Does Colorado require a grace period for late fees?

Yes, Colorado law requires a 7-day grace period (C.R.S. § 38-12-105 (SB21-173, 2021)). No late fee can be charged during this period.

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Colorado Late Fee Calculator

Q: What is the maximum late fee in Colorado?

The statutory maximum late fee in Colorado is $75.00 on a rent of $1,500.00 — the greater of $50.00 or 5% of the amount past due (C.R.S. § 38-12-105 (SB21-173, 2021)). 7-day grace period required. Cap: the GREATER of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent. The fee must be in the lease, may be charged only once per late payment, and notice of it must be given within 180 days of the due date.

Calculate the maximum late fee you can legally charge in Colorado. Check grace periods, fee caps, and compliance with Colorado state law.

State

Monthly Rent

Days Late

Your Proposed Fee

Your Late Fee

$75.00

Compliant

Your proposed fee of $75.00 is within Colorado's statutory maximum of $75.00 (the greater of $50.00 or 5% of the amount past due).

Rent + Fee

$1,575.00

Grace Period

7 days (required)

Statutory Maximum in Colorado

$75.00

Colorado Late Fee Law

Grace period: 7 days (required by law)

Fee cap: $75.00 — the greater of $50.00 or 5% of the amount past due

Daily fees: Not typical

Statute: C.R.S. § 38-12-105 (SB21-173, 2021)

7-day grace period required. Cap: the GREATER of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent. The fee must be in the lease, may be charged only once per late payment, and notice of it must be given within 180 days of the due date.

Laws change quietly. Colorado rewrote its late-fee rules in 2021, Connecticut in 2023. Get an email when Colorado changes its rules — and what to update in your lease.

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Next Step

Generate the late fee notice

Turn this calculation into a printable, Colorado-compliant notice you can send to your tenant today — with the statute reference included.

Your Name (Landlord)

Tenant Name

Property Address

Rent Due Date

Fill in the four fields above to generate your notice.

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Grace periods, fee caps, and what makes a late fee unenforceable. Plus early access to Tenby.

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Colorado Late Fee Rules for Landlords

Colorado requires a 7-day grace period before any late fee can be charged (C.R.S. § 38-12-105 (SB21-173, 2021)). The late fee is capped by statute at the greater of $50.00 or 5% of the amount past due (C.R.S. § 38-12-105 (SB21-173, 2021)).

Use the calculator above to check if your proposed late fee complies with Colorado law. Need more tools? Check the Colorado security deposit calculator, or try our prorated rent calculator and rent estimate tool.

For a complete guide to Colorado landlord-tenant law, read our Colorado Landlord-Tenant Law 2026 guide.