Firestone CO rent increase 2026 Firestone, Colorado has no local rent control in 2026. Firestone is an incorporated municipality (Town of Firestone) in Weld County — which means evictions are filed at the Weld County Courts, 901 9th Ave, Greeley CO 80631, approximately 30–35 miles northeast via I-25 north to CO-119 east. As a municipality, Firestone could enact rent control under Colorado HB 21-1117 (2021) but has not done so. Population ~15,000–17,000, growing from ~1,600 in 2000 (∼900% in 24 years — one of Colorado’s fastest-growing towns). Unique to Firestone: the April 2017 Anadarko pipeline explosion at 6312 Twilight Ave (2 killed) directly catalyzed Colorado SB 181 (2019), restructuring the COGCC and establishing new oil/gas setbacks. Weld County’s thousands of legacy oil/gas wells near residential development create a landlord disclosure consideration present in no other Colorado city on this site. SVVSD (St. Vrain Valley School District; Frederick HS). Bedroom community: Ball Aerospace/BAE Systems (Broomfield, ~25 mi); Seagate Technology (Longmont, ~10 mi); UCHealth Longmont (~8 mi). 10-day pay-or-quit (HB 21-1121). 60-day deposit return; 3× willful penalty.

Colorado HB 21-1117 and Firestone: no rent control, but not immune

Colorado HB 21-1117 (April 2021) repealed the 1994 statewide rent control preemption, restoring authority to enact rent stabilization to Colorado municipalities. Firestone is an incorporated municipality — the Town of Firestone — with a governing board (Firestone Board of Trustees) authorized to enact local ordinances including rent regulation.

This means Firestone is legally capable of enacting rent control — it simply has not done so. The Firestone Board of Trustees has not introduced any rent stabilization or rent control ordinance as of 2026. Firestone’s fast-growing SFR market, small population, and conservative Weld County political context make rent control unlikely in the near term, but it is not legally foreclosed the way it would be for an unincorporated community.

The bottom line: Firestone landlords operate under Colorado state law only — no cap, no formula, no notice requirement for the amount of increase (only for the timing of notice before lease termination). Any amount increase is permitted at lease expiration.

Firestone is in Weld County: courthouse is in Greeley, 30–35 miles away

Firestone is located entirely within Weld County, Colorado. Weld County is one of the largest counties in the United States by land area and one of the most productive oil and gas counties in the nation. For landlords, the key practical implication is that all Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) eviction cases from Firestone are filed at:

Weld County Courts, 901 9th Ave, Greeley CO 80631.

Greeley is approximately 30–35 miles northeast of Firestone. The most common routes are:

• I-25 north to CO-119 east: from the Firestone/Frederick I-25 exit (Exit 240), north on I-25 to the CO-119 junction near Longmont, then CO-119 east through Longmont to Greeley. Approximately 32–35 miles; 35–45 minutes off-peak.
• I-25 north to US-34 east: north on I-25 to the Loveland/Greeley US-34 interchange, then US-34 east to Greeley. Approximately 35 miles; 40–50 minutes off-peak.

This is a meaningful difference from landlords in the Denver metro (Denver County courthouse is in downtown Denver; Adams County courthouse is in Brighton). Firestone landlords should budget for court travel time and consider whether early-resolution payment arrangements before filing are worth pursuing to avoid the Greeley trip.

Colorado security deposit rules for Firestone landlords

• No deposit cap. Colorado law imposes no maximum security deposit. Firestone SFR and townhome market practice: 1–2 months’ rent is standard.
• Return deadline: 60 days (or 30 days with written demand) after tenancy ends (CRS §38-12-103(1)). Adopt 30 days as your operating standard.
• Itemized statement required for any partial return; each deduction listed by item and dollar amount (CRS §38-12-103(2)).
• Willful wrongful withholding: 3× penalty + attorney’s fees (CRS §38-12-103(3)). On a $2,200 Firestone SFR deposit (representing one month’s rent on a $2,200/month 3BR): wrongful withholding penalty = $6,600 + attorney fees.

The 2017 Firestone explosion and Colorado SB 181 (2019): oil/gas compliance for Firestone landlords

What happened on April 17, 2017

On April 17, 2017, a natural gas pipeline owned by Anadarko Petroleum leaked beneath a single-family home at 6312 Twilight Ave, Firestone CO 80504. The leak ignited. The resulting explosion and fire killed Mark Martinez, age 35, and Joey Irwin, age 25, and injured a third person. The pipeline had been installed decades earlier, running directly under the home’s basement, connecting a nearby oil and gas well to a gathering system. Neither the homeowners nor Anadarko Petroleum had disclosed the pipeline’s proximity to the occupants of the home.

