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Littleton, CO · Arapahoe + Jefferson County Split · Population ~48,000 · No Local Rent Control (HB 21-1117 2021; Littleton Has NOT Enacted Ordinance) · COUNTY SEAT OF ARAPAHOE COUNTY (but courthouse is in Centennial) · Lockheed Martin Space ~5,000+ Employees · Littleton Adventist Hospital Centura Health · RTD C Line: Littleton/Mineral + Littleton/Downtown · 10-Day Non-Payment Notice · 60-Day Deposit Return 3× Willful

Littleton CO rent increase 2026 Littleton, Colorado has no local rent control ordinance. Colorado HB 21-1117 (April 2021) repealed the statewide rent control preemption (CRS §38-12-301 from 1994) — but Littleton City Council has NOT enacted any local rent regulation. CRITICAL COUNTY SPLIT: Littleton straddles Arapahoe County (east/central) and Jefferson County (west). Arapahoe County properties → Arapahoe County Court, 7325 S. Potomac St, Centennial CO 80112. Jefferson County properties → Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401. Wrong courthouse = case dismissed. Although Littleton is the administrative county seat of Arapahoe County, the courthouse is physically in Centennial. Lockheed Martin Space (south Jefferson County campus; ~5,000+ employees; satellite systems, GPS III). Littleton Adventist Hospital (Centura Health; ~1,500+ employees). RTD C Line: Littleton/Mineral Station and Littleton/Downtown Station. CRS §38-12: no deposit cap; 60-day return (30 days with written demand); 3× willful wrongful withholding + attorney fees. 10-day non-payment notice (CRS §13-40-104; HB 21-1121).

Littleton, Colorado — the Arapahoe County seat and one of the oldest incorporated cities in metro Denver (~1890), home to Lockheed Martin Space’s major aerospace campus, the Littleton Adventist Hospital, and the RTD C Line light rail corridor — has no local rent control ordinance. Littleton landlords may raise rent freely at lease expiration.

The single most important fact for Littleton landlords: Littleton straddles Arapahoe County and Jefferson County. Filing an eviction in the wrong county court will result in dismissal. Verify your parcel’s county on the assessor website before filing — every time.

Littleton landlords operate under Colorado state landlord-tenant law (CRS Chapter 38-12): no deposit cap, 60-day return deadline (or 30 days with written demand), and a significant 3× penalty for willful wrongful withholding.

Littleton 2026 rent control status: quick reference

Question Answer
Rent control in Littleton? None. Colorado HB 21-1117 (2021) returned local authority; Littleton has NOT enacted any ordinance.
Annual rent increase cap? No cap. Any amount at renewal or with appropriate written notice for month-to-month.
Security deposit cap? No statutory cap. Any agreed amount; market norm is 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.
Non-payment eviction notice? 10-day Demand for Payment or Possession (CRS §13-40-104; HB 21-1121); genuine cure right.
Eviction court — Arapahoe County properties? Arapahoe County Court, 7325 S. Potomac St, Centennial CO 80112 (NOT in Littleton city limits).
Eviction court — Jefferson County properties? Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401 (~20 miles northwest).
How to identify which county? Search Arapahoe County Assessor (arapahoe.co.us) or Jefferson County Assessor (jeffco.us) by address.
Just-cause eviction required? No. Colorado has no statewide just-cause requirement for non-renewal.
Entry notice requirement? 24 hours advance written notice for routine entry (CRS §38-12-1102; HB 19-1118).
Self-help eviction? Prohibited. CRS §38-12-510 — up to $5,000 punitive damages + actual damages + attorney fees.

Colorado rent control law: what Littleton landlords need to know

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

Despite this change, no Colorado city or county has enacted a rent stabilization ordinance since HB 21-1117. Littleton City Council has not enacted any local rent ordinance, and neither Arapahoe County nor Jefferson County has enacted any county-level rent regulation. Littleton landlords may raise rent by any amount at lease expiration without cap, approval, or registration.

