Banned rental fees in Colorado
Since January 1, 2026, Colorado landlords may not require tenants to pay several kinds of charges, and others are capped. Type a fee to check it.
The list
| Charge | Status | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Common area maintenance (CAM) fee | Banned | Banned. Colorado landlords may not charge tenants a separate fee for maintaining common areas, and common-area utility costs may not be passed on. |
| Property tax pass-through fee | Banned | Banned. A tenant may not be required to pay a fee that covers the landlord's property taxes. |
| Fee for repairs the landlord must make | Banned | Banned. Fees that cover the landlord's own legal duties, such as keeping the unit habitable, are not allowed. |
| Fee for a service not provided | Banned | Banned. A tenant may not be charged for something that is not actually provided. |
| Late fee on anything other than rent | Banned | Banned. Late fees may only apply to rent, not to utilities or other charges. |
| Fee increase of more than 2% during the lease | Banned | Banned for leases of one year or less: a fee (other than utilities) may not rise more than 2% during the lease. |
| Rent payment processing fee | Limited | Allowed only if tenants also have a free way to pay rent, and not more than the landlord's actual cost. |
| Utility charge or RUBS allocation | Limited | Only the actual utility cost, plus at most a 2% markup or $10 a month (one or the other, and only if the lease allows it). Common-area utilities must be excluded and the allocation method disclosed. Actual utility usage can be shown outside the Total Price. |
| Markup on a third-party charge | Limited | Capped: at most 2% of what the landlord was billed or $10 a month, but not both, and only if the written lease allows it. |
| Application / screening fee | Limited | Must cover screening costs. No application fee may be charged to an applicant who provides a portable tenant screening report prepared within the last 30 days. |
| Late fee on rent | Capped | At most the greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent, only after rent is 7 days late, and only if the lease includes it. |
| Required parking fee | In Total Price | Allowed, but a required fee must be included in the single advertised Total Price, not listed on top of rent. |
| Required amenity or technology fee | In Total Price | Allowed, but if every tenant must pay it, it belongs inside the advertised Total Price. |
| Required trash or valet trash fee | In Total Price | Allowed, but a required trash fee must be included in the Total Price. |
| Pet rent or pet fee | Allowed | Allowed. Disclose it clearly as a charge for tenants with pets, including what it pays for and whether it is refundable. |
| Security deposit | Allowed | Allowed. Disclose the amount and that it is refundable. Check the current Colorado deposit limits and return deadlines. |
| Optional add-on (storage, extra parking) | Allowed | Allowed. Optional charges are disclosed separately: what it is for, who receives the money, and whether it is refundable. |
| Other required fee | In Total Price | Allowed only if it is not one of the banned charges. If tenants cannot avoid it, it must be inside the Total Price. |
Have many fees? Use the Total Price calculator, which checks them all and adds up the price to advertise, or browse every Colorado fee A to Z.
Frequently asked questions
Can Colorado landlords charge a CAM fee?
No. Since January 1, 2026, a separate common area maintenance fee cannot be required, and common-area utility costs cannot be passed on.
Can a Colorado landlord charge an online payment fee?
Only if tenants also have a free way to pay rent, and the fee cannot exceed the actual cost.
Can a Colorado landlord charge a late fee on utilities?
No. Late fees can only apply to rent.
Related
Sources: Otten Johnson: HB25-1090 and residential landlords · Zumbrennen Law: HB 1090 landlord pricing rules · Colorado Division of Real Estate: HB25-1090 summary
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.