Pop. 157,393 · Jefferson County
Lakewood requires every short-term rental licensee to carry liability insurance covering use of the premises as a short-term rental, in an amount not less than $500,000, with proof submitted as part of the LMC Chapter 5.55 license application.
Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 5.55 bans whole-home short-term rentals of less than 30 days; only home-share rentals of individual rooms inside the owner's primary residence are allowed, which structurally limits guest counts.
Lakewood requires short-term rental operators to obtain a license and comply with safety and zoning requirements. A sales tax license is also required.
Lakewood STR operators should provide parking information to guests. Guest vehicles must comply with city parking regulations.
Lakewood STR operators must collect and remit the city's lodger's tax and state sales tax on short-term rental income.
STR guests in Lakewood must comply with the city's noise ordinance. Operators are responsible for informing guests about quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.
Jeffco does not require STRs to be a primary residence. It licenses two types: Primary Residence STRs and Investment Property STRs. An owner may hold an interest in only one investment (non-primary-residence) STR at any time.
An STR License is issued only to the property owner, is valid for no more than one year, and must be renewed annually at least 30 days before expiration. Licenses are not transferable to another person or location and terminate on sale.
Jeffco does not require the host to be present during stays. Instead, Section 46 requires a designated Local Representative located no more than 30 minutes from the STR, available 24 hours a day with access and authority to make decisions.
Jefferson County Section 46 does not impose an annual limit on the number of nights an STR may be rented. Instead of a night cap, it controls STR density through a 750-foot separation between STRs and a 1% cap per Fire Protection District.
Lakewood treats carports as detached accessory structures under the Lakewood Zoning Ordinance Article 5 (Sec. 17.5.5): rigid carports over 120 sq ft need a building permit, must sit behind the front edge of the primary residence, and must meet zone-specific setback and lot-coverage standards.
Lakewood allows Accessory Dwelling Units in certain residential zones. ADUs must meet size, setback, and design standards. A building permit is required.
Lakewood allows garage conversions with a building permit. Converted space must meet residential standards and parking requirements must be addressed.
Lakewood allows sheds with setback requirements. Sheds over 200 square feet generally require a building permit.
Jeffco allows shipping containers or conex boxes as the building blocks of a home if they meet zone-district setbacks, building height, and full building-code requirements. A permanent tiny home is treated like any dwelling; a detached one used as a second residence must meet the ADU rules.
Lakewood allows recreational fire pits with restrictions. Fire pits must be at least 15 feet from structures and attended at all times. All fires are banned during fire restriction periods.
Lakewood bans all consumer fireworks within city limits. Only licensed professional displays are permitted. Colorado law allows limited consumer fireworks but cities may restrict further.
Lakewood prohibits open burning within city limits. Burning trash, leaves, and yard debris is not permitted. Only contained recreational fires are allowed with restrictions.
Small contained backyard fires are allowed in unincorporated Jeffco only when no fire restriction is in effect. Under Stage 1 restrictions, open burning, bonfires, and campfires (with limited exceptions) are prohibited; only liquid- and gas-fueled appliances remain permitted.
Jefferson County requires wildfire-defensible space around foothills homes. Zone 1 (0–5 feet) must have no combustible mulch and only mature trees; Zone 2 (5–30 feet) requires removing dead plants and surface fuels. A Defensible Space Permit applies in the WUI overlay above 6,400 feet.
Jefferson County has no separate county smoke-detector ordinance for existing homes; requirements come from the adopted building codes (International Residential Code) applied to new construction, additions, and remodels. Owners of existing dwellings should follow manufacturer and IRC placement guidance.
Jefferson County has no unique county propane-storage ordinance; residential LPG storage is governed by the adopted International Fire Code and Colorado LP-gas rules. Notably, gas- and liquid-fueled appliances stay legal to use even during Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire bans.
Much of unincorporated Jefferson County lies in the Wildland-Urban Interface. Properties in the WUI Overlay District (generally above 6,400 feet elevation) face defensible-space standards and wildfire-mitigation requirements tied to the County Zoning Resolution and building permits.
Lakewood permits construction from 7 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday. Sunday and holiday construction in residential areas is restricted.
Lakewood addresses barking dogs under its nuisance and animal control ordinances. Persistent barking that disturbs neighbors constitutes a nuisance violation.