The Arapahoe / Jefferson County split: Littleton’s most important landlord fact

Littleton is one of a small number of Denver metro cities that straddles two counties. The Arapahoe/Jefferson County line runs roughly north-south through western Littleton, generally following the South Platte River watershed. East and central Littleton — including downtown Littleton, the S. Broadway corridor, and most residential neighborhoods near Main Street — are in Arapahoe County. West Littleton — including neighborhoods near Chatfield State Park, the Lockheed Martin campus area, and properties approaching Ken Caryl Ranch — falls in Jefferson County.

This county split has direct legal consequences:

  • Eviction (FED) filings: Arapahoe County properties → Arapahoe County Court, 7325 S. Potomac St, Centennial CO 80112. Jefferson County properties → Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401. Filing in the wrong court = dismissal for improper venue.
  • Security deposit disputes: Small claims and deposit disputes follow the same rule. Arapahoe County small claims (up to $7,500): Arapahoe County Court. Jefferson County small claims: Jefferson County Combined Court.
  • Landlord-tenant notices: The underlying Colorado CRS framework is identical regardless of county, so notices (10-day demand, 10-day cure notice, etc.) are the same. Only the courthouse changes.

County Seat Note: Although Littleton is technically the administrative seat of Arapahoe County, the Arapahoe County Court (the actual courthouse where you file evictions) is located at 7325 S. Potomac St in Centennial — not within Littleton city limits. Do not assume that being the county seat means the courthouse is in Littleton.

Colorado security deposit rules for Littleton landlords

  • No deposit cap. Colorado imposes no statutory maximum. Littleton market practice is typically 1–2 months’ rent.
  • Return deadline: 60 days (or 30 days with written demand) (CRS §38-12-103(1)). Use 30 days as standard operating practice.
  • 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)).

Major employers and rental demand in Littleton CO

Lockheed Martin Space — aerospace and defense anchor

Lockheed Martin Space (a division of Lockheed Martin Corporation) operates a major campus in the south Littleton / south Jefferson County area near Waterton Canyon and the S. Wadsworth Blvd corridor. The facility employs approximately 5,000–6,000 aerospace engineers, systems integrators, software developers, and program managers working on satellite propulsion systems, GPS III satellite manufacturing, Orion crew capsule components, and classified defense space programs.

Lockheed Martin Space is among the largest single aerospace employers in the entire south Denver metropolitan area, generating substantial professional rental demand in west Littleton, Ken Caryl, and the Chatfield corridor. Many positions require active DoD Secret or Top Secret / SCI clearances, geographically anchoring the workforce in the south Jefferson County area for multi-year contract cycles. Aerospace engineers earn $85,000–$180,000; senior engineers and program managers $150,000–$280,000+.

Because the Lockheed campus falls in Jefferson County, employees renting in west Littleton also generate Jefferson County eviction court jurisdiction — meaning their landlords file at Golden, not Centennial.

Littleton Adventist Hospital / Centura Health

Littleton Adventist Hospital (7700 S. Broadway, Littleton CO 80122) is a Centura Health acute-care facility on the Arapahoe County side of Littleton. The hospital operates approximately 170 licensed beds and employs roughly 1,500–2,000 people including physicians, registered nurses, allied health professionals, and administrative staff. Healthcare workers at Littleton Adventist earn $45,000–$180,000+ depending on specialty, generating strong rental demand in the $1,200–$2,000 range in nearby Arapahoe County neighborhoods. Centura Health also operates a network of outpatient clinics and specialty offices throughout the Arapahoe County portion of Littleton.

Littleton Public Schools (LPS)

Littleton Public Schools is the public school district serving the Arapahoe County portion of Littleton. LPS employs approximately 2,000+ certified teachers and classified staff across multiple campuses, making it one of the larger public-sector employers in Arapahoe County Littleton. LPS has a strong regional reputation, and proximity to LPS-served schools commands a modest rental premium ($75–$200/month) over equivalent units in Jefferson County R-1 (Jeffco) feeder zones on the west side of Littleton. LPS serves: Littleton High School, Heritage High School, Arapahoe High School (shared with Centennial), and feeder middle and elementary schools.

