Longmont CO rent increase 2026 Longmont, Colorado has no local rent control in 2026. Longmont is a Boulder County municipality that could enact rent stabilization under Colorado HB 21-1117 (2021) — and the Boulder County political environment is more rent-stabilization-aware than most Colorado counties. Longmont City Council has not enacted any ordinance, but landlords should monitor city council activity. All evictions at Boulder County Justice Center, 1777 6th St, Boulder CO 80302 — approximately 18 miles south via CO-119 (Diagonal Hwy; peak congestion ~35–40 minutes). COURTHOUSE DISTANCE: Longmont landlords drive to Boulder to file; plan for travel time. UCHealth Longmont United Hospital (~284 beds; ~1,800+ employees). ~100,000 population — Boulder County’s second-largest city and most affordable major alternative to Boulder (1BR gap: $1,500–$2,000/month). St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J. Post-2020 remote worker relocation wave significantly elevated Longmont rents. 10-day pay-or-quit (HB 21-1121). 60-day deposit return; 3× willful penalty.

Colorado HB 21-1117 and Longmont: the Boulder County context

Colorado HB 21-1117 (April 2021) repealed the statewide rent control preemption (CRS §38-12-301), restoring local rent regulation authority to Colorado municipalities. Longmont is an incorporated city that can enact local ordinances. This is different from unincorporated Highlands Ranch (which legally cannot), but the operative question is whether the Longmont City Council will.

As of 2026, Longmont has not enacted rent control. But context matters:

• Boulder (18 miles south): Boulder has been one of Colorado’s most active housing policy debate cities since HB 21-1117 passed. Multiple ballot measures, council debates, and ordinance proposals have been considered. Boulder is a leading indicator of where Boulder County municipal policy trends.
• Longmont’s historical identity: Longmont has historically been more moderate and business-friendly than Boulder, with roots in manufacturing (IBM, Longmont Foods) and agriculture (sugar beets). The city’s political center of gravity has traditionally been less favorable to rent regulation than Boulder.
• Displacement pressure: The 2020–2022 remote work migration drove Longmont rents up 25–40% from pre-pandemic levels. This kind of rapid rent increase historically generates political pressure for stabilization measures in Boulder County cities.

Bottom line for landlords: Longmont operates under no rent ordinance today. Increases are uncapped. But the Boulder County political environment merits a different level of monitoring than, say, a Douglas County suburb.

The courthouse distance: Boulder County filing burden

One of the most significant practical realities for Longmont landlords is the courthouse distance. Boulder County Justice Center (1777 6th St, Boulder CO 80302) is approximately 18 miles south of Longmont via CO-119 (the Diagonal Hwy).

The Diagonal Hwy (CO-119) connects Longmont to Boulder through unincorporated Boulder County farmland. Travel time estimates:

• Off-peak (midday, weekends): 20–25 minutes.
• Peak AM (7–9am southbound to Boulder): 30–45 minutes.
• Peak PM (4–6pm northbound from Boulder): 30–45 minutes.

Landlords who manage multiple Longmont units and must file evictions at the Boulder courthouse should plan for the travel time and courthouse parking. The Boulder County Justice Center has a parking structure. Court business hours are typically 8am–5pm Monday–Friday.

Colorado security deposit rules for Longmont landlords

• No deposit cap. Colorado law imposes no maximum. Longmont SFR market practice: 1–2 months’ rent.
• Return deadline: 60 days (or 30 days with written demand) (CRS §38-12-103(1)).
• Itemized statement required for any partial return (CRS §38-12-103(2)).
• 3× willful wrongful withholding penalty + attorney’s fees (CRS §38-12-103(3)). On a $2,400 Longmont SFR deposit: wrongful withholding = $7,200 + attorney fees.