The event triggered a state-ordered inspection shutdown of approximately 3,000 oil and gas wells in Colorado for safety review. Anadarko alone shut approximately 900 wells. The state investigation ultimately led to a $17 million settlement between Anadarko and the Colorado Attorney General, including requirements to purge old gathering lines connected to producing wells.

More significantly for the long-term regulatory landscape, the 2017 Firestone explosion directly catalyzed Colorado Senate Bill 181 (2019).

Colorado SB 181 (2019): restructuring the COGCC

Colorado Senate Bill 181, signed by Governor Jared Polis in April 2019, restructured the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in two fundamental ways:

1. Mission change. The COGCC’s prior statutory mission was to “foster and encourage” oil and gas development while protecting public health and the environment. SB 181 amended CRS §34-60-102 to make the protection of “public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and wildlife resources” the primary mission, with development as a secondary consideration.
2. Local government authority. SB 181 expressly authorized local governments (counties and municipalities, including the Town of Firestone) to regulate oil and gas surface operations within their jurisdictions — a significant expansion of local control that had previously been preempted by state law.

SB 181 also set the stage for the 2020 COGCC rulemaking that established a 2,000-foot setback requirement for new oil and gas development from occupied structures, including residences, and from schools (CRS §34-60-132 as amended).

Critical limitation for existing properties: The 2,000-foot setback applies to new oil and gas development permits issued after 2020. It does not require the abandonment or relocation of existing wells installed before the rule took effect. Weld County has thousands of legacy oil and gas wells that predate the 2020 setback rules by decades. Many of these wells are in close proximity to residential neighborhoods in Firestone, Frederick, and other Carbon Valley communities.

What this means for Firestone landlords: the disclosure question

Colorado does not have a specific residential rental disclosure statute requiring landlords to identify and disclose proximity to oil and gas wells. However, two legal principles may create disclosure duties for Firestone landlords with properties near oil and gas infrastructure:

1. Colorado CRS §38-12-501 (warranty of habitability). Colorado’s statutory warranty of habitability requires that a landlord maintain a rental property in a condition fit for human habitation. A rental property with a known gathering pipeline running under the foundation — a condition directly analogous to the 2017 Firestone event — may implicate habitability if the landlord is aware of the infrastructure and does not disclose it.
2. Common-law duty to disclose latent defects. Colorado common law imposes a duty on sellers and landlords to disclose known latent defects — conditions that are not visible upon reasonable inspection but that the landlord knows exist. A buried gathering pipeline, an abandoned well with compromised casing, or a plugged-and-abandoned (P&A) well with unknown sealing integrity may qualify as a latent defect if the landlord has actual or constructive knowledge of its existence.

These are not rent control issues. They are general landlord compliance issues that are uniquely prominent in Firestone because of the density of Weld County oil and gas infrastructure and the historical precedent of the 2017 explosion.

Practical steps for Firestone landlords

1. Check the COGCC mapping tool. Visit cogcc.state.co.us and use the GIS mapping tool to identify all active wells, shut-in wells, and plugged-and-abandoned (P&A) wells on or adjacent to your rental parcel. Note the API number, operator, status, and spud date for any wells within 1,000 feet.
2. Check for gathering pipelines. Surface-level wellhead infrastructure is visible, but gathering pipelines are buried. Request pipeline location information from the operator and check with the Colorado 811 “Call Before You Dig” service for any utility or pipeline locates associated with the parcel.
3. Consider a disclosure addendum. For properties within 1,000 feet of an active or P&A well, consider including a lease addendum that identifies the well by API number and location, describes the known status, and acknowledges that the tenant has been informed of the proximity. This does not guarantee legal protection but creates a documented record.
4. Consult counsel. For properties with visible wellhead infrastructure on or immediately adjacent to the parcel, consult a Colorado real estate or landlord-tenant attorney before executing a lease. The 2017 Firestone explosion made Colorado courts acutely aware of the consequences of undisclosed oil and gas infrastructure.