Lakewood regulates noise under Title 9, Chapter 9.80 of the Municipal Code. Unreasonable noise that disturbs others is prohibited, with stricter enforcement during nighttime hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.
Jefferson County has no leaf-blower-specific rule. A leaf blower is treated as any non-vehicular residential noise source, so it must not exceed 55 dB(A) (7 a.m.-7 p.m.) or 50 dB(A) (7 p.m.-7 a.m.) at 25 feet from a property line.
Every vehicle in unincorporated Jefferson County must have a working, unmodified muffler. On roads posted 35 mph or less, most vehicles may not exceed 80 dB(A) (measured 50 feet from the lane center); cutoffs and bypasses are prohibited.
Industrial-zone noise may reach 80 dB(A) (7 a.m.-7 p.m.) and 75 dB(A) (7 p.m.-7 a.m.) at a property line under CRS 25-12-103. Light-industrial zones are held to 70/65 dB(A).
Amplified music is regulated as any noise-making "activity." In a residential zone it may not exceed 55 dB(A) (day) or 50 dB(A) (night) at 25 feet from a property line, with a lower cap for shrill or pulsing sound.
Colorado statute CRS 25-12-103 caps noise at a property line by zone: 55/50 dB(A) residential, 60/55 commercial, 70/65 light industrial, and 80/75 industrial (day/night). Jefferson County mirrors these limits.
Outdoor live or recorded music is limited by the same residential caps: 55 dB(A) (day) and 50 dB(A) (night) at 25 feet from a property line. Non-profit and government cultural events are exempt.
Neither Jefferson County nor Colorado's noise statute regulates aircraft noise. CRS 25-12-103(4) states the article does not apply to aircraft, which are governed by federal (FAA) law. Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport handles local complaints.
Lakewood allows beekeeping in residential areas with conditions including setbacks, hive limits, and water source requirements.
Lakewood restricts exotic animal ownership. Wild and dangerous animals are prohibited as pets. Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulates certain species.
Lakewood may allow backyard chickens with limits. Roosters typically banned in residential areas. Livestock requires agricultural zoning or minimum lot size.
Lakewood does not have breed-specific legislation. No breeds are banned. Dogs are classified as dangerous based on individual behavior.
Lakewood requires dogs to be on a leash when off the owner's property. Off-leash dogs are only permitted in designated dog parks.
Jefferson County requires proper care for every animal and treats hoarding-type conditions (inadequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, or feces accumulation) as offenses. Severe cases are prosecuted as cruelty to animals, a Class I misdemeanor under Colorado law.
Large livestock (horses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, hogs) are allowed on larger suburban/mountain-residential and agricultural lots in unincorporated Jeffco. On qualifying zones, density is 1 animal per 9,000 sq ft open space (6,000 sq ft each additional), max 4 per acre.
In most residential zones of unincorporated Jefferson County, the maximum number of cats, dogs, potbelly pigs, and similar domesticated pets you may keep is 3. Litters of puppies and kittens may be kept until weaned. Agricultural lots meeting minimum size have no limit.
Jefferson County does not license cats or impose a leash law on them, and cats found at large are generally not impounded. Cats count toward the 3-pet zoning limit, and owners must provide proper care, report bites, and honor rabies quarantine.
In Jefferson County, as statewide, it is illegal to intentionally feed big-game wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife prohibits placing feed, salt, or attractants for deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and bears. Violators face a fine.
Lakewood restricts RV and boat parking in residential areas. Recreational vehicles and boats must be stored on the owner's property, not on public streets for extended periods.
Lakewood restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential areas. Heavy commercial vehicles cannot be stored overnight in residential zones.
Lakewood requires driveways to meet city standards. A permit is needed for new or modified driveways. Vehicles must not block sidewalks.
Lakewood regulates street parking with time limits and restrictions. Vehicles may not be parked in the same location for more than 72 hours on public streets.
Oversized vehicles fall under the county's "Major Motor Vehicle" rule: any vehicle 8+ feet wide or 25+ feet long (or any truck tractor/road tractor/semi-trailer) may not be parked on a county road except for loading, unloading, or immediate active use.
Jefferson County's parking ordinance sets no EV-specific parking or charging-station rules for residents. Installing a home charger is governed by the county electrical/building permit process, and EV-space signage at public lots is not addressed by the parking ordinance.
