Colorado Rental Application (2026)

A landlord's tenant application with lawful screening questions, fee disclosure and FCRA consent, adjusted to your state's rules.

Updated September 2026≈ 10 minReviewed against Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-903 · Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-904 · Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-502

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What you'll get

Sample first page of the Rental Application. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Colorado are added automatically.

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What this document covers

Property, rent and desired move-in date
Application fee within the state cap and receipt
Pre-screening notice where the state requires it
Applicant identity and co-applicants
Residence history for 3 years
Employment and income, including lawful sources
Eviction and bankruptcy questions where allowed
Fair-chance criminal-history rules
Tenant selection criteria and equal-housing statement
FCRA consent and adverse-action notice

Colorado rules that this document follows

Application fee limit	actual costSource: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-903(1) (fee limited to landlord's actual cost of screening or average per-applicant cost; must be uniform for all applicants)
Refund rule	Unused portion must be refunded within 20 days; no fee may be charged if the applicant provides a portable tenant screening report (§ 38-12-902); landlord must give an itemized receipt (§ 38-12-903(3))Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-903(1) (fee limited to landlord's actual cost of screening or average per-applicant cost; must be uniform for all applicants)
Must give applicant a copy of screening report	Yes
Criminal-history questions	Landlord may not consider arrest records, or convictions more than 5 years old (except methamphetamine offenses, sex offenses requiring registration, and homicide/violent felonies); may not consider rental or credit history more than 7 years old; for voucher holders may not require income above 200% of the tenant's rent share.Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-904(1)–(1.5)
Source of income protected	Yes — vouchers and other lawful income must be consideredSource: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-502(1)(a) (HB 20-1332; landlords with ≤3 units exempt)
Additional protected classes	creed, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, source of income
Written notice before screening	Required — this application contains itSource: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-903(2)
Reusable screening reports	Must be accepted; no fee may be charged when one is providedSource: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-904(1.5)

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Rental Application in Colorado

Use one application per adult. Collect the Social Security number only on the signed paper copy, never by email. Apply the same written criteria to every applicant and keep denied applications for at least two years in case of a fair-housing inquiry. Give the applicant this form — it contains the written notice Colorado requires BEFORE you obtain any screening report.

Charge only a fee that Colorado permits, give a receipt, and if you deny based on a consumer report send the FCRA adverse-action notice within a few days.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord charge an application fee in Colorado?

Rule: actual cost (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-903).

What questions are illegal on a rental application?

You may not ask about race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability, nor about arrests without conviction. Colorado adds: creed, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, source of income. This form omits those questions automatically.

Do I have to give the applicant a copy of the screening report?

Yes — Colorado requires it on request or with a denial, in addition to the federal FCRA adverse-action notice.

Other names

tenant application form
apartment application
lease application
rental application form
tenant screening form
renter application
housing application

Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.