tenants are still responsible for actual damage.
- The landlord is responsible for clearly stating in writing a pet section in every lease that lists allowed pets, fees, and responsibilities, and applies the same rules to every tenant.
- Colorado rules can change, so it's essential to review them annually.
Need help keeping this organized across units? Manage it all together in Hemlane’s dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Pet Rent Laws
What is the new pet rent law in Colorado?
As of Jan. 1, 2024, Colorado pet rent laws cap pet rent at $35/month or 1.5% of monthly rent (whichever is higher) and cap refundable pet deposits at $300.
How much can a landlord charge for pet rent in Colorado?
Under the new law, landlords in Colorado can charge pet rent up to $35 per month or 1.5% of the tenant's monthly rent, whichever amount is greater. For example, if the monthly rent is $2,500, the maximum pet rent would be $37.50 (since 1.5% of $2,500 exceeds $35).
What are the renters' rights in Colorado?
Renters in Colorado are entitled to various rights, including:
- Right to a Habitable Living Environment: Landlords must ensure rental properties meet basic health and safety standards.
- Protection Against Discrimination: Tenants are safeguarded from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, or disability.
- Regulated Security Deposits: Landlords cannot demand security deposits exceeding two months' rent, plus an additional $300 for pet deposits if applicable.
- Privacy Rights: Landlords should provide reasonable notice before entering the rental property, except in emergencies.
Can a landlord break a lease for pets in Colorado?
Yes, if a tenant violates a written no-pet policy; no, if the animal is a service animal or ESA.
Is pet rent negotiable in Colorado?
Tenants can ask, but landlords do not have to go below the HB 23-1068 caps.
Can I get evicted for pet sitting in Colorado?
Pet sitting, especially on a temporary basis, can be a gray area. If the lease explicitly prohibits all pets or requires prior approval, having an unauthorized pet, even temporarily, could be considered a lease violation, potentially leading to eviction. It's advisable to communicate with the landlord and obtain written permission before pet sitting to avoid potential issues.
Get the Latest in Real Estate & Property Management!
I consent to receiving news, emails, and related marketing communications. I have read and agree with the privacy policy.
