Tenant Rights in Glenwood Springs, Colorado

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1. Overview: Tenant Rights in Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is a scenic resort and outdoor-recreation city of roughly 10,000 residents in Garfield County along the Colorado River. The local rental market is tight due to proximity to Aspen and Vail, making tenant protections especially important for working residents. Renters most commonly ask whether Glenwood Springs has rent control, how quickly their landlord must return a security deposit, and what notice is required before eviction.

Glenwood Springs has not enacted any local rent control or tenant-protection ordinances beyond Colorado state law. All rights and responsibilities for landlords and tenants in the city are governed by the Colorado Revised Statutes, including the Warranty of Habitability Act, the just cause eviction law, and security deposit return rules.

This page summarizes those protections as of May 2026. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenants with specific concerns should consult a licensed Colorado attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.

2. Does Glenwood Springs Have Rent Control?

Glenwood Springs has no rent control law. Colorado state law (C.R.S. § 38-12-301) long prohibited cities and counties from capping residential rents. In 2021, SB 21-173 repealed that preemption, theoretically permitting local ordinances, but as of May 2026 no Colorado municipality — including Glenwood Springs — has enacted rent control. Landlords may raise rent by any amount between lease terms, provided they give the proper notice required to terminate the existing tenancy.

3. Colorado State Tenant Protections That Apply in Glenwood Springs

Colorado law provides the following core protections to all tenants in Glenwood Springs:

• Warranty of Habitability (C.R.S. § 38-12-501 – 509): Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition, including functioning heat, plumbing, electrical systems, and weatherproofing. Tenants may provide written notice of a serious deficiency; if the landlord fails to remediate within a reasonable time, tenants may be entitled to a rent reduction or may terminate the lease.
• Anti-Retaliation (C.R.S. § 38-12-509): Landlords may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations, organizing with other tenants, or exercising any right under Colorado law. Retaliation can include rent increases, reduction of services, or filing an eviction.
• Security Deposit Return (C.R.S. § 38-12-103): Deposits must be returned — with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 30 days after the tenancy ends (or up to 60 days if the lease expressly provides for the longer period). Wrongful withholding entitles the tenant to three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney fees.
• Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Tenancy (C.R.S. § 13-40-107): A landlord must provide at least 91 days written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. Tenants must provide at least 21 days written notice to terminate.
• Just Cause Eviction (HB24-1098, effective 2024): Landlords must have a legally recognized reason to evict a tenant or refuse to renew a lease. For-cause reasons include nonpayment of rent, material lease violations, nuisance, and substantial criminal activity. No-fault reasons — such as owner move-in, planned demolition, or substantial remodel — require the landlord to provide proper notice and, in some cases, relocation assistance.

4. Security Deposit Rules in Glenwood Springs

Colorado law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Glenwood Springs. However, strict rules govern how and when deposits must be returned:

• Return Deadline: The landlord must return the deposit — or mail it to the tenant's last known address — within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates. If the written lease expressly provides a longer period, the deadline may be extended to a maximum of 60 days (C.R.S. § 38-12-103).
• Itemized Statement: Any deductions must be accompanied by a written, itemized statement explaining each deduction. The landlord may only deduct for unpaid rent, physical damage beyond normal wear and tear, or other amounts specifically authorized in the lease.
• Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of the deposit without justification, the tenant may sue for three times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees (C.R.S. § 38-12-103(3)).
• Normal Wear and Tear: Landlords may not deduct for routine wear and tear such as minor scuffs, faded paint, or carpet wear from ordinary use.

5. Eviction Process and Your Rights in Glenwood Springs

Landlords in Glenwood Springs must follow Colorado's statutory eviction process. Self-help eviction — such as changing locks, removing doors, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out — is strictly prohibited.

Required Written Notices

• Nonpayment of Rent: A landlord must serve a written Demand for Compliance or Right to Possession (commonly called a "pay or quit" notice) giving the tenant at least 10 days to pay overdue rent or vacate (C.R.S. § 13-40-104).
• Lease Violation: For material lease violations (other than nonpayment), the landlord must provide a written notice giving the tenant 10 days to cure the violation or vacate.
• No-Fault Termination: For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must provide at least 91 days written notice and must state a legally recognized just cause reason under HB24-1098.

Court Process

If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord must file an eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) lawsuit in Garfield County Court. The tenant has the right to appear and contest the eviction. The court will schedule a hearing; if the court rules for the landlord, a writ of restitution is issued directing the sheriff to oversee the tenant's removal. Landlords may not remove a tenant without a valid court order and the involvement of the Garfield County Sheriff (C.R.S. § 13-40-101 et seq.).

Just Cause Requirement (HB24-1098)

Since 2024, Colorado requires landlords to have just cause to evict any tenant or to decline to renew any lease. Accepted no-fault grounds include the owner intending to personally occupy the unit, a contract to sell the unit to a buyer who will occupy it, plans for substantial remodel or demolition, or withdrawal of the unit from the rental market. For no-fault evictions, the landlord must provide proper written notice and may be required to pay one month's relocation assistance to the displaced tenant.

6. Resources for Glenwood Springs Tenants

• Colorado Legal Services — Free civil legal help for low-income Coloradans, including housing, eviction defense, and security deposit disputes. Serves Garfield County through its Grand Junction regional office.
• Colorado Poverty Law Project — Connects low-income tenants facing eviction with staff and volunteer attorneys statewide at no cost.
• Colorado Division of Housing — State agency overseeing rental housing programs, habitability standards, and tenant assistance resources.
• Colorado Department of Local Affairs — Tenant Resources — Statewide directory of legal aid and rent assistance programs organized by county.
• Garfield County Housing Authority — Local housing authority located in Glenwood Springs (214 8th St, Suite 216) providing housing assistance programs, referrals, and eviction-prevention services for Garfield County residents. Phone: 970-945-3072.
• City of Glenwood Springs — Housing Stability — City program offering rental assistance and housing resource referrals for Glenwood Springs residents.

Frequently Asked Questions