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Westminster, CO · Adams County (East) + Jefferson County (West) Split · Population ~115,000 · No Local Rent Control (HB 21-1117 2021; Westminster Has NOT Enacted Ordinance) · CRITICAL: Evictions Filed in Different Courts by County — Brighton (Adams) vs. Golden (Jefferson) · 10-Day Non-Payment Notice · 60-Day Deposit Return 3× Willful Withholding · Maxar Technologies Space Tech ~2,000+ · Lumen / Level3 HQ ~3,000 Employees · Westminster Station RTD · US-36 Boulder Turnpike Corridor

Westminster CO rent increase 2026 Westminster, Colorado has no local rent control ordinance. Colorado HB 21-1117 (April 2021) repealed the statewide preemption — Westminster City Council has NOT enacted any ordinance. CRITICAL COUNTY SPLIT: Westminster straddles Adams County (east) and Jefferson County (west). Evictions for east Westminster properties file at Adams County Court (Brighton); west Westminster at Jefferson County Court (Golden). Verify your property’s county before filing. CRS §38-12: no deposit cap; 60-day return (30 days with written demand); 3× willful wrongful withholding + attorney fees. 10-day pay-or-quit (HB 21-1121). Maxar Technologies (1300 W. 120th Ave; space tech, Earth intelligence; ~2,000–3,000 engineers). Lumen Technologies / Level3 (US-36 corridor; global fiber HQ; ~3,000 employees). Westminster Station RTD (downtown Denver ~25–30 min).

Westminster, Colorado — a city of approximately 115,000 spanning both Adams County and Jefferson County — has no local rent control ordinance. Colorado law allows cities to enact rent control since 2021, but Westminster City Council has not done so. Westminster landlords may raise rent freely at lease expiration.

Critical for Westminster landlords: the city straddles the Adams/Jefferson county line. Evictions for east Westminster properties go to Adams County Court in Brighton; west Westminster properties go to Jefferson County Court in Golden. Filing at the wrong courthouse means dismissal and restarting the process. Verify your property’s county before every filing.

Westminster’s tech-and-telecom employment base (Maxar Technologies, Lumen/Level3, the US-36 corridor) generates professional rental demand across both counties, while the Westminster Station RTD provides transit access to Denver that commands a consistent rent premium.

Westminster 2026 rent control status: quick reference

Question Answer
Rent control in Westminster? None. Colorado HB 21-1117 (2021) returned local authority; Westminster has NOT enacted any ordinance.
Annual rent increase cap? No cap. Any amount at renewal or with appropriate notice (month-to-month).
Security deposit cap? No statutory cap. Any agreed amount; market norm 1–2 months’ rent.
Deposit return deadline? 60 days (or 30 days with tenant’s written demand) after tenancy ends (CRS §38-12-103(1)).
Penalty for willful deposit withholding? 3× amount wrongfully withheld + attorney fees (CRS §38-12-103(3)). Willful violations only.
Notice for month-to-month rent increase? 21–28 days written notice best practice (mirrors CRS §13-40-107 termination notice).
Entry notice requirement? 24 hours advance written notice for routine entry (CRS §38-12-1102; HB 19-1118).
Non-payment eviction notice? 10-day Demand for Payment or Possession (CRS §13-40-104; HB 21-1121); genuine cure right.
Eviction court (east Westminster / Adams Co.)? Adams County Court, 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton CO 80601.
Eviction court (west Westminster / Jefferson Co.)? Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401.
Self-help eviction? Prohibited. CRS §38-12-510 — up to $5,000 punitive damages + actual damages + attorney fees.

Colorado rent control law: what Westminster landlords need to know

Colorado’s history with rent control has two distinct chapters. From 1994 to 2021, Colorado Revised Statutes §38-12-301 (enacted via Proposition 10) prohibited any Colorado city or county from enacting rent control. In April 2021, Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 21-1117, repealing §38-12-301 and returning local authority to municipalities.

Since HB 21-1117, no Colorado city has enacted a rent stabilization ordinance. Westminster City Council has not introduced, debated, or passed any rent stabilization ordinance as of 2026. Westminster landlords may raise rent by any amount at lease expiration without cap, registration, or approval.

The Westminster county split: Adams County vs. Jefferson County

Westminster is one of a small number of Colorado cities that physically spans two county lines. The Adams/Jefferson county boundary runs roughly north-south through the middle of Westminster. East Westminster (Federal Blvd corridor, Westminster Station area, 120th Ave/Maxar corridor, Sheridan Blvd east side) is generally in Adams County. West Westminster (Standley Lake, Legacy Ridge, Bradburn Village, Wadsworth Blvd west side, W-470 area) is generally in Jefferson County.