There is no blanket overnight on-street parking ban in unincorporated Jefferson County, but parking on the Clear Creek Canyon (US-6) right-of-way is banned longer than 30 minutes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Using a vehicle as overnight living quarters on public property is prohibited.
A vehicle left unattended on public property outside a city for 48 hours or longer is "abandoned" under Colorado law (CRS 42-4-1802). Jeffco tags illegally parked vehicles, and any impounded vehicle unclaimed within 24 hours is treated as abandoned.
Jefferson County controls curb and roadway markings through official "Traffic Control Devices" placed by the Transportation & Engineering Division. Residents may not paint curbs to reserve or restrict parking; only authorized devices are legally enforceable.
Under the county parking ordinance, brief stops to load or unload passengers or property are exempt from "parking." Even oversized Major Motor Vehicles may stop on a county road for the purpose of loading, unloading, or other immediate active use.
Lakewood requires property owners to maintain grass and weeds at a reasonable height. Vegetation exceeding 12 inches is a code violation.
Lakewood follows Denver Water guidelines for outdoor watering. Watering restrictions may apply during drought, including day-of-week schedules.
Lakewood may require review for significant tree removal in certain planned development areas. Routine removal on residential property is generally allowed.
Lakewood property owners may trim trees on their property. Trees in the public right-of-way are managed by the city. Trimming near power lines requires coordination with Xcel Energy.
Jefferson County has no general county ban on residential artificial turf; check your HOA and city. Colorado's HB22-1151 turf-replacement program funds swapping irrigated bluegrass for 'water-wise landscaping' - defined as practices emphasizing plants with lower water needs. HOAs cannot ban drought-tolerant landscaping.
Every landowner in unincorporated Jefferson County has a legal duty to manage noxious weeds. State law (CRS 35-5.5-104): 'It is the duty of all persons to use integrated methods to manage noxious weeds if the same are likely to be materially damaging to the land of neighboring landowners.'
Jefferson County has no ordinance banning backyard compost piles, and residential composting is allowed. There is no county-run curbside compost mandate for unincorporated areas. Keep piles managed so they don't create odor, rodents, or a nuisance, and away from WUI fuel concerns.
Colorado law lets residents of single-family homes and buildings of four or fewer units collect rooftop rainwater in up to two rain barrels totaling 110 gallons, for outdoor use on the same property. No permit is needed. Jefferson County does not add its own rain-barrel rule.
Colorado protects water-wise landscaping. Under CRS 38-33.3-106.5, an HOA may not prohibit xeriscape or drought-tolerant vegetative landscapes on property a unit owner is responsible for. Jefferson County encourages native-plant gardening and imposes no rule against it.
Lakewood limits residential fence heights to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards under the Zoning Ordinance.
Lakewood generally requires a permit for new fence construction to ensure compliance with height, setback, and material requirements.
Lakewood follows Colorado property line rules. Fences must be on the owner's property. Shared fences require neighbor agreement.
A fence built on top of a retaining wall must count the total combined height of the wall plus the fence, and that total cannot exceed the maximum height allowed in the applicable zone district. Retaining walls over 36 inches high require a permit.
Fences on corner lots must comply with the County's Vision Clearance Triangle. Fences over 42 inches must be set back to the sidewalk edge (or 10 feet from the street flowline where no sidewalk exists) along street frontages and keep a 25-by-25-foot sight triangle at every driveway.
For properties in Jefferson County's Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), fencing within 8 feet of a structure must be built with noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials such as metal, masonry, or tested plastics and composites. Details are in the Wildfire Resiliency Code, Chapter 5.
Outside the wildfire interface, Jefferson County does not restrict fence material types in the Zoning Resolution. Inside the WUI, fencing within 8 feet of a structure must be noncombustible or ignition-resistant, with metal, masonry, and tested composites among the accepted materials.
Colorado defers residential swimming pool barrier standards to locally adopted International Codes, but state law requires public and semi-public pools to meet uniform CDPHE health and safety regulations statewide.
Lakewood prohibits exterior signs for home-based businesses. Home occupations must not alter the residential character of the property.
Lakewood allows home occupations in residential zones with conditions. The business must be secondary to residential use with no exterior evidence.
Lakewood Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning) permits home occupations with no more than one customer/client visit at a time and no more than four customer visits per day; signage, parking, and employee limits also apply.