Jefferson County R-1 (Jeffco) schools — west Littleton side

The Jefferson County portion of Littleton is served by Jefferson County School District R-1 (Jeffco), one of the largest school districts in Colorado. Jeffco serves west Littleton neighborhoods with Columbine High School feeder zone area (Columbine HS is technically in unincorporated Jefferson County adjacent to west Littleton), and various elementary schools. Jeffco schools are well-regarded, and the Columbine HS feeder zone (post-1999 rebuilding and rebranding) retains a suburban family residential appeal.

Employer summary table

Employer Location County Employees (est.) Industry
Lockheed Martin Space S. Wadsworth / Waterton Canyon area Jefferson 5,000–6,000 Aerospace / Defense
Littleton Adventist Hospital (Centura) 7700 S. Broadway Arapahoe 1,500–2,000 Healthcare
Littleton Public Schools (LPS) Multiple Arapahoe County campuses Arapahoe 2,000+ Education / Public sector
Jefferson County R-1 (Jeffco) — west Littleton West Littleton schools Jefferson ~500 local staff Education / Public sector
City of Littleton 2255 W. Berry Ave (City Hall) Arapahoe ~700 Municipal government
South Suburban Parks & Recreation Multiple facilities, Arapahoe County Arapahoe ~400+ Public parks / Recreation
Centura Health outpatient clinics S. Broadway corridor Arapahoe ~300+ Healthcare outpatient
Santa Fe Drive retail/commercial corridor US-85 Santa Fe Dr Both ~1,000 total Retail / Commercial

Littleton rental market: neighborhoods and 2026 rent ranges

Neighborhood / Submarket County 1BR 2026 2BR 2026 Primary demand driver
Downtown Littleton / Main St historic core Arapahoe $1,200–$1,800 $1,600–$2,400 RTD C Line; historic walkability; restaurants/retail
Mineral Ave / Santa Fe Dr corridor (RTD station area) Arapahoe $1,400–$2,000 $1,800–$2,600 Littleton/Mineral RTD station; transit-oriented demand
S. Broadway corridor / Littleton Adventist Hospital area Arapahoe $1,300–$1,900 $1,700–$2,400 Hospital healthcare workers; LPS schools; established residential
West Littleton / Lockheed Martin campus area Jefferson $1,100–$1,700 $1,600–$2,400 LM Space engineers; Chatfield State Park adjacency; SFR dominant
Chatfield / Waterton Canyon area (unincorporated) Jefferson $1,000–$1,500 $1,600–$2,200 Aerospace workers; outdoor lifestyle; Chatfield Reservoir proximity
Littleton east / Arapahoe County established residential Arapahoe $1,200–$1,700 $1,600–$2,200 LPS school zone; quiet suburban; value-oriented families
SFR 3BR (Arapahoe County Littleton) Arapahoe — — 3BR $1,800–$2,800; school zone premium applies
SFR 3BR (Jefferson County Littleton) Jefferson — — 3BR $2,000–$3,200; aerospace workforce demand near LM campus

Eviction process in Littleton CO: step-by-step

Step 1: Identify your property’s county

Before serving any eviction notice, confirm whether your Littleton property is in Arapahoe County or Jefferson County. Use the Arapahoe County Assessor (arapahoe.co.us) or Jefferson County Assessor (jeffco.us) GIS portal. This single step prevents the most expensive Littleton landlord mistake: filing in the wrong court.

Step 2: Serve the 10-Day Demand for Payment or Possession

Colorado HB 21-1121 (CRS §13-40-104(d)): serve written notice stating the exact amount of rent owed and demanding payment or possession within 10 days. If the tenant pays all past-due rent within 10 days, the landlord cannot proceed. Include only past-due rent, not late fees, to avoid notice defects.