For landlords, the practical consequences are:

  • Adams County evictions: file at Adams County Court, 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton CO 80601 (~18–22 miles northeast of Westminster center).
  • Jefferson County evictions: file at Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401 (~10–12 miles south of Westminster center).
  • Always verify the county before filing by searching the property address on the Adams County Assessor (assessor.adcogov.org) or Jefferson County Property Search. Do not rely on zip codes alone.

Colorado security deposit rules for Westminster landlords

  • No deposit cap. Colorado imposes no statutory maximum security deposit. Westminster market practice is typically 1–2 months’ rent plus pet deposits.
  • Return deadline: 60 days (or 30 days with written demand) (CRS §38-12-103(1)). Best practice: use 30 days as standard.
  • Itemized statement required for any partial return (CRS §38-12-103(2)).
  • Willful wrongful withholding: 3× penalty + attorney’s fees (CRS §38-12-103(3)). Willful violations only.

Major employers and rental demand in Westminster CO

Maxar Technologies — space and Earth intelligence

Maxar Technologies (1300 W. 120th Ave, Westminster CO 80234) is one of the United States’ leading space technology and Earth intelligence companies, specializing in commercial satellite manufacturing, Earth observation imagery (WorldView constellation), and defense and intelligence geospatial analytics. Maxar’s Westminster campus has been a core part of the Colorado aerospace corridor since the facility operated as Space Systems/Loral and later DigitalGlobe (the commercial imagery pioneer; merged with MDA to form Maxar in 2017).

The Westminster campus employs approximately 2,000–3,000 engineers, software developers, geospatial data scientists, satellite operations specialists, and government contract managers. Many positions require DoD Secret or Top Secret clearances, which anchors employees to the Westminster area and creates a stable, long-term professional tenant base. Compensation for clearance-holding engineers at Maxar ranges from $90,000–$200,000+ depending on clearance level and seniority. These employees generate demand in Westminster’s $1,500–$2,400 range.

Lumen Technologies / Level3 Communications

Lumen Technologies (formerly CenturyLink, which merged with Level 3 Communications in 2017) operates a major campus in Broomfield near the Westminster/Broomfield border (US-36 Broomfield corridor; 1025 Eldorado Blvd area). Level 3 was founded in Broomfield in 1998 and built one of the world’s largest fiber optic networks (approximately 400,000 route miles globally). Lumen’s north metro Denver campus employs approximately 2,500–3,500 people in network operations, enterprise technology sales, software engineering, and administrative functions.

Lumen employees (salary range $70,000–$160,000) generate professional rental demand in north Westminster and the Broomfield border areas, particularly in the $1,500–$2,200 range for apartments near US-36 access. The US-36 corridor (Boulder Turnpike) connecting Westminster through Broomfield to Boulder is home to dozens of additional tech and telecom employers (Oracle, Oracle NetSuite, Syniverse, Verizon Business, and others) that collectively employ tens of thousands in the north metro area.

Westminster Station and RTD transit-driven demand

Westminster Station (W. 92nd Ave, Westminster CO 80031) is a commuter rail station on the RTD Northwest Rail corridor, connecting Westminster to downtown Denver Union Station in approximately 25–30 minutes. The station is also served by the US-36 Flatiron Flyer Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which connects Westminster to Boulder in approximately 35–45 minutes.

The Westminster Station transit-oriented development (TOD) has attracted significant new apartment construction since 2015, creating a cluster of newer Class A apartments in the 1BR $1,500–$2,200 range. Westminster Station’s dual connectivity (Denver via rail + Boulder via BRT) makes it appealing to tech workers employed in both markets.

Other Westminster employers

Westminster’s employer base beyond tech and telecom includes: Westminster City Government (~1,200 employees; city hall at 4800 W. 92nd Ave); Adams 12 Five Star Schools (east Westminster school zone; ~6,000 district employees); Jefferson County R-1 Schools (west Westminster zone; large district employer); The Orchard Town Center (major retail/commercial center at 144th/I-25; shared with Thornton; several thousand retail employees); St. Anthony North Health Campus (Centura Health; 14300 Orchard Pkwy, Westminster; ~800–1,200 healthcare employees; Level III Trauma center); UC Health-affiliated providers in the Westminster corridor.

Westminster rental market: neighborhoods and 2026 rent ranges

Neighborhood / Submarket County 1BR 2026 2BR 2026 Primary demand driver
Westminster Station / 92nd Ave RTD Adams $1,500–$2,200 $1,900–$2,700 Transit commuters to Denver + Boulder; new TOD stock
Legacy Ridge (northwest; golf community) Jefferson $1,700–$2,400 $2,200–$3,000 Maxar/tech professionals; upscale SFR dominant
Bradburn Village (west; new urbanist) Jefferson $1,600–$2,300 $2,000–$2,700 Lumen/Level3; tech corridor; walkable
120th Ave / Maxar corridor (central-north) Adams $1,400–$2,000 $1,800–$2,500 Maxar Technologies; aerospace/defense workers
Standley Lake (west; lake community) Jefferson $1,500–$2,100 $2,000–$2,600 Families; Jefferson County schools; lake amenity
Federal Blvd / US-287 corridor (east) Adams $1,200–$1,800 $1,600–$2,200 Service workers; most affordable Westminster submarket

Eviction process in Westminster CO: step-by-step

Colorado’s Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) process applies in Westminster. Always verify the property’s county first — filing at the wrong courthouse results in dismissal and delay.