A Jefferson County home occupation requires a Miscellaneous Permit from Planning & Zoning. It is limited to one non-resident employee, no more than 25 percent or 800 square feet of the main residence, and no more than 2 additional customer vehicles at a time.
Colorado's Cottage Foods Act (CRS 25-4-1614) lets residents sell certain non-hazardous homemade foods directly to consumers without a license or inspection, up to $10,000 in net revenue per product per year. A food-safety course and product labeling are required.
A regular family child care home in Colorado may care for six children from birth to age 18, with no more than two under age two, plus up to two additional school-age children. The home must be licensed by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (7 CCR 1101). Jeffco allows
Lakewood pools require safety features including compliant drain covers, depth markers, and GFCI-protected electrical systems.
Above-ground pools in Lakewood must meet barrier requirements. Pools with 48-inch walls and lockable ladders may use walls as barriers.
Lakewood requires all swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates.
In unincorporated Jeffco, a county Miscellaneous Permit is required for a swimming pool of any size (in-ground or above-ground) and related structures like diving boards and ladders. Hot tubs and swim spas do not need one. All must meet zone-district setbacks.
Jefferson County does not require a Miscellaneous Permit for hot tubs and swim spas, but they must still meet the setbacks and height limits of the property's zone district. State rule 5 CCR 1003-5 defines a spa/hot tub and regulates only public/semi-public units, not private backyard tubs.
Lakewood participates in the NFIP and regulates development in flood zones along Bear Creek, Lakewood Gulch, and other waterways. Structures must be elevated above the base flood elevation.
Colorado administers stormwater discharge permits statewide through the Colorado Discharge Permit System, requiring construction sites and industrial activities to obtain coverage before discharging runoff to state waters.
Gas (propane) grills are allowed year-round in unincorporated Jeffco, including during Stage 1 fire restrictions and Stage 2 fire bans. Charcoal grills, which produce embers, are treated like open fire and are prohibited once the Sheriff declares fire restrictions.
Propane and pellet smokers count as gas-/appliance-fueled cooking and are allowed year-round in unincorporated Jeffco, including during fire bans. Wood- and charcoal-fired smokers that produce embers are treated like open fire and are prohibited when Sheriff fire restrictions are active.
In the Residential-One (R-1) district, the primary-structure front setback is 30 feet, side setbacks are 5 feet minimum with 15 feet total, and side setbacks adjacent to a local or collector street are 20 feet (30 feet at an arterial). Setbacks vary by zone district.
In most Jefferson County residential districts the primary-structure height limit is 35 feet; R-2 is 30 feet, and accessory structures are capped at 25 feet. Multi-family structures reach 45 feet in R-3A and R-4. Chimneys, water towers and similar features are exempt.
Jefferson County residential districts do not set a maximum lot-coverage percentage. Instead, minimum lot size plus setbacks and height control how much you can build. R-1 requires 12,500 s.f. for a single-family dwelling; R-1B is 9,000 s.f.; R-2 is 7,500 s.f. (4,500 for two-family).
Jefferson County has no countywide ordinance dictating where residents store trash carts on their own lot in unincorporated areas; that follows your private hauler's rules. A county Right-of-Way permit ($50) is required only to place a dumpster or roll-off container in a public street.
Every public and private landowner in unincorporated Jefferson County has a legal duty to manage noxious weeds under the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (CRS 35-5.5). List A weeds must be eradicated countywide; List B are eradicated, contained or suppressed depending on location.
Jefferson County has no separate garage-sale ordinance or permit for occasional residential yard sales in unincorporated areas; they are a customary accessory residential use. Sales that become ongoing or commercial in scale can trigger zoning and special-event rules. Incorporated cities may require permits.
In unincorporated Jefferson County, the Zoning Resolution requires that non-commercial vehicles kept on residential property be licensed and operable or stored inside a structure. Broader junk, rubbish and blight on lots is abated by the county under Colorado law CRS 30-15-401.
Owners of vacant lots in unincorporated Jefferson County must control noxious weeds under the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (CRS 35-5.5) and keep the lot free of junk and rubbish. The county can abate weeds and rubbish under CRS 30-15-401 and bill the owner.
Colorado's Premises Liability Act sets statewide landowner duties regarding snow and ice. Specific clearing timelines remain a local ordinance matter under home rule across Colorado.
