Last updated: April 2026
Lakewood is Colorado's fifth-largest city and home to tens of thousands of renters in Jefferson County. Colorado state law governs your lease — here's what every Lakewood tenant should know.
Want to check your specific address? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Lakewood renters are covered by Colorado state landlord-tenant law — there are no additional city-specific ordinances. Colorado's key tenant protections include one of the strongest move-out notice requirements in the region (91 days for month-to-month leases), a robust Warranty of Habitability, and stiff penalties for landlords who wrongfully keep security deposits. Rent control is prohibited statewide, though the ban on local ordinances was lifted by SB 21-173 in 2021; no Colorado city has enacted a rent control law since.
Lakewood has no rent control, and under C.R.S. § 38-12-301 Colorado long prohibited municipalities from enacting it. Although SB 21-173 (2021) lifted that statewide ban, no Colorado city — including Lakewood — has passed a rent control ordinance. Your landlord may raise rent by any amount, but must provide proper written notice before any increase takes effect. Month-to-month tenants are entitled to 91 days notice before the landlord can terminate the tenancy (C.R.S. § 13-40-107), giving you meaningful time to find alternative housing.
Colorado law provides the following core protections for all Lakewood renters:
Under C.R.S. § 38-12-103, your landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days after you vacate and return the keys (or up to 60 days if your written lease expressly allows the longer period). The return must include a written, itemized list of any deductions — general claims of "cleaning" or "damages" without specifics are not sufficient. If your landlord fails to return the deposit or provide an adequate accounting within the deadline, you are entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees. To protect yourself, document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out with dated photographs and written notes, and send your forwarding address in writing.
In Lakewood, a landlord must follow Colorado's formal eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) process under C.R.S. § 13-40-101 et seq. The process begins with a written notice — typically a 10-day notice to pay rent or vacate, a 10-day notice to cure a lease violation, or a 91-day notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. If you do not comply or vacate, the landlord must file a lawsuit in county court, and you have the right to appear and present a defense. A judge must enter a judgment before the landlord can obtain a writ of restitution to remove you. Self-help eviction — including changing your locks, removing your belongings, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under Colorado law and can expose your landlord to significant liability.
No. Lakewood has no rent control ordinance. Colorado's statewide ban on local rent control was lifted by SB 21-173 in 2021, but no Colorado city has enacted one since. Landlords in Lakewood may raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
There is no limit on rent increases in Lakewood. Your landlord can raise rent by any amount. For month-to-month leases, the landlord must generally give reasonable advance written notice. For fixed-term leases, the rent cannot be raised until the lease term ends unless the lease specifically allows mid-term increases.
Your landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days after you move out and return your keys (up to 60 days if your lease allows). The return must include an itemized written statement of any deductions. If the landlord misses the deadline or wrongfully keeps any portion, you may recover three times the withheld amount plus attorney fees under C.R.S. § 38-12-103.
The notice required depends on the reason for eviction. For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must serve a 10-day notice to pay or vacate. For lease violations, it's a 10-day notice to cure or vacate. To terminate a month-to-month tenancy without cause, the landlord must give at least 91 days written notice under C.R.S. § 13-40-107.
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in Colorado. A landlord may not change your locks, remove your belongings, or deliberately shut off your utilities (heat, water, electricity) to force you out. If this happens, contact local law enforcement and seek legal help immediately — the landlord can face significant liability.
Under Colorado's Warranty of Habitability Act (C.R.S. § 38-12-501), your landlord must keep your unit in a habitable condition. Send a written repair request and keep a copy. If the landlord fails to act within a reasonable time, you may be entitled to reduce your rent proportionally, make repairs and deduct the cost (up to one month's rent), or terminate the lease. You can also file a complaint with Lakewood's code enforcement division.
This article provides general information about tenant rights in Lakewood and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Learn about tenant rights in other Colorado cities:
Home | About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
© RentCheckMe. All rights reserved. Design: HTML5 UP.