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Colorado · Moving out

Colorado notice to vacate — the 21 days rule and a free letter

Colorado gives month-to-month tenants one of the shorter clocks in the country: written notice served at least 21 days before the end of the monthly rental period, under the tier for tenancies of one month or longer but less than six months (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-107(2)(c)). The notice must describe the property, state the exact termination date, and be signed (§ 13-40-107(3)) — details this generator handles for you. With rent due on the 1st, get the notice served by September 9 to move out September 30. The landlord side stopped being symmetric in 2024: HB24-1098 (C.R.S. § 38-12-1301 et seq.) requires cause for most evictions and non-renewals, with 90-day notices for the no-fault grounds. After you leave, § 38-12-103 gives the landlord one month — up to 60 days if the lease says so — to return your deposit or an itemized statement, with treble damages for willful wrongful withholding.

21 daystenant month-to-month notice · Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-107(2)(c)

Not legal advice — general information for Colorado. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Notice-period check

Your date clears the state minimum

September 1, 2026 gives 35 days' notice — at or above Colorado's 21 days minimum for month-to-month tenants (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-107(2)(c)). If your lease requires more, the lease controls.

Most statutes count notice to the end of a rental period — if rent is due on the 1st, plan to move out on the last day of a month.

[Tenant name(s)]

[Rental address]

July 28, 2026

[Landlord / property manager name]

Landlord / Property Manager

RE: Notice of intent to vacate — [Rental address]

Dear [Landlord / property manager name],

Please accept this letter as my written notice of intent to vacate the rental unit at [Rental address]. My tenancy will end and I will deliver possession of the premises no later than September 1, 2026. This provides at least 21 days of written notice, as required for month-to-month tenancies in Colorado (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-107(2)(c)).

I will remove all personal belongings, return all keys and access devices, and leave the unit in clean condition, normal wear and tear excepted. Please contact me to schedule a move-out inspection.

I will provide a forwarding address for the return of my security deposit before my move-out date.

This notice is delivered via certified mail with return receipt requested on July 28, 2026.

Sincerely,

[Tenant name(s)]
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Colorado notice rules

  • ✓Serve written notice at least 21 days before the END of the monthly rental period — with rent due the 1st, notice served by September 9 ends the tenancy September 30.
  • ✓The notice must describe the property, name the particular termination date, and carry your signature (§ 13-40-107(3)) — a text message or a vague “I’m leaving soon” doesn’t satisfy the statute.
  • ✓The 21-day tier covers tenancies of one month or longer but less than six months; a fixed six-month lease needs 28 days and a year-long one needs 91 (§ 13-40-107(2)).
  • ✓Deliver against proof — hand delivery with a signed, dated copy or certified mail with return receipt; the days count back from the period’s end, not from mailing.
  • ✓Deposits are capped at two monthly rent payments (§ 38-12-102.5, since August 2023), and pet deposits at $300, refundable.
  • ✓Within one month after termination or surrender — or up to 60 days if the lease says so — the landlord must return the deposit or a written statement of exact reasons for retention (§ 38-12-103); willful wrongful withholding triggers treble damages plus attorney fees after your 7-day pre-suit notice, and normal wear and tear can never be deducted.

For landlords

Since April 2024, Colorado landlords generally need cause to evict or refuse to renew (HB24-1098, C.R.S. § 38-12-1301 et seq.) — and the no-fault grounds, like substantial repairs or owner occupancy, require 90 days’ notice. Evicting outside the law can cost the landlord the greater of three months’ rent or $5,000 plus fees. Your 21-day tenant right was untouched.

Worked example with real dates

Tomás rents month-to-month in Denver at $1,800 with rent due on the 1st and wants out by September 30, 2026. Colorado’s 21 days count back from the period’s end — September 9 — so he serves a signed notice on September 5 that describes the apartment and names September 30 as the termination date; the date checker clears it with four days to spare. Served September 15, the notice would slide the tenancy to October 31 and cost him October’s $1,800. He adds his new Colorado Springs address: § 38-12-103 gives his landlord one month (his lease doesn’t extend it) to return the $3,000 deposit or an itemized statement, wear and tear excluded — and if it’s willfully withheld, a 7-day demand letter sets up treble damages.

Colorado notice to vacate FAQ

Is 21 days really all the notice I owe in Colorado?

For a month-to-month tenancy, yes — § 13-40-107(2)(c) sets 21 days for tenancies of one month or longer but less than six months, served before the end of the rental period. But the anchor matters: the tenancy ends at the period’s end, so with rent due the 1st your real deadline is the 9th of your final month (the 10th in 31-day months). Your lease can also require more notice — read it first.

What has to be inside a Colorado notice to vacate?

Three things, per § 13-40-107(3): a description of the property, the particular date the tenancy terminates, and the signature of the party giving notice (or their agent or attorney). This generator bakes all three into the letter. Keep a dated copy and proof of service — the 21 days are measured against when the notice was served, counting toward the period’s end.

Can my Colorado landlord just refuse to renew my month-to-month tenancy?

Usually not anymore. Since April 19, 2024, HB24-1098 (C.R.S. § 38-12-1301 et seq.) requires cause — nonpayment, substantial lease violations, or defined no-fault grounds like major renovations, sale, or owner move-in — to evict or non-renew most residential tenants. The no-fault grounds carry 90-day notices, and an unlawful removal can cost the landlord the greater of three times the monthly rent or $5,000 plus fees. Some exemptions apply (e.g., certain owner-occupied and small properties).

How long does a Colorado landlord have to return my deposit?

One month after termination of the lease or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs last — or a longer period the lease specifies, capped at 60 days (§ 38-12-103). Anything retained needs a written statement of exact reasons, and normal wear and tear doesn’t count. If the landlord wrongfully keeps money after your 7-day notice of intent to sue, the court awards treble the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees and costs.

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