Step 3: File FED complaint at the correct court

  • Arapahoe County properties: Arapahoe County Court, 7325 S. Potomac St, Centennial CO 80112. Filing fee approximately $85–$175.
  • Jefferson County properties: Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401. Filing fee approximately $85–$175.

Step 4: Sheriff serves summons; hearing scheduled

The county sheriff serves summons on the tenant; hearing is typically scheduled within 7–14 business days.

Step 5: Writ of Restitution and lockout

If the landlord prevails, the court issues a Writ of Restitution. The county sheriff (Arapahoe County Sheriff or Jefferson County Sheriff, depending on property location) executes the lockout with 24-hour door posting. Total uncontested timeline: approximately 4–6 weeks.

Self-help eviction prohibition

CRS §38-12-510 prohibits changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting utilities without a court Writ of Restitution. Up to $5,000 punitive damages + actual damages + attorney fees.

10 common Littleton landlord mistakes under Colorado CRS

  1. Filing in the wrong county court. This is Littleton’s single most common and costly landlord error. Verify Arapahoe vs. Jefferson County before every filing. A wrong-county FED gets dismissed, costing weeks and refiling fees.
  2. Using the old 3-day eviction notice. Colorado extended the non-payment notice to 10 days (HB 21-1121, 2021). A 3-day notice is legally invalid and will fail in court.
  3. Missing the 30-day deposit return deadline after written demand. If the tenant makes a written demand for deposit return, the deadline drops to 30 days. Missing this shorter deadline triggers the 3× willful penalty.
  4. Omitting the itemized statement from the deposit return. Any partial return without a written itemized statement is treated as wrongful withholding under CRS §38-12-103(2).
  5. Assuming Littleton city limits = Arapahoe County. West Littleton is Jefferson County regardless of Littleton city limits. Verify on the assessor website, not the city map.
  6. Assuming the county seat courthouse is in Littleton. Littleton is Arapahoe County’s administrative seat, but the Arapahoe County Court is at 7325 S. Potomac St in Centennial, not in Littleton.
  7. Not knowing SCRA for Lockheed Martin / defense employees. Many west Littleton tenants work at Lockheed Martin Space and hold DoD clearances. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) applies if any tenant is on active military duty or transitions to active duty — requiring early lease termination rights and limiting eviction during active service.
  8. Entering without 24-hour advance written notice. CRS §38-12-1102 requires 24 hours’ advance written notice for routine entry. Violation can expose the landlord to tenant remedies.
  9. Including fees in the 10-day non-payment notice. The 10-day demand should state only past-due rent. Including late fees, utilities, or other charges in the rent amount can invalidate the notice. State them separately.
  10. Self-help eviction. CRS §38-12-510: up to $5,000 punitive damages + actual damages + attorney fees. Always use the FED process.

Frequently asked questions: Littleton CO rent increase 2026

Does Littleton CO have rent control in 2026?

No. Littleton has no local rent control ordinance. Colorado HB 21-1117 (April 2021) returned local authority to cities but Littleton has not used it. Landlords may raise rent freely at lease expiration.

Which county is my Littleton property in — and how do I check?

Use the Arapahoe County Assessor GIS (arapahoe.co.us/assessor) or Jefferson County Assessor GIS (jeffco.us/assessor) to search by address. The Littleton city boundary map does not show county lines. When in doubt, search both assessor portals.

What court handles Littleton CO evictions?

Arapahoe County properties: Arapahoe County Court, 7325 S. Potomac St, Centennial CO 80112. Jefferson County properties: Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden CO 80401. Do NOT confuse county seat status with courthouse location.

How much can a Littleton CO landlord raise rent in 2026?

Any amount at lease expiration. Month-to-month requires appropriate advance written notice. No cap, no formula, no approval required.

What is the security deposit rule for Littleton 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.

Does Littleton CO have any just-cause eviction requirements?

No. Colorado has no statewide just-cause eviction requirement for non-renewal. Littleton has not enacted any local just-cause ordinance.

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