Denver Residential Lease Agreement
Generate a residential lease agreement that complies with Denver's local ordinances — including rent control rules, just-cause eviction requirements, and mandatory disclosures that go beyond Colorado state law.
Denver Residential Lease Agreement
Denver, Colorado
Local Ordinances
Denver Lease Requirements
What Denver's local ordinances require that Colorado state law does not.
Landlord must comply with Denver's source-of-income anti-discrimination ordinance (Denver Municipal Code §28-173), which prohibits refusing to rent, negotiate, or set different terms based on a prospective tenant's use of Section 8 vouchers or other lawful sources of income.
Before filing an eviction complaint for nonpayment of rent, landlord must offer the tenant participation in the Denver Eviction Diversion Program or connect them with available rental assistance resources.
Landlord must provide a 10-day written notice to cure or quit for nonpayment of rent before initiating eviction proceedings under Colorado law, as applied within Denver.
Landlord must comply with Denver's Fair Housing Ordinance, which expands protected classes beyond state and federal law to include source of income, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Landlord must honor any legal aid or Right to Counsel (RTC) representation that a low-income tenant facing eviction has obtained through Denver-funded programs; interference with counsel is prohibited.
Restrictions & Limits
Landlord may not refuse to accept housing vouchers (including Section 8/HCV) or impose different lease terms, deposits, or fees based solely on a tenant's use of a housing subsidy, under Denver Municipal Code §28-173.
Landlord may not proceed directly to court for an eviction without first providing the tenant with the required 10-day notice and, where applicable, offering diversion resources; failure to follow this sequence can result in dismissal of the eviction case.
Landlord may not discriminate against any protected class identified in the Denver Fair Housing Ordinance, including source of income; violations are enforceable by the Denver Office of Human Rights.
Landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations to Denver's Community Planning and Development or seeking assistance through city eviction diversion programs.
Landlord may not interfere with a tenant's right to seek or obtain legal counsel through Denver's Right to Counsel program or other city-funded legal assistance services.
Notice Requirements
Denver landlords must serve a 10-day notice to pay rent or quit before filing for eviction for nonpayment, and must provide a 91-day notice (or the statutory period, whichever is greater) for no-fault terminations of tenancies under applicable Colorado and city regulations.
FAQ
Denver Lease FAQ
Common questions about renting in Denver.
Does Denver prohibit discrimination based on source of income?
Yes. Denver Municipal Code §28-173 prohibits landlords from refusing to rent, failing to negotiate, or imposing different terms or conditions based on a prospective or current tenant's lawful source of income, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, emergency rental assistance, or other housing subsidies. This protection applies to all residential rental housing in Denver and is enforced by the Denver Office of Human Rights.
What is the Denver Eviction Diversion Program and does it apply to my property?
The Denver Eviction Diversion Program is a city-funded initiative that connects tenants facing eviction for nonpayment with rental assistance and mediation services. Before filing an eviction complaint in Denver County Court, landlords are expected to inform tenants of available diversion resources and allow time to apply. The program applies broadly to residential tenancies in Denver and is designed to reduce court filings and housing instability.
What additional protected classes does Denver's Fair Housing Ordinance cover?
Denver's Fair Housing Ordinance expands on federal and state fair housing law by adding source of income, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as protected classes in housing. This means a Denver landlord cannot refuse to rent or impose different conditions on a tenant based on any of these characteristics, in addition to the federally protected classes (race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability).
What is Denver's Right to Counsel program for tenants?
Denver's Right to Counsel (RTC) program provides free legal representation to income-qualified tenants facing eviction in Denver County Court. Funded by the City and County of Denver, the program connects eligible tenants with legal aid attorneys who can represent them at eviction hearings. Landlords must not interfere with a tenant's access to or participation in this program; doing so could constitute obstruction and affect the outcome of eviction proceedings.
Create Your Denver Lease Agreement
Our AI builds a lease that incorporates Denver's local ordinances automatically — so you don't have to research them yourself.
Disclaimer: LegalLawDocs.com provides self-help legal documents for informational purposes only. The documents and information on this site do not constitute legal advice and are not a substitute for consultation with a licensed attorney. Laws vary by state and change frequently — review your document with a qualified professional before relying on it.