Colorado Lease Termination Letter

Q: How much notice does a Colorado tenant give to end a month-to-month lease?

At least 21 days' written notice under C.R.S. 13-40-107, which applies to tenancies of one month or longer but less than six months. The notice is served before the end of a monthly period and expires at the end of that period. It must describe the property and the termination date and be signed.

Q: How much notice does a Colorado landlord give to end a month-to-month tenancy?

The same 21 days, ending at the end of a monthly period, where the premises are exempt from the for-cause law or the tenant has been there less than 12 months. For a covered tenancy, the landlord may not serve a notice to terminate tenancy without cause (C.R.S. 38-12-1303), and no-fault grounds need at least 90 days' written notice with proper service.

Q: What notice ends a Colorado year-to-year or week-to-week tenancy?

Under 13-40-107(2), a tenancy of one year or longer takes at least 91 days, six months to under a year 28 days, one week to under a month or a tenancy at will 3 days, and under a week 1 day. Each notice is written and expires at the end of a tenancy period.

Q: Which Colorado rentals are covered by the for-cause eviction law?

C.R.S. 38-12-1301 to 1307 covers residential premises except short-term rentals, owner-occupied single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, certain mobile home spaces, employer-provided housing, and tenants who have been in the unit less than 12 months. Waivers in a lease are void.

Q: What are no-fault grounds for ending a Colorado tenancy?

For a covered tenancy, 38-12-1303 lists no-fault grounds that include demolition or conversion, substantial repairs, and occupancy by the landlord or a family member. Each requires at least 90 days' written notice with proper service. If a landlord does not comply, the tenant has an affirmative defense.

Q: What must a Colorado lease termination notice include?

Under 13-40-107, the written notice must describe the property and the date the tenancy will terminate, and be signed. Serve it before the end of a tenancy period so it expires at the end of the period, and keep proof of the delivery date.

Q: Can a Colorado tenant end a lease early?

Check the lease for an early-termination clause. For leaving before the term ends, see the breaking a lease guide and an early lease termination agreement, which records the landlord's written consent. Servicemembers may also have a federal right under 50 U.S.C. 3955.

Q: Is a Colorado eviction notice the same as a lease termination letter?

No. A notice for nonpayment of rent or a lease violation is an eviction notice with its own rules. A landlord's notice that starts an eviction case is covered by the notice to vacate guide. A termination letter ends a periodic tenancy or declines to renew a term.

21 days ends a month-to-month tenancy; landlords need cause for most tenants of 12+ months.

Find out where you stand in Colorado

Who is ending the tenancy?

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Introduction

In Colorado, a tenant or landlord ends a month-to-month tenancy with at least 21 days' written notice that expires at the end of a period (C.R.S. 13-40-107). Landlords of covered units also need cause once a tenant passes 12 months.

Key Things to Know

1
Colorado sets notice by the length of the tenancy period (C.R.S. 13-40-107(2), as amended by HB24-1098): at least 91 days for a tenancy of one year or longer, 28 days for six months to under a year, 21 days for one month to under six months, 3 days for one week to under a month or a tenancy at will, and 1 day for under a week.
2
The notice is written, served before the end of a tenancy period, and expires at the end of that period. It must describe the property and the date the tenancy will terminate, and be signed. A month-to-month tenancy therefore takes at least 21 days' notice, ending on the last day of a monthly period.
3
A tenant on any premises, or the landlord of an exempt premises, may elect not to renew a fixed term by written notice that expires at the end of the term, using the same graduated periods (13-40-107(1)). Read the lease's end-date and renewal clauses as well.
4
Under Colorado's for-cause eviction law (C.R.S. 38-12-1301 to 1307, in force since April 19, 2024), a landlord may not serve a notice to terminate tenancy without cause. It covers residential premises except short-term rentals, owner-occupied single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, certain mobile home spaces, employer-provided housing, and tenants who have been in the unit less than 12 months.
5
For a covered tenancy, no-fault grounds such as demolition or conversion, substantial repairs, and owner or family occupancy require at least 90 days' written notice with proper service (38-12-1303). Lease waivers of these protections are void, and a landlord's noncompliance is an affirmative defense for the tenant.
6
For covered premises, a tenant staying on after a fixed term ends is not by itself cause; holdover as a ground is limited to nonresidential and exempt residential premises (38-12-1303(2)(c)). A landlord of a covered unit cannot rely on a plain non-renewal letter to end the tenancy.
7
A notice for nonpayment or a lease violation is an eviction notice, not a termination letter, and a landlord's notice that starts an eviction case is covered by the notice to vacate guide. A tenant who wants to leave before the term ends can check the lease for an early-termination clause and see the breaking a lease guide and an early lease termination agreement. Federal law (50 U.S.C. 3955) gives servicemembers a separate termination right.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Lease Termination Letter in Colorado, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Lease Termination Letter guide walks through them.

Open the Lease Termination Letter guide

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COLORADO LEASE TERMINATION LETTER

Date: DATE From: SENDER FULL NAME, [TENANT, LANDLORD OR AGENT] Sender address: SENDER MAILING ADDRESS To: RECIPIENT FULL NAME, [LANDLORD, AGENT OR TENANT] Recipient address: RECIPIENT MAILING ADDRESS Property: STREET ADDRESS, UNIT NUMBER, CITY, Colorado ZIP CODE Tenancy: [MONTH-TO-MONTH, WEEK-TO-WEEK, YEAR-TO-YEAR OR FIXED TERM ENDING LEASE END DATE], lease dated LEASE DATE

This signed letter is written notice that the tenancy of the property described above will terminate on the date stated below.

