Security Deposit Demand Letter — Colorado (2026)
In CO, a landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103).
Below: the rule with its citation, a free sample letter you can copy, and a generator that fills in your dates and computes your deadline for $19.
- to return the deposit or itemize deductions
- 30 daysto return the deposit or itemize deductions
- damages available for bad-faith retention
- 3×damages available for bad-faith retention
- No statutory cap.
- CapNo statutory cap.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103
Free sample letter
All samplesUse it as-is, or let the generator write it with your amounts and the Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 deadline already computed.
[Your name]
[Your current address]
[Date]
[Recipient name]
[Recipient address]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [rental address]
Dear [Landlord name],
I vacated [rental address] on [move-out date] and provided a forwarding address. To date I have received neither my security deposit of [$amount] nor an itemized statement of deductions.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 requires a landlord in Colorado to deliver the deposit, or an itemized statement of deductions, within 30 calendar days after termination, or up to 60 if the lease says so. That period expired on [deadline date].
I request payment of [$amount] within 14 days of the date of this letter, sent to the address above.
If I do not receive it, I intend to file in small claims court. Treble the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees, if the landlord acts in bad faith.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Colorado questions
In CO, a landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103).
Yes. They are calendar days, not business days, and they run from the date the tenancy ended.
Treble the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees, if the landlord acts in bad faith. A dated demand letter sent by certified mail is the evidence a court will expect to see that you asked first.
No statutory cap.
It isn't required, but judges expect it. A dated letter with a certified-mail receipt is the cleanest evidence that you gave the other side a chance to resolve it.
Rule set last curated 2026-08-01. Self-help document service. Not a law firm, and not legal advice. We do not review your letter or represent you. These state rules are under legal review — verify anything you rely on against the current statute.