Colorado allows local governments to adopt minimum wages above the state rate under CRS 8-6-101, with statewide minimums adjusted annually for inflation.
House Bill 19-1210 amended the Local Government Minimum Wage Act, ending state preemption that had blocked municipal wage ordinances. Effective 2020, cities and counties may adopt local minimum wages exceeding the state rate, subject to procedural requirements including public hearings and limits on annual increases. Denver, Edgewater, and unincorporated Boulder County have adopted local minimum wages above the state floor. The state minimum wage adjusts annually under Article XVIII Section 15 of the Colorado Constitution. Tipped employees may be paid a lower base wage when tips meet the minimum.
Wage law violations expose employers to back pay, double damages, civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, and attorney fees under state and local enforcement.
See how Castle Rock's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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