For bulk items in unincorporated Jefferson County, arrange a special/bulk pickup with your private hauler or self-haul to a landfill or the Rooney Road Recycling Center. Household hazardous waste and electronics go to Rooney Road at a discounted rate for Jeffco residents.
Jefferson County does not run curbside trash collection. In unincorporated areas residents contract directly with private licensed haulers (Republic Services, Waste Management, and others) who set the pickup schedule, cart type and rates. Incorporated cities may organize their own hauler contracts.
Unincorporated Jefferson County does not mandate curbside recycling. Recycling is available by adding it to your private hauler's service or by using drop-off sites and specialty recyclers in the county's resource directory, including household hazardous waste at Rooney Road.
Jefferson County has no countywide ordinance dictating cart set-out placement or times in unincorporated areas; you follow your private hauler's instructions. A county Right-of-Way permit is required only to place a dumpster or roll-off container in the public street.
Depositing, throwing or leaving trash on public or private land in Jefferson County is littering under Colorado law CRS 18-4-511, carrying a mandatory fine of $20-$500 for a first offense. On private lots, the county can also abate the mess and lien the owner under CRS 30-15-401.
Jeffco Section 12 requires exterior lights to be full cut-off fixtures above set brightness thresholds - all lamps in mountain areas, and lamps over roughly 1,750 lumens (residential) or 2,800 lumens (plains). Pole heights are capped at 14 feet in the mountains and 20 feet in the plains.
Jeffco Section 12 requires that luminaires and their supporting structure be wholly confined to the property, and it caps light measured at the property line. Residential/agricultural uses adjacent to similar uses may not exceed 0.2 foot-candles in the mountains or 0.3 in the plains at the property line.
Jeffco's sign code is content-neutral: political/campaign signs are regulated as "Temporary Ground Signs." Up to six per property are allowed with no permit, each up to 8 sq ft and 42 inches tall in residential zones, displayed no more than 6 months in any 12-month period, and never illuminated.
Jeffco has no separate garage-sale sign category; they fall under content-neutral "Temporary Ground Signs." Up to six per property need no permit, each up to 8 sq ft and 42 inches tall in residential zones, may not sit in the right-of-way, and may not be illuminated.
Commercial drone operations in Colorado are governed almost entirely by FAA Part 107, with limited state additions covering wildlife, critical infrastructure, and privacy that apply uniformly statewide.
Recreational drone operation in Colorado is governed primarily by FAA rules with state restrictions on harassment of wildlife, hunting interference, and law enforcement use that apply uniformly statewide.
Colorado allows local governments to adopt minimum wages above the state rate under CRS 8-6-101, with statewide minimums adjusted annually for inflation.
Colorado requires paid sick leave under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act and offers paid family medical leave through the FAMLI program funded by payroll premiums.
Colorado has no statewide predictive scheduling law but permits local governments to adopt fair workweek and advance notice scheduling ordinances for employers.
Colorado requires a concealed handgun permit issued by the county sheriff to carry a concealed firearm in public, with training and background check requirements.
Colorado repealed firearms preemption in 2021, allowing cities and counties to enact local gun regulations stricter than state law in most circumstances.
Colorado generally permits open carry of firearms by adults without a license, though local jurisdictions may impose restrictions in specific areas after the 2021 preemption repeal.
Colorado allows adults legally able to possess a firearm to carry a handgun in a private vehicle for lawful protection without a permit under CRS 18-12-105.5.
Under the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act, C.R.S. § 38-33.3-316, an association has a statutory lien for unpaid assessments. After HB22-1137 (2022) it may foreclose only once the lien equals six or more months of assessments and the board formally authorizes the suit by a recorded vote.
CCIOA requires open governance. C.R.S. § 38-33.3-308 mandates open board meetings, owner comment, and limited executive sessions; § 38-33.3-310 requires secret ballots for contested board seats counted by neutral parties; and § 38-33.3-317 gives owners broad rights to inspect association records with a $50/day penalty for refusal.
C.R.S. § 38-33.3-302 lets a Colorado association enforce covenants and 'levy reasonable fines' only 'after notice and an opportunity to be heard.' Architectural and landscaping decisions 'shall not be made arbitrarily or capriciously,' and every association must adopt a written covenant-and-rules enforcement policy under § 38-33.3-209.5.
