A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the right of a landowner to stop the occurrence
Page 1, Line 102of squatting on a premises.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill prohibits a person from occupying a premises without the consent of a person holding legal ownership or a designee of a person holding legal ownership of the premises (landowner). A person who occupies a premises without the consent of the landowner commits the new crime of squatting. The first conviction for a violation of squatting is an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000 per offense. Upon conviction, a court shall also fine an individual convicted of squatting not more than $1,000 for each day the individual unlawfully occupied the premises. A person convicted of squatting more than once commits an unclassified misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of no more than $2,000 and by up to 6 months in jail, in addition to the fine for each day an individual convicted of squatting unlawfully occupied the premises.
The court shall order restitution to the landowner for any damage the individual caused to the premises and for any legal costs and fees incurred as a result of the individual's presence on the premises and removal from the premises.
A court shall issue a ruling to a person accused of squatting within 10 days after the person is charged with squatting. Upon a conviction of an individual for squatting, a court shall order the individual to vacate the premises immediately. Before a conviction, if the landowner of a premises unlawfully occupied by an individual notifies law enforcement of the individual's presence, law enforcement shall remove the individual within 24 hours after the landowner of the premises presents legal title as proof of ownership of the premises to law enforcement. If legal title as proof is presented, law enforcement shall remove the person who is unlawfully on the premises without the need for a court order. A person convicted of squatting shall not recover damages from the landowner of the premises where damage occurred.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) The sanctity of private property is a cornerstone of a free and fair society;
Page 2, Line 4(b) Unauthorized occupation of private property undermines the rights and investments of lawful owners of private property; and
Page 2, Line 5(c) Private property rights should be strengthened and unlawful squatters removed from private property as expeditiously as possible.
Page 2, Line 6(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that the
Page 2, Line 7general assembly intends to prioritize the rights of private property
Page 2, Line 8owners, reduce opportunities for squatters' claims, and ensure swift and decisive action to protect private property from unlawful occupation.
Page 3, Line 1SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-21-115, add (4)(d) as follows:
Page 3, Line 213-21-115. Actions against landowners - short title - legislative
Page 3, Line 3declaration - definitions. (4) (d) A person convicted of squatting
Page 3, Line 4pursuant to section 18-4-504.7 shall not recover damages from a landowner of the premises where the damages occurred.
Page 3, Line 5SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 18-4-504.7 as follows:
Page 3, Line 618-4-504.7. Squatting - crime - penalty - definitions. (1) (a) A
Page 3, Line 7person commits the crime of squatting if the person occupies a
Page 3, Line 8premises without the consent of a landowner of the premises.(b) The crime of squatting is a strict liability crime.
Page 3, Line 9(2) (a) Squatting in violation of subsection (1) of this
Page 3, Line 10section is an unclassified misdemeanor punishable upon
Page 3, Line 11conviction by a mandatory fine of not more than two thousand
Page 3, Line 12dollars per offense and an additional mandatory fine of not
Page 3, Line 13more than one thousand dollars for every day the person is found to be squatting at the premises.
Page 3, Line 14(b) A second or subsequent conviction of squatting is an
Page 3, Line 15unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a mandatory sentence
Page 3, Line 16of not more than six months in jail for each offense after the
Page 3, Line 17first offense, a mandatory fine of two thousand dollars per
Page 3, Line 18offense, and an additional mandatory fine of not more than one
Page 3, Line 19thousand dollars for every day the person is found to be squatting at the premises.
Page 3, Line 20(3) Upon conviction, the court shall order restitution for:
Page 4, Line 1(a) Damage caused by vandalism and other means to the
Page 4, Line 2premises caused by the defendant or the defendant's invitees; and
Page 4, Line 3(b) Legal costs and fees, including reasonable attorney
Page 4, Line 4fees, that the landowner incurred as a result of the person's presence on the premises and removal from the premises.
Page 4, Line 5(4) A court shall issue a ruling to a person accused of
Page 4, Line 6squatting within ten days after the person is charged with squatting.
Page 4, Line 7(5) (a) Upon a conviction of a person for squatting, a court shall order the person to vacate the premises immediately.
Page 4, Line 8(b) Before a conviction, if a landowner notifies law
Page 4, Line 9enforcement of a person's unlawful presence, law enforcement
Page 4, Line 10shall remove the person within twenty-four hours after the
Page 4, Line 11landowner presents proof of legal ownership to the premises to
Page 4, Line 12law enforcement. If proof of legal ownership to the premises is
Page 4, Line 13presented, law enforcement shall remove the person unlawfully on the premises without the need for a court order.
Page 4, Line 14(6) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 15(a) "Landowner" means a person who holds legal
Page 4, Line 16ownership of or a designee of a person holding legal ownership of a premises.
Page 4, Line 17(b) "Premises" means real property, buildings, and other improvements on the real property.
Page 4, Line 18SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 5, Line 1takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 5, Line 2ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 5, Line 3that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 5, Line 4of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 5, Line 5act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 5, Line 6effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 5, Line 7November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.