Major employers and rental demand in Firestone CO

Firestone is a bedroom community. There is no dominant local employer within Firestone itself. Rental demand is almost entirely driven by workers who commute to employment centers in adjacent communities: Longmont to the west (~8–10 miles), the Boulder/Broomfield tech corridor to the south (~25–30 miles via I-25), Denver to the south (~35 miles via I-25), and Weld County oil and gas field operations to the north and east.

Ball Aerospace / BAE Systems Space (Broomfield)

Ball Aerospace (acquired by BAE Systems in 2024 and operating as BAE Systems Space) is headquartered at 1600 Commerce St, Broomfield CO 80021. The Broomfield campus employs approximately 5,000+ aerospace engineers, systems engineers, software developers, technicians, and program managers who design and manufacture spacecraft, optical systems, and satellite components for the U.S. military, NASA, and commercial customers. Broomfield is approximately 25 miles south of Firestone via I-25. BAE Systems Space employees who want more square footage, newer construction, and more affordable pricing than the Boulder or Broomfield rental market are a primary source of Firestone SFR rental demand. Salaries range from $70,000–$200,000+, supporting Firestone’s $1,800–$2,400/month 3BR SFR price point.

Vail Resorts corporate headquarters (Broomfield)

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) is headquartered at 390 Interlocken Crescent, Broomfield CO 80021. The Broomfield corporate campus employs approximately 1,200 corporate employees in finance, marketing, technology, legal, and HR roles. Broomfield is approximately 25–27 miles south of Firestone via I-25. Vail Resorts corporate employees — particularly those with families seeking larger homes in a good school district — may find Firestone’s SVVSD schools and SFR inventory attractive relative to Broomfield’s higher-priced housing market.

Seagate Technology (Longmont campus)

Seagate Technology operates a major manufacturing and engineering campus in Longmont, approximately 8–10 miles west of Firestone. The Longmont campus employs approximately 3,000 workers in hard drive manufacturing, data storage engineering, and related technology roles. Seagate Longmont is one of the largest private employers in the Longmont area. Firestone’s location just east of Longmont — a short drive on CO-119 or CO-52 — makes it a natural bedroom community for Seagate employees who prefer newer SFR or townhome inventory over Longmont’s older housing stock.

UCHealth Longmont United Hospital (Longmont)

UCHealth Longmont United Hospital (1950 Mountain View Ave, Longmont CO 80501) is the primary acute care hospital for the Longmont-Firestone-Frederick region. The facility employs approximately 1,800+ employees including physicians, registered nurses, surgical technologists, therapists, and administrative staff. Healthcare workers employed at UCHealth Longmont who choose to live in Firestone benefit from the short commute (approximately 10–15 minutes via CO-119 west) and the SVVSD school premium for family households.

Weld County oil and gas field operations

Weld County produces approximately 90% of Colorado’s oil and natural gas. The county’s extensive oil and gas infrastructure employs a significant workforce of drillers, completion engineers, production technicians, pipeline workers, environmental compliance staff, and field service contractors. Companies including Civitas Resources (formerly Bonanza Creek / HighPoint / Extraction Oil & Gas), SRC Energy (now Civitas), and various oilfield services firms operate wells throughout Weld County. Some portion of this workforce lives in Firestone and commutes to well sites, compressor stations, and field offices in northern Weld County.

Employer summary table

Firestone rental market: neighborhoods and 2026 rent ranges

Firestone’s rental inventory is dominated by investor-owned single-family residences (SFR) and townhomes. Dedicated apartment complexes are extremely limited; most renters in Firestone are in homes or attached townhome units. This SFR-heavy inventory profile means vacancies are individual-unit events rather than complex-wide events, and rent pricing is set owner by owner rather than by a professional property management company.

The Firestone-Frederick market is functionally unified: Firestone and Frederick CO (~13,000 population) are adjacent municipalities with a continuous built environment often marketed together as “Carbon Valley.” The local rental market does not respect the municipal boundary, and a Firestone SFR just south of the Frederick town line competes for the same tenants as a Frederick SFR just north of it. Landlords should price against the entire Carbon Valley submarket, not just Firestone-address listings.

Eviction process in Firestone CO: step-by-step

Step 1: Serve 10-Day Demand for Payment or Possession

CRS §13-40-104(d) (as amended by HB 21-1121): for non-payment of rent, serve written notice stating the exact amount of rent owed and demanding payment or possession within 10 days. If the tenant pays the full stated amount within 10 days, the landlord cannot proceed to file for eviction. Include only past-due base rent in the demand notice — not late fees, utilities, or other charges — as overstatement of the amount owed can render the notice legally defective and require the landlord to restart the process.

