.png)
Staying compliant with Colorado tenant screening reform is critical for landlords in 2026. Under HB23-1099 and the updated HB25-1236, property managers must navigate mandatory report acceptance and new Section 8 protections. This guide provides a roadmap for Colorado portable tenant screening report compliance. Failure to comply with Colorado's portable report laws can result in statutory penalties of $2,500 per incident.
Through landmark tenant screening reform, the state introduced the Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) a verified, reusable report that renters can share with multiple landlords. This reform isn’t just a policy shift. It’s a blueprint for fairer, more transparent housing, and a potential model for the rest of the country.
Under the traditional system, every rental application triggered a new screening fee, even when the same background and credit information was used repeatedly and in some cases, hurting the applicant’s credit score.
Renters routinely spent hundreds of dollars reapplying, while landlords had to manage redundant paperwork and potential compliance risks. Worse, renters had little control over their own data — unable to verify, correct, or reuse their screening information.
This inefficiency created a system that was costly, opaque, and inequitable. It was a problem waiting for a legislative solution.
In 2023, Colorado passed HB23-1099, requiring landlords to accept a valid Portable Tenant Screening Report instead of running their own background checks.
A PTSR includes verified information such as a renter’s employment and income, rental and credit history, criminal background, and addresses — all verified by a consumer reporting agency in compliance with federal standards. As long as the report is less than 30 days old and FCRA compliant, landlords must accept it — and cannot charge additional application or screening fees. While the law is complex, seeing a portable tenant screening sample can help you identify if a tenant-provided report meets the mandatory criteria.
New for 2025 (HB25-1236): As of 2025, the validity of a PTSR has been extended from 30 to 60 days. Additionally, landlords are prohibited from considering credit scores or history for applicants receiving housing assistance.
Together, these laws have made Colorado the first state to operationalize rental application fairness in a practical, enforceable way.
Effective in 2025, the Colorado tenant screening law was expanded to protect applicants using housing assistance (Section 8). Landlords are now legally prohibited from:
1. Mandatory Acceptance of Portable Reports (with conditions)
Under the Colorado tenant screening law, landlords must accept a valid PTSR that meets the state’s requirements. If a renter provides a qualifying report, landlords cannot charge new application or screening fees. Limited exceptions apply, such as when a report doesn’t meet the law’s defined criteria or falls outside the valid timeframe. To ensure your report meets every legal requirement of the state, use a PTSR compliant tenant screening service that guarantees all mandatory data points are included. There is often confusion regarding expiration; read our guide on The Truth About Colorado's 60-Day PTSR Myth to ensure you aren't accepting outdated data.
2. Required Disclosure Upfront
Before collecting application information or fees, landlords must disclose that they accept portable tenant screening reports and that no additional charges apply when one is submitted. This requirement ensures renters know their rights early in the process and helps prevent unlawful or redundant fees.
3. Compliance Standards: The 30-Day vs 60-Day Validity Rule
To qualify as a portable report, the screening must:
For a step-by-step walkthrough on implementation, refer to our Colorado Landlord's Guide to Portable Tenant Reports.
Landlords can quickly verify these details by following our 3-step PTSR verification guide to stay within the safe harbor of the law. The updated law also introduced new protections for renters using housing assistance. For these applicants, landlords cannot require credit history, credit scores, or consider adverse credit events. The 2025 amendment also removed an older requirement that reports be made “directly available” to landlords by the reporting agency, simplifying the sharing process. However, Portable Tenant continues to make verified reports directly accessible to landlords—reinforcing transparency and ensuring each report’s authenticity.
4. Penalties and Cure Option
Noncompliance carries meaningful and legal consequences. Landlords who violate the Colorado tenant screening laws may face penalties of up to $2,500 per incident, plus court costs and attorney fees. However, the law allows a seven-day cure period: if a landlord corrects the violation within that timeframe after receiving notice, the penalty is reduced to $50. Pro Tip: Keep a digital log of all denied portable reports and the specific reason for denial to prove compliance during the 7-day cure period, within that timeframe after receiving notice, the penalty is reduced to $50, with no further damages.
Before reform, renters typically paid between $50 and $100 per application. Now, one screening fee covers multiple applications — a change that makes renting more affordable and equitable.
This approach gives renters flexibility, allowing them to apply to several properties without additional financial barriers.
Under the tenant screening reform Colorado mandate, if you deny an applicant, you must provide the specific reasons in writing. If the denial is based on a portable screening report, you must cite the specific data within that report that led to the decision. This transparency is a requirement of the HB23-1099 framework to ensure fairness.
Colorado’s reform allows renters to choose an approved screening provider and share their verified report directly. That small shift redistributes control — turning tenant screening into a shared, verifiable process rather than a landlord-dominated one.
Tenant screening reform also raises expectations around data privacy and compliance. At Portable Tenant, our experience shows that portability depends on secure systems that meet Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) standards and give renters control over their own information.
Our approach keeps reports encrypted, traceable, and reusable without compromising data integrity. For renters, it means transparency and privacy; for property managers, it means verified information they can trust.
Colorado’s tenant screening laws are straightforward: define a valid report, require acceptance, and prohibit redundant fees. The model is adaptable to any state that values fairness, affordability, and compliance.
For Renters:
Colorado’s model shows what’s possible when screening laws prioritize fairness and control. Renters in other states can start by understanding their own rights — and asking whether local laws allow the use of portable tenant screening reports. If not, advocacy for similar reforms can help eliminate redundant fees and encourage data ownership.
For Landlords:
Portable reports offer a more efficient, compliant way to screen applicants. They simplify workflows and keep property owners aligned with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) standards. Early adoption of reusable screening systems also signals fairness — an advantage in competitive rental markets. If you are unsure if a report you've received is valid, compare it against our portable tenant screening sample to check for the required FCRA disclosures and verification timestamps.
For Policymakers:
The Colorado tenant screening law proves that renter protections and landlord confidence can coexist. Clear rules, verified data, and secure digital systems create a faster, fairer, and more transparent rental process — one that’s easy for other states to replicate.
Change always comes with adjustment. Some landlords remain unfamiliar with the Colorado tenant screening laws or hesitant to update their internal processes. Education and clear communication are essential to improving compliance and trust across the market.
Still, the early signs are promising. Renters using PTSRs have reported meaningful savings — often hundreds of dollars per year — and faster approval timelines. Property managers using compliant screening tools also report fewer disputes and more efficient decision-making.
As understanding grows, adoption is expected to increase. When technology and regulation work together, reform becomes more than just policy — it becomes practical progress.
Required Disclosure Language: Landlords must include the following statement in all rental advertisements: "The prospective tenant has the right to provide to the landlord a portable tenant screening report, as defined in section 38-12-902(2.5), Colorado Revised Statutes."
Colorado proved that tenant screening reform can be practical, fair, and enforceable. Its approach—portable reports, transparent rules, and clear compliance standards—shows how renter protection and landlord confidence can coexist. Online rental applications for multiple properties are here to stay.
Other states are already paying attention. As legislation evolves, technology will continue to turn policy into everyday practice, allowing renters to share verified reports securely and property managers to screen applicants with less friction.
At Portable Tenant, we’re helping make that future possible by ensuring that portability, compliance, and trust work hand in hand.
Screen once. Apply anywhere.
As rental laws evolve, understanding compliance isn’t optional — it’s essential. Portable Tenant keeps you informed and equipped to navigate every update with confidence and clarity.
Join the Portable Tenant waitlist to receive updates on new tenant screening laws, compliance best practices, and tools shaping the future of renting.