Major employers and rental demand in Longmont CO

UCHealth Longmont United Hospital

UCHealth Longmont United Hospital (1950 Mountain View Ave, Longmont CO 80501) is the primary acute care hospital serving Longmont and the northern Boulder County region. Operating approximately 284 licensed beds, the hospital provides emergency, cardiac, surgical, obstetrics, orthopedics, and oncology services. UCHealth employs approximately 1,800+ people at the Longmont facility including physicians, nurses, therapists, radiology and lab technologists, and administrative staff. Healthcare workers earn $45,000–$300,000+ and represent one of the largest stable employer segments in Longmont. Many healthcare workers prefer renting in Longmont for proximity to the hospital campus on Mountain View Ave and to avoid the much higher cost of living in Boulder or Louisville.

St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J

St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) is Longmont’s school district, serving Longmont, Mead, Lyons, and surrounding communities. The district employs approximately 5,000+ FTEs countywide with a large concentration of staff based at Longmont-area schools including Longmont High School, Silver Creek High School, Niwot High School, and numerous elementary and middle schools. Teachers and administrative staff in SVVSD who do not own locally frequently rent within Longmont, creating baseline demand for mid-range apartment and smaller SFR rentals.

IBM legacy and tech successor employers

IBM Corporation operated one of its largest disk storage manufacturing campuses in Longmont for decades, beginning in the late 1960s. At its peak, the IBM Longmont campus employed thousands of engineers, scientists, and manufacturing workers in disk drive development and production. IBM subsequently sold its storage division through a series of transactions (to Hitachi, then to Western Digital/HGST), and the campus has significantly contracted. The legacy of IBM’s Longmont presence is a community with deep roots in technology manufacturing — skilled technicians, engineers, and supply-chain professionals who continue to live and work in the Longmont area for smaller tech manufacturing and aerospace supplier companies along the Front Range.

Boulder spillover: University of Colorado and tech sector

Longmont’s single largest source of rental demand may be workers employed in Boulder who choose to live in Longmont for affordability. University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) employs approximately 15,000+ faculty, staff, and administrators. Boulder’s tech sector (Google Boulder, Apple, Pivotal/VMware Boulder, Ibotta, Zayo, and many others) employs tens of thousands. A significant fraction of these Boulder workers live in Longmont and commute via the Diagonal Hwy, primarily because Longmont rents are $1,500–$2,000/month lower than Boulder for equivalent units. Post-2020 remote work reduced some of this commuting pressure, but Longmont continued to absorb remote workers who chose the city for space and affordability.

Employer summary table

Longmont rental market: neighborhoods and 2026 rent ranges

Eviction process in Longmont CO: step-by-step

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

CRS §13-40-104(d) (HB 21-1121): serve written notice stating the exact past-due rent amount and demanding payment or possession within 10 days. If tenant pays in full within 10 days, the landlord cannot file for eviction. Include only past-due base rent; not late fees, utilities, or other charges. Overstatement of the amount owed can void the notice and require re-service.

Step 2: File FED complaint at Boulder County Justice Center

Boulder County Justice Center, 1777 6th St, Boulder CO 80302. Approximately 18 miles south of Longmont via CO-119 (Diagonal Hwy). Plan for 25–45 minutes of travel time depending on congestion. Filing fee approximately $85–$175. Boulder County Justice Center has a parking structure adjacent.

Step 3: Boulder County Sheriff serves summons; hearing scheduled

The Boulder County Sheriff serves the summons. Hearing typically scheduled 7–14 business days after filing.

Step 4: Writ of Restitution and lockout

Upon judgment for the landlord, the Boulder County Court issues a Writ of Restitution. The Boulder County Sheriff posts the writ with a 24-hour door notice and executes the lockout. Total uncontested timeline from 10-day notice to lockout: 4–6 weeks. The Boulder County Sheriff handles lockouts in Longmont; lockout scheduling may add 2–5 business days to the timeline given the distance between Boulder and Longmont.

