The most damaging proposals failed this year. Do not mistake that for a change in direction at the Capitol.
The 2026 Colorado legislative session is over. Rental real estate owners should study the 2026 Colorado housing law summary below. For Denver landlords, it is relatively good news. Two of the most consequential proposals—HB 26-1047, which would have restricted access to eviction records and added new documentation requirements, and HB 26-1106, which would have added significant delays to the eviction process—failed to pass.
DenCO Property Management (DenCO) wrote about both of those bills in detail in March, when they were still active threats. We explained what their passage would have meant operationally, and encouraged property owners to call their representatives. We are glad to report that the most aggressive regulatory overreach of this session was stopped. While the 2026 session did not produce the sweeping changes some landlords feared, Denver property owners still have several important compliance issues to address before the new year.
2026 Colorado Housing Law Summary
The following laws became effective at the first of the year.
HB25-1249: Tenant Security Deposit Protections Act
House Bill 25-1249, signed into law on June 3, 2025, became effective on January 1, 2026. The law introduces stronger protections for renters while establishing more straightforward guidelines for landlords. The law makes clear that security deposits are tenant money held in trust by landlords. To learn more, click here to read our blog titled, “Colorado New Security Deposit Law.”
HB25-1090: Protections Against Deceptive Pricing Practices
Effective January 1, 2026, House Bill 25-1090 changes how all residential rental prices are advertised in Colorado. Landlords must now display a single price that includes all fees, with no separate add-on charges. A breakdown of fees is allowed, but the total price must be the most prominent. Click here to our blog titled, “Colorado Rental Advertising Changes Under House Bill 25-1090.”
What Major Housing Laws Were Passed in 2026
The Colorado Housing Law Summary includes laws passed in 2026. The good news is that most of what passed this session is modest compared to laws passed over the last two years. The legislature has recognized, at least temporarily, that the pace of housing regulation changes in recent years has created real operational strain for rental property owners and property managers. Below are bills that passed this year.
HB 26-1045: Housing Protections for Tenants with Disabilities
Effective last month, HB 26-1045 incorporates existing federal standards regarding assistance animals and disability-related accommodations into Colorado law. Property managers will need to accommodate requests through a clear, written, and consistent process. All steps need to be well documented and retrievable.
HB 26-1013: Ratio Utility Billing Systems
HB 26-1013 corrects portions of Ratio Utility Billing Systems rules and provides greater clarity for allocating utility costs among residents. Multifamily property owners using RUBS should confirm that their current billing procedures comply with the revised requirements.
HB 26-1196: Tenant Screening and Eviction Data Protections
HB 26-1196 takes effect at the beginning of next year. It requires landlords to disclose who is conducting the screening and what information will be reviewed. The law also adds protections for certain tenant data associated with eviction cases, although these protections are more limited than the eviction record suppression proposed under HB 26-1047. Click here to review the bill.
HB 26-054: Post-Closing Occupancy Agreements
HB 26-054 clarifies that Colorado's two-month security deposit cap does not apply to qualifying post-closing occupancy agreements. These agreements are commonly used when a seller remains in a home temporarily after a real estate closing. The change is primarily relevant to the buyers and sellers of a home rather than traditional rental property managers.
HB 26-1007: Portable Solar Devices
Beginning January 1, 2027, rental housing providers generally cannot prohibit residents from installing portable solar devices. The law is vague about who is responsible for property damage caused by installation of these devices. Property owners need to accommodate the use of portable solar devices in their leases before January next year.
What Failed in the 2026 Colorado Legislature
Several proposals that could have had a much greater impact on Denver landlords failed to pass. Property owners should not necessarily assume these issues are gone permanently, however. Housing bills that fail in one legislative session can be revised and introduced again.
HB 26-1047: Eviction Records and Documentation
Colorado investment property owners and landlords dodged a bullet when HB 1047 failed in committee. The bill would have restricted public access to eviction records and imposed additional documentation requirements on landlords pursuing eviction actions. Among other provisions, landlords would have been required to provide leases, rent ledgers, and additional case documentation at specific stages of the eviction process. For more information about this bill, check our blog titled, “Colorado Landlords Dodge Major Eviction Law — For Now.”
HB 26-1106: Eviction Protections for Tenants
The same blog covers HB 26-1106. The proposed law would have limited the number of eviction cases Denver courts could hear each day, expanded opportunities for tenants to reopen cases, and restricted evictions during periods of extreme weather. Combined with the additional requirements proposed under HB 26-1047, these changes could have substantially increased the amount of time landlords waited to regain possession of rental properties.
HB 26-1036: Vacancy Tax
Colorado Municipal League, the Colorado Association of Ski Towns, and a host of elected officials in mountain resort communities backed HB 26-1036 to address housing shortages. Supporters believe the vacancy taxes will encourage owners to rent or sell unused properties and increase housing supply. Opponents state that the bill targets second-home owners, and the taxes could also affect properties temporarily vacant between tenants, undergoing renovations, or being prepared for sale. The main reason for the bill's failure is that it was not well thought out and had major structural and legal flaws.
Is Colorado Still A Landlord Friendly State?
At this time, Colorado is still considered a landlord state. But rental property investors and property management companies need to understand that many members of the Colorado Legislature consider housing a right. If they had their way, property owners' rights would become subordinate to tenants' rights.
DenCO manages more than 200 rental properties across Washington Park, University Park, Bonnie Brae, Platte Park, Englewood, and surrounding Denver neighborhoods. Rental property investors who do not have time to keep up with Colorado’s ever-changing housing regulations should consider putting their assets under professional management. Call (303) 722-9688 or click here to get a free rental analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did any major new eviction laws pass in Colorado in 2026?
The two proposals with the greatest potential impact on the eviction process—HB 26-1047 and HB 26-1106—did not pass. Denver landlords must still comply with Colorado's existing eviction and non-renewal requirements, including those established under HB 24-1098.
What changes do landlords need to make to tenant screening?
Beginning January 1, 2027, landlords conducting background or credit checks must disclose who is performing the screening and what categories of information will be reviewed.
Do landlords need to change their assistance-animal procedures?
HB 26-1045 places existing disability-accommodation standards into Colorado law. Landlords should make sure they have a written, consistent process for evaluating and documenting accommodation requests.
Could the failed eviction bills return in 2027?
Yes. Housing proposals that fail in one Colorado legislative session can be revised and introduced again. The narrow defeat of some of this year's proposals gives property owners good reason to continue monitoring legislation as the 2027 session approaches.
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