Colorado Portable Rental Applications: 2026 Update for Landlords

The landlords I’ve spoken to have noticed an uptick in renters using portable tenant screening reports to save on application costs. While these reusable reports can reduce what tenants spend on application fees, they impose strict delivery and transparency standards on you, as Colorado law generally requires residential landlords to accept them, with some exceptions. This article outlines these recent updates to help you maintain compliance and avoid significant penalties. 

• Colorado landlords must generally accept portable tenant screening reports without charging additional verification fees.

• Landlords are exempt if they process only one application fee at a time and refund it before processing the next.

• As of 2026, landlords may only reject portable reports that are more than 30 days old or that lack specific information required by statute.

• As of 2026, landlords must accept reports directly from tenants from their preferred delivery mechanism.

If you’re a new landlord in Colorado, you might be wondering, what is a portable tenant screening report? A portable rental application (also known as a portable screening report) is a reusable credit and background check that a tenant pays for once to share with multiple landlords when looking for a new place to live.

Since 2023, Colorado law has required residential landlords to accept these reports to reduce the financial burden multiple application fees can create for renters. As of January 1, 2026, the law has been expanded to increase the validity period of these reports and limit the types of financial data landlords can require from tenants receiving rental subsidies. 

A complete portable rental application includes the prospective tenant’s:

• Name

• Address

• Employment verification

• Criminal background check

• Rental history

• Credit history

Under HB25-1236, portable reports for tenants with state housing subsidies are legally valid even if they omit credit scores, history, or adverse credit events. 

While the law requires you to accept these reports, you are not obligated to accept reports that are incomplete, outdated, or lack legally required background information. Thus, landlords retain the right to deny a portable screening report that is:

• Incomplete - Colorado landlord-tenant law mandates that a landlord may reject a report if it doesn’t contain all required information. 

• Outdated - Landlords are permitted to deny any screening report more than 30 days old. 

• Fake - Even though landlords must accept a report directly from a tenant, the law gives you the right to contact the issuing agency to confirm the report’s validity. 

• Subject to copy fees- Landlords may decline a portable application if the consumer reporting agency charges a fee to access the document. 

Note: Landlords have the right to run their own reports, but they can’t pass on that charge to the tenant.

Many landlords are surprised to learn there are ways around the portable screening reports law. You can use your own screening criteria instead of portable screening reports if you do the following:

• Limit application fees - You can only charge one application fee at a time, meaning if you have multiple tenants applying for the unit, you can only charge an application fee to the application you’re processing. You can’t charge an application fee to other applicants until the first application is denied and you start processing the next application. 

• Provide refunds to denied applicants - If you decline the applicant, you must refund the total application amount within 20 calendar days of the written denial. 

Using this workflow gives you the ability to screen tenants your way, but missing the mandatory refund window will void your exemption and expose you to legal liability. Residential landlords should also ensure they’re compliant with Colorado’s broader “Price Transparency” law, which involves the disclosure of all mandatory fees in rental advertisements.

Colorado’s rental landscape has changed, and in 2026, there’s no margin for error. Auditing your application workflow and fee disclosures today ensures your properties are protected. A landlord-tenant lawyer in Colorado can offer further guidance. Call 303-688-0944 or book your consultation online with one of our attorneys to ensure you comply with state rental laws.