Step 2: File FED complaint at Weld County Courts in Greeley

Weld County Courts, 901 9th Ave, Greeley CO 80631. Firestone is entirely within Weld County. This courthouse is approximately 30–35 miles northeast of Firestone. Filing fee approximately $85–$175. Plan for travel time: the Greeley courthouse is a separate city, not a local filing destination.

Step 3: Weld County Sheriff serves summons; hearing scheduled

The Weld County Sheriff serves the summons on the tenant. Hearing typically scheduled within 7–14 business days of filing. Firestone landlords may appear in person or, where permitted, by attorney.

Step 4: Writ of Restitution and lockout

Upon judgment for the landlord, the court issues a Writ of Restitution. The Weld County Sheriff posts the 24-hour notice and executes the lockout. Total uncontested timeline from 10-day notice service to lockout: approximately 4–7 weeks.

10 common Firestone landlord mistakes under Colorado CRS

1. Failing to check the COGCC mapping tool before renting. Firestone is in Weld County — Colorado’s most oil-and-gas-dense county. The 2017 Anadarko pipeline explosion established that undisclosed oil and gas infrastructure near a residence can be fatal and can expose prior and current property owners to liability. Before executing a lease on any Firestone property, verify parcel proximity to active wells, shut-in wells, and plugged-and-abandoned wells using the COGCC GIS map at cogcc.state.co.us. This is the single most Firestone-specific compliance action available to a landlord and has no equivalent in any other Colorado city on this site.
2. Using the old 3-day eviction notice. Colorado HB 21-1121 (2021) extended the non-payment notice period to 10 days. A 3-day notice served in 2026 is legally defective. The FED case will be dismissed. The landlord must re-serve a proper 10-day notice and restart the timeline, adding 10–14 days to the process.
3. Not knowing the courthouse is in Greeley, not Firestone. Firestone has no local courthouse. All FED eviction cases are filed at the Weld County Courts, 901 9th Ave, Greeley CO 80631 — approximately 30–35 miles northeast. First-time Firestone landlords sometimes assume the filing venue is in a nearby Adams County or Boulder County court. It is not. It is in Greeley.
4. Missing the 30-day deposit return deadline after written demand. If a Firestone tenant sends a written demand for return of the security deposit, the 60-day standard deadline collapses to 30 days. Use 30 days as the internal standard always. On a $2,200 deposit, willful wrongful withholding = $6,600 + attorney fees (CRS §38-12-103(3)).
5. Not itemizing the deposit deduction statement. CRS §38-12-103(2): every deduction must be itemized by item and dollar amount. A vague entry (“repairs and cleaning: $600”) may not satisfy the statute. Document each repair item with a receipt or cost estimate; list each item separately.
6. Entering the unit without 24-hour written advance notice. CRS §38-12-1102 (HB 19-1118): 24 hours’ advance written notice required for routine entry for repairs, inspections, or showings. A text message sent the night before that the tenant never saw does not satisfy the written notice requirement. Email with a read receipt or hand-delivered written notice is the defensible standard.
7. Self-help eviction: lock changes, utility shutoffs, removal of belongings. CRS §38-12-510: $5,000 punitive damages + actual damages + attorney fees. In Firestone, the FED timeline from filing to lockout is 4–7 weeks. Self-help shortcuts are not worth the statutory penalty exposure.
8. Treating the Firestone and Frederick markets as separate. Firestone and Frederick CO are functionally continuous communities. Tenants searching for Firestone rentals also search Frederick, and vice versa. Landlords who price only against Firestone-address comparables may miss competitive signals from the broader Carbon Valley submarket and over- or underprice their unit as a result.
9. Not documenting the SVVSD school zone premium. Firestone is entirely in St. Vrain Valley School District, one of Colorado’s highest-rated districts. Rental properties in the Frederick HS feeder zone command a measurable premium over equivalent units outside high-rated SVVSD feeder areas. Listing without school assignment information misses a primary decision factor for family tenants and may leave $100–$200/month on the table.
10. Anchoring rent pricing to I-25 corridor townhome comparables for older Central Firestone stock. Firestone’s rental inventory spans a wide vintage range. Newer post-2015 townhomes near the I-25/CO-119 interchange command $1,500–$2,100 for 2BR. Pre-2010 SFR in Central Firestone are a distinct product at $1,100–$1,500 for 2BR. Using newer-construction townhome comparables to price older SFR will result in extended vacancy. Price against same-vintage, same-type properties in the Carbon Valley submarket.