HB22-1137 rewrote C.R.S. § 38-33.3-209.5, capping most covenant fines at $500, requiring two consecutive 30-day cure periods (or 72 hours for safety threats) before legal action, mandating notice and a hearing, and barring associations from charging fines on a daily basis or foreclosing for fines alone.
Colorado law overrides HOA covenants on several owner rights. C.R.S. § 38-33.3-106.5 protects flags, signs, and xeriscape/drought-tolerant landscaping; § 38-30-168 makes covenants banning solar and renewable-energy devices 'void and unenforceable'; and § 38-33.3-302(1)(k)(II) blocks fines for under-watering during drought restrictions.
Colorado does not require private employers to use E-Verify and repealed the prior employment eligibility affirmation form in 2016 under HB 16-1114.
Colorado law limits state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement under HB 19-1124, restricting ICE detainers, courthouse arrests, and information sharing statewide.
Before filing an eviction for nonpayment of rent, a Colorado landlord must serve a standard residential tenant with 10 days' written notice to pay or quit under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-104. The same 10-day cure period applies to most lease violations; certain small landlords may use a 5-day exempt notice.
Colorado law implies a warranty of habitability in every residential lease. A landlord must respond within 24 hours to conditions that materially interfere with life, health, or safety, and within 96 hours to other uninhabitable conditions after written notice. Tenants have repair-and-deduct, rent-related, termination, and damages remedies.
Colorado HB23-1171 created a statewide for-cause eviction standard requiring landlords to cite specific statutory grounds, such as nonpayment or lease violations, before terminating most residential tenancies.
Colorado has no general statute setting a notice period for a landlord to enter an occupied rental. Ordinary entry is governed by the lease and the tenant's covenant of quiet enjoyment, with 24 hours' notice a common best practice. One narrow statute requires 48 hours' notice before entry for bed-bug inspection or treatment.
Colorado caps residential late fees at the greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due rent. No late fee may be charged until rent is at least seven days late, and only if disclosed in writing in the lease. A tenant cannot be evicted solely for unpaid late fees, and violations carry penalties.
To end a no-fault tenancy, Colorado requires written notice scaled to the tenancy length under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-107: 21 days for a month-to-month tenancy, 28 days for six-months-or-longer, and 91 days for a tenancy of one year or longer. Servicemembers have federal lease-break rights.
Colorado prohibits rent control statewide. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-301 declares rent control a matter of statewide concern and bars any county or municipality from enacting an ordinance controlling rent on private residential property. There is no statewide cap on how much landlords can raise rent.
For residential tenancies with no written agreement (including month-to-month), a Colorado landlord must give at least 60 days' written notice before raising rent. Statewide, a landlord cannot increase rent more than once in any 12-month period of consecutive occupancy by the tenant.
Colorado caps residential security deposits at two months' rent. Landlords must return the deposit, with an itemized written statement of any deductions, within 30 days of lease termination (up to 60 days if the lease says so). Willful retention exposes a landlord to treble damages plus attorney fees.
Colorado's general adverse possession period is 18 years of open, continuous, hostile possession under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-41-101. The period shrinks to 7 successive years where the claimant holds color of title in good faith and pays all taxes on the land (§ 38-41-108). Squatters are removed through eviction or trespass remedies.
Colorado counties zone agricultural lands under state planning laws while preserving farm operations through Right to Farm protections and local agricultural overlays.
Colorado's Right to Farm Act under CRS 35-3.5-102 shields agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits when they follow generally accepted practices and predate complaints.
Colorado banned single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam containers statewide under the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, fully effective in 2024.
Colorado prohibits retail food establishments from using expanded polystyrene foam containers for ready-to-eat food and beverages under the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act.
Colorado does not ban plastic straws statewide, but allows cities to restrict distribution and many require straws only upon customer request.
Colorado prohibits HOAs from banning solar energy devices and limits aesthetic restrictions. The protections apply to all common interest communities throughout Colorado uniformly.
Colorado caps solar permit fees and prohibits restrictions on solar access easements. The law preempts local efforts to block residential solar installations across all Colorado.
Colorado prohibits the sale and furnishing of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine vapor products to anyone under age 21 statewide under CRS 18-13-121.
Colorado does not impose a statewide flavored tobacco ban, but home rule cities and counties may prohibit flavored vape and tobacco product sales locally.
Colorado requires retailers selling cigarettes, vapor products, and other tobacco items to obtain a state retail tobacco license and follow strict point-of-sale rules.