[IF TENANT ENDING A MONTH-TO-MONTH TENANCY] Under C.R.S. 13-40-107, I am ending my month-to-month tenancy. The tenancy terminates on TERMINATION DATE, the end of a monthly tenancy period, and this notice is served at least 21 days before that date.

[IF LANDLORD ENDING A MONTH-TO-MONTH TENANCY] Under C.R.S. 13-40-107, your month-to-month tenancy terminates on TERMINATION DATE, the end of a monthly tenancy period, and this notice is served at least 21 days before that date. C.R.S. 38-12-1303 does not apply because BASIS (EXEMPT PREMISES OR TENANT IN POSSESSION LESS THAN 12 MONTHS).

[IF ENDING ANOTHER PERIODIC TENANCY] The tenancy period is TENANCY PERIOD (WEEKLY, YEARLY OR OTHER). Under C.R.S. 13-40-107(2), the tenancy terminates on TERMINATION DATE, the end of a tenancy period, and this notice is served at least NUMBER OF DAYS (91, 28, 3 OR 1) days before that date.

[IF NOT RENEWING A FIXED TERM] The lease term ends on LEASE END DATE and will not be renewed. This written notice expires at the end of the term and is served at least NUMBER OF DAYS (91, 28, 21, 3 OR 1) days before it. [IF LANDLORD SENDING] C.R.S. 38-12-1303 does not apply because BASIS (EXEMPT PREMISES OR TENANT IN POSSESSION LESS THAN 12 MONTHS).

[IF LANDLORD ENDING A COVERED TENANCY FOR A NO-FAULT GROUND UNDER C.R.S. 38-12-1303] The cause for this termination is NO-FAULT GROUND (DEMOLITION OR CONVERSION, SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS, OWNER OR FAMILY OCCUPANCY, OR OTHER LISTED GROUND). You must vacate by VACATE DATE, at least 90 days after this written notice is served.

[IF TENANT SENDING] Move-out and keys: I will vacate the property and return all keys by MOVE-OUT DATE. [IF TENANT SENDING] Forwarding address for the security deposit: FORWARDING ADDRESS. [IF LANDLORD SENDING] Please vacate the property and return all keys by TERMINATION DATE, and give me a forwarding address for the return of the security deposit.

Delivery: [IF LANDLORD SENDING] This notice was served on DELIVERY DATE by SERVICE METHOD. [IF TENANT SENDING] This notice was delivered on DELIVERY DATE by DELIVERY METHOD to the address above.

Signature: ______________________ Printed name: SENDER FULL NAME Signed by: [TENANT OR LANDLORD GIVING NOTICE] Phone or email: CONTACT DETAILS

Colorado Requirements for Lease Termination Letter

Graduated notice by tenancy period
C.R.S. 13-40-107(2): at least 91 days for one year or longer, 28 days for six months to under a year, 21 days for one month to under six months, 3 days for one week to under a month or at will, 1 day for under a week.
21 days for a month-to-month tenancy
A tenant, or a landlord of an exempt premises or of a tenant in possession less than 12 months, ends a month-to-month tenancy with at least 21 days' written notice expiring at the end of a monthly period.
Termination date at the end of a period
Serve the notice before the end of a tenancy period and state a termination date at the end of that period, at least the required number of days after service (13-40-107).
Property description and signature
The written notice must describe the property and the termination date and be signed (13-40-107).
Fixed-term non-renewal notice
A tenant, or the landlord of an exempt premises, may elect not to renew a fixed term by written notice expiring at the end of the term, using the graduated periods (13-40-107(1)).
Cause required for covered tenancies
A landlord may not serve a notice to terminate tenancy without cause (38-12-1303). Exempt: short-term rentals, owner-occupied single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, certain mobile home spaces, employer-provided housing, and tenants of less than 12 months.
90-day notice for no-fault grounds
For a covered tenancy, no-fault grounds such as demolition or conversion, substantial repairs, or owner or family occupancy require at least 90 days' written notice with proper service (38-12-1303).
Forwarding address and proof of delivery
A tenant gives a forwarding address for the security deposit. Either side keeps a copy of the signed notice and proof of the delivery date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much notice does a Colorado tenant give to end a month-to-month lease?

How much notice does a Colorado landlord give to end a month-to-month tenancy?

What notice ends a Colorado year-to-year or week-to-week tenancy?

Does a Colorado fixed-term lease need notice to end?

Which Colorado rentals are covered by the for-cause eviction law?

What are no-fault grounds for ending a Colorado tenancy?

What must a Colorado lease termination notice include?

Can a Colorado tenant end a lease early?

Is a Colorado eviction notice the same as a lease termination letter?

Find out where you stand in Colorado

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Lease Termination Letter Template with DocDraft

Colorado Requirements for Lease Termination Letter

Graduated notice by tenancy period

21 days for a month-to-month tenancy

Termination date at the end of a period

Property description and signature

Fixed-term non-renewal notice

Cause required for covered tenancies

90-day notice for no-fault grounds

Forwarding address and proof of delivery

Frequently Asked Questions