10 common Longmont landlord mistakes under Colorado CRS

1. Assuming Longmont will never have rent control because it doesn’t now. Longmont is in Boulder County. The county’s political environment is more rent-stabilization-sympathetic than most of Colorado. The combination of HB 21-1117’s municipal authority grant and the 2020–2022 rapid rent increases creates political conditions where rent control could emerge. Planning for this scenario — even if unlikely in the near term — is prudent for landlords with significant Longmont exposure.
2. Using the old 3-day eviction notice. Colorado HB 21-1121 (2021): 10-day non-payment notice required. A 3-day notice in 2026 is legally defective. The FED case will be dismissed; must re-serve a proper notice and restart.
3. Not planning for the 18-mile courthouse commute to Boulder. Some landlords discover the courthouse is in Boulder only when they have an urgent eviction filing. Familiarize yourself with the route (Diagonal Hwy CO-119) and Boulder County Justice Center location before you need to use it.
4. Missing the 30-day deposit return deadline after written demand. Longmont tenants, especially tech workers and UCHealth staff, are aware of their rights. Written deposit demand triggers the 30-day deadline. On a $2,800 deposit, willful wrongful withholding = $8,400 + attorney fees.
5. Anchoring rent to 2019 Longmont comparables. The 2020–2022 remote worker migration permanently reset Longmont’s rent baseline upward. Properties priced to pre-pandemic comps underperform by $200–$500/month in many submarkets. Use current rental listings, not historical data.
6. Omitting the itemized deposit deduction statement. CRS §38-12-103(2): itemized statement required. Every deduction listed by item and dollar amount. A vague summary is treated as wrongful withholding.
7. Entering without 24-hour written advance notice. CRS §38-12-1102 (HB 19-1118): 24 hours required. Longmont has a professional and educated renter base (UCHealth staff, tech workers, CU commuters) who know tenant rights.
8. Not verifying that the Longmont address is entirely Boulder County. Longmont is entirely within Boulder County. However, some new development on Longmont’s eastern fringe (near Weld County border) could theoretically edge into Weld County. Verify parcel county at Boulder County Assessor for any eastern Longmont address before filing FED in Boulder.
9. Self-help eviction. CRS §38-12-510: $5,000 punitive + actual + attorney fees. Never change locks or remove belongings without the FED process.
10. Not tracking Boulder County and Longmont city council housing ordinances. Unlike Douglas County, Boulder County municipalities operate in a more active rent policy environment. Quarterly review of city council agendas is advisable for Longmont landlords with material exposure (5+ units).

Frequently asked questions: Longmont CO rent increase 2026

Does Longmont CO have rent control in 2026?

No. Longmont has no local rent control ordinance. As a Boulder County municipality, it could enact one under HB 21-1117. The Boulder County political environment warrants monitoring. Until any ordinance passes, all increases are uncapped.

What court handles Longmont CO evictions?

Boulder County Justice Center, 1777 6th St, Boulder CO 80302. Approximately 18 miles south of Longmont via CO-119 (Diagonal Hwy). Plan for 25–45 minutes of travel time depending on peak-hour congestion.

How much can a Longmont landlord raise rent in 2026?

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

Why is Longmont an affordable Boulder alternative?

Longmont is 18 miles from Boulder via the Diagonal Hwy. Boulder 1BR rents average $2,800–$3,500+; Longmont 1BR averages $1,100–$1,700 — a gap of $1,500–$2,000/month for equivalent space. The commute trade-off (20–40 min depending on traffic) is the reason Longmont has strong demand from Boulder workers and remote tech workers choosing Front Range living.

What school district serves Longmont CO?

St. Vrain Valley School District RE-1J — separate from Boulder Valley SD (which serves Boulder, Louisville, and Lafayette). SVVSD is a consistently strong district; Niwot HS and Silver Creek HS are among its highest-rated schools.

Is Longmont entirely in Boulder County?

Yes. Longmont is entirely within Boulder County. All FED filings go to Boulder County Justice Center, 1777 6th St, Boulder. No county split applies.