Owners: Pet Rent / Pet Deposit

The short version

Colorado law caps what landlords can charge tenants for pets. A pet deposit is limited to $300 per household (not per pet), pet rent is limited to $35 per month per household (not per pet), and both charges must be clearly stated in the lease. Emotional support animals (ESAs) are exempt — no deposit or rent may be charged for them.

Colorado's pet-charge limits

• Pet deposit: up to $300 per household. This is a one-time refundable amount collected at move-in, not per individual pet.
• Pet rent: up to $35 per month per household. Again — per household, not per pet.
• Lease disclosure required: both the deposit amount and the monthly rent must appear in the written lease.

Emotional support animals are exempt

Emotional support animals and service animals are treated differently under the federal Fair Housing Act and Colorado law. A landlord cannot collect a pet deposit, pet rent, or a pet fee for an ESA, and cannot deny an otherwise-qualified applicant solely because of the ESA. Landlords may still require reasonable documentation of the animal's status and hold the tenant responsible for any damage the animal causes.

What this means for owners

• If your current lease charges pet fees on a per-pet basis, update it — the cap is per household.
• If you've been charging above the state cap, the excess is unenforceable and you may be exposed on a deposit refund.
• Build an ESA workflow into screening and lease drafting so you aren't declining applicants you're legally required to accommodate.

At Bergan & Company, lease compliance is part of the work — we audit every lease we manage against the current Colorado statute so owners don't get surprised by a rule change.