Free Colorado Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
A room-by-room move-in and move-out inspection checklist built for Colorado. Document the unit at the start and end of the tenancy, then download a signable multi-page PDF. Aligned to C.R.S. 38-12-103 — the deposit-return statute the whole record protects.
A Colorado move-in / move-out inspection checklist is a written, room-by-room record of a rental’s condition at the start of the tenancy and again at the end. Under C.R.S. 38-12-103, that documentation is the evidence that separates deductible damage from non-deductible ordinary wear and tear — and it is the reason the landlord can justify any deduction from the deposit at all. Complete the same checklist twice: once at move-in to set the baseline, once at move-out to compare. A signed checklist paired with date-stamped photos is the single strongest protection for the security deposit on both sides, and it feeds directly into the written statement the landlord must deliver within thirty days of the tenant moving out.
Colorado Move-Out at a Glance
Deposit Deadline
1 Month (up to 60 Days)
Governing Statute
C.R.S. 38-12-103
Bad-Faith Penalty
Treble Damages
Keep Records
4 Years Min
Wear-and-Tear vs. Damage — the Distinction That Decides the Deposit
Ordinary wear and tear is NOT deductible from a Colorado security deposit — ever. Faded paint, minor carpet wear in walking paths, small scuff marks at door knobs, and minor nail holes from hanging pictures are wear and tear. Damage beyond ordinary use IS deductible: large holes, carpet stains or burns, broken fixtures, pet urine damage, and smoke damage. The move-in checklist establishes what was already there so a tenant is not charged at move-out for a condition that pre-dated the tenancy. Document both conditions with photos so the distinction is provable.
How to Use This Move-In / Move-Out Checklist
1. Document the move-in baseline
At the start of the tenancy, walk the unit room by room with the tenant present, rate the condition of every surface, appliance, and fixture, and record specific notes. This baseline is what every later inspection is compared against.
2. Take date-stamped move-in photos
Photograph each room and every existing defect at move-in. Colorado does not require photos by statute, but the checklist plus dated photos is the two-pillar evidence that holds up in a deposit dispute. Capture a wide shot of each room plus close-ups of any flaw.
3. Offer a joint pre-move-out walk-through
Colorado does not mandate a pre-move-out inspection, but offering the tenant a joint walk-through in the last days of the tenancy lets the tenant cure deficiencies before final move-out. Hand the tenant an informal list of items to fix — it sharply reduces disputes.
4. Run the final move-out inspection
After the tenant returns possession, walk the same checklist again — before any cleaning or repair — and rate each item. Compare against the move-in record to separate ordinary wear and tear from chargeable damage.
5. Take the move-out and post-repair photos
Photograph the unit after return of possession and again after any repair or cleaning behind a deduction. Retain all photos for at least four years and provide them to the tenant with the deposit accounting.
6. Prepare the itemized written statement on time
Within thirty days after the later of lease termination or return of possession (up to sixty days only if the written lease says so), deliver either the full deposit or a written statement of the exact reasons for each deduction with the balance, under C.R.S. 38-12-103(1). Missing the deadline forfeits all withholding rights.
7. Sign, deliver, and retain
Have both parties sign the checklist where possible, give the tenant a copy, and keep the signed checklist, photos, and receipts for at least four years to support any future dispute.
Build Your Colorado Checklist
Complete the fields below to generate a room-by-room Colorado move-in / move-out inspection checklist as a multi-page PDF. Choose the inspection type (move-in, pre-move-out walk-through, or final move-out), rate each item, and add detailed notes for anything marked Poor. Pair every walk-through with date-stamped photos as supporting evidence. When you are done, download the signable PDF and give the tenant a copy. If you are also placing a new renter, start with thorough tenant screening — the cleanest move-outs come from tenants screened carefully at move-in.
1. Parties & Tenancy
2. Rental Property
3. Room-by-Room Condition
For each item choose Good (no defects), Fair (minor wear), Poor (visible damage), or N/A (not present). Describe every Poor-rated item in the detailed notes below and document it with a photo.
4. Photo Documentation
Date-stamped photos are the second pillar of any defensible deduction. Take photos before this inspection and after — a wide shot of each room plus a close-up of every defect. Colorado does not require them, but retain the photos for at least four years and provide copies with any deduction accounting.
5. Signatures
Both parties should sign and retain a copy. A tenant signature acknowledges the recorded condition — it is not a waiver of any legal right.
The Colorado Deposit Return Deadline (C.R.S. 38-12-103)
Colorado gives a landlord thirty days to return the security deposit — measured from the later of the termination of the lease or the surrender and acceptance of the premises — unless the written lease specifies a longer period, and that period may not exceed sixty days, under C.R.S. 38-12-103(1). Within that window the landlord must deliver either the full deposit or a written statement listing the exact reasons for retaining any portion, accompanied by payment of the difference between the deposit and the amount retained. The clock starts when the tenancy actually ends and the tenant hands back possession — not when the landlord re-rents the unit or finishes repairs. This is where the move-in / move-out checklist earns its keep: the written statement of deductions has to point to specific, documented conditions, and the checklist plus photos is that documentation. The Colorado security deposit return letter is the document that delivers the accounting on time.
Forfeiture and Treble Damages — Colorado’s Enforcement Teeth
Colorado’s deposit statute is unusually strict, which is exactly why careful move-out documentation matters. Two provisions give it real teeth. First, under C.R.S. 38-12-103(2), a landlord who fails to provide the written statement within the deadline forfeits all ri