Frequently asked questions: Firestone CO rent increase 2026

Does Firestone CO have rent control in 2026?

No. Firestone has no local rent control ordinance. As a municipality, it could enact one under HB 21-1117 but has not. All rent increases are uncapped and unrestricted under state law.

What court handles Firestone CO evictions?

Weld County Courts, 901 9th Ave, Greeley CO 80631. Firestone is entirely within Weld County. The courthouse is approximately 30–35 miles northeast of Firestone via I-25/CO-119.

What was the 2017 Firestone explosion and what does it mean for landlords?

On April 17, 2017, an Anadarko Petroleum gathering pipeline running beneath a home at 6312 Twilight Ave, Firestone CO leaked and ignited, killing two people. The event directly catalyzed Colorado SB 181 (2019). For Firestone landlords: Weld County has thousands of legacy oil/gas wells near residences. Check the COGCC mapping tool (cogcc.state.co.us) for wells on or adjacent to your parcel before executing a lease. Consider a disclosure addendum for properties within 1,000 feet of any well.

What is Colorado SB 181 (2019) and how does it affect Firestone landlords?

SB 181 restructured the COGCC to prioritize public health and safety over oil and gas development, gave local governments authority to regulate surface operations, and set the stage for the 2020 COGCC rulemaking establishing 2,000-foot setbacks for new development from occupied structures. The setbacks apply only to new permits — not to existing legacy wells. Firestone rental properties near legacy wells predate these protections. The CRS §38-12-501 habitability warranty and common-law latent defect duty may require disclosure of known well or pipeline proximity.

How much can a Firestone landlord raise rent in 2026?

Any amount at lease expiration. No cap, no formula, no approval required under Colorado state law or Firestone Town ordinance.

What school district serves Firestone CO?

St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J (SVVSD). The serving high school is Frederick High School (1000 Denver Ave, Frederick CO 80530), approximately 2–3 miles north of Firestone. Carbon Valley Academy (charter school) also serves the area. SVVSD consistently ranks among Colorado’s top districts.

What are 2026 Firestone rent ranges?

Central Firestone (older stock): 1BR $950–$1,400; 2BR $1,200–$1,700. Near-I-25 corridor (new townhomes): 2BR $1,500–$2,100; 3BR $1,800–$2,400. SFR 3BR: $1,700–$2,400. SFR 4BR+ (post-2015): $2,100–$3,000. Older pre-2010 stock: 1BR $850–$1,200; 2BR $1,100–$1,500.

What is Firestone’s security deposit rule?

No deposit cap. Return within 60 days (or 30 days with tenant written demand) after tenancy ends (CRS §38-12-103(1)). Itemized statement required for any deduction. Willful wrongful withholding: 3× + attorney fees (CRS §38-12-103(3)).

Firestone CO in the Colorado Front Range rental context

Firestone sits at the northern edge of the I-25 Front Range corridor, distinct from the Denver metro in county jurisdiction (Weld, not Adams or Denver), school district (SVVSD, not Adams 12 or Cherry Creek), and physical character (predominantly SFR and townhomes; very limited apartment inventory). Understanding these distinctions is essential for landlords who may own properties in multiple Front Range communities.

Compared to Greeley (the Weld County seat, ~30–35 miles northeast): Firestone’s I-25 access and SVVSD school premium support higher rents per square foot than comparable Greeley inventory despite the longer commute to Denver. A 3BR SFR in Firestone commands $1,700–$2,400; a comparable 3BR SFR in Greeley may rent for $1,400–$1,900, reflecting the I-25/SVVSD premium.

Compared to Longmont (~8–10 miles west): Firestone is newer, with more post-2010 SFR and townhome inventory and less of the apartment stock that characterizes central Longmont. Firestone SFR rents are roughly comparable to or slightly below equivalent Longmont SFR, with the I-25 corridor providing faster access to Denver-direction commuters.

Firestone landlords with questions about Weld County-wide context may also consult the Greeley CO rent guide for the Weld County seat’s specific eviction procedures, rent ranges, and employer profile. For a broader Colorado picture, the Colorado cities hub covers the major Front Range municipalities.