Non-payment eviction (CRS §13-40-104)

  1. Verify the county. Search the property address on the Adams County or Jefferson County Assessor website.
  2. 10-Day Demand for Payment or Possession: serve written notice stating the exact rent owed and demanding payment or surrender within 10 days. If the tenant pays in full within 10 days, the landlord cannot proceed.
  3. File FED at the correct courthouse:
    • Adams County: 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton CO 80601
    • Jefferson County: 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401
    Filing fee approximately $85–$175.
  4. Summons and hearing: county sheriff serves summons; hearing scheduled within 7–14 business days.
  5. Writ of Restitution: if landlord prevails, writ issued; county sheriff executes lockout (24-hour door posting required).

Total uncontested timeline: approximately 4–6 weeks from end of 10-day notice to lockout.

10 common Westminster landlord mistakes under Colorado CRS

  1. Filing the eviction in the wrong county. Westminster straddles Adams and Jefferson counties. Filing at Adams County Court for a Jefferson County property (or vice versa) causes immediate dismissal. Always verify the county on the assessor website.
  2. Using the pre-2021 3-day notice. Colorado extended the non-payment notice to 10 days in 2021 (HB 21-1121). A 3-day or 5-day notice is invalid.
  3. Missing the 30-day written demand deadline. If the tenant sends a written demand for return of the deposit, the deadline is 30 days, not 60. Missing it triggers the 3× willful withholding penalty.
  4. Omitting the itemized statement on partial returns. CRS §38-12-103(2): without a written itemized statement, any withheld amount is treated as wrongfully withheld.
  5. Deducting for normal wear and tear. Minor scuffs, carpet wear from normal use, and faded paint are not deductible. Only actual damage beyond normal use is fair game.
  6. Entering without 24-hour written notice. CRS §38-12-1102 requires 24 hours’ advance written notice before routine entry. Repeated violations can constitute harassment.
  7. Misidentifying the applicable school district for family tenants. East Westminster uses Adams 12 Five Star Schools; west Westminster generally uses Jefferson County R-1. Families researching schools care about this; accurate information in listings builds trust.
  8. Overstating rent in the 10-day notice. The CRS §13-40-104 notice must state the exact rent owed, not late fees or other charges (or if included, they must be clearly separated from rent).
  9. Ignoring Maxar/Lumen employee relocation patterns. Aerospace and tech employees receiving new clearances or post-merger layoffs/transitions sometimes need flexible lease terms. Month-to-month or 6-month options often command a $100–$200/month premium over standard 12-month terms for professional Westminster tenants.
  10. Self-help eviction. CRS §38-12-510: changing locks, removing tenant property, or shutting utilities without a court Writ of Restitution exposes the landlord to up to $5,000 in punitive damages plus actual damages and attorney fees. File the FED.

Frequently asked questions: Westminster CO rent increase 2026

Does Westminster CO have rent control in 2026?

No. Westminster has no local rent control ordinance. Colorado HB 21-1117 (April 2021) returned local authority to cities but Westminster has not used that authority. See the Colorado rent control preemption history.

Which county is my Westminster CO rental in?

Westminster straddles the Adams/Jefferson county line. East Westminster is generally Adams County; west Westminster is generally Jefferson County. Verify parcel-level county on the Adams County Assessor or Jefferson County property search. Do not rely on zip codes.

What court handles Westminster CO evictions?

Adams County Westminster: Adams County Court, 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton CO 80601.
Jefferson County Westminster: Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401. Always verify the county before filing.

What is the security deposit rule for Westminster CO rentals?

No statutory cap. Must return within 60 days (or 30 days with written demand) per CRS §38-12-103(1). Willful wrongful withholding triggers 3× penalty + attorney fees (CRS §38-12-103(3)). Written itemized statement required for partial returns.

How does Westminster compare to Englewood and Centennial for landlords?

All operate under the same Colorado CRS framework. Westminster (~115,000 pop) has the notable county split complexity and anchors on tech/telecom (Maxar, Lumen/Level3). Englewood (~35,000) is transit-rich (S Line) with healthcare anchors. Centennial (~115,000) has DTC-adjacency and Arrow Electronics/Raytheon. See Englewood CO and Centennial CO guides.

Does Westminster have any tenant protection laws beyond CRS §38-12?

No. Westminster has not enacted any local tenant protection ordinances. No just-cause eviction requirement, no relocation assistance mandate, no rent registry, no local habitability standard beyond CRS and state building codes.

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