Colorado roofing contract rules
What a Colorado roofing contract must say, how long you can back out, how much a roofer may ask up front, when a lien can follow and what a roofer may do about your insurance claim. Each rule is quoted from the statute or agency rule. Checked 2026-10-09.
Short answer: A Colorado roofing contract must include a clause that lets you cancel and get a full refund of any deposit within 72 hours after you enter into the contract (72 hours, C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(f)(I)). The federal rule adds 3 business days for sales made at your home (16 CFR 429). If you signed a Colorado roofing contract to be paid from insurance and the insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, you can cancel by giving the roofer written notice within 72 hours after you are told of the denial (C.R.S. § 6-22-104(1)(a)-(b)). A Colorado roofing contract must say in bold type on its face that the roofer holds your payment in trust until it has delivered the roofing materials to the site or has done most of the work (C.R.S. § 6-22-103(2)). A Colorado lien claimant that supplied labor or materials generally has four months after its last labor or materials to file its lien statement with the county clerk and recorder (C.R.S. § 38-22-109(5)). 15 rules on this page are quoted from official statutes, agency rules or regulator pages; 5 more are marked not confirmed.
State cancel period
72 hours
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(f)(I)
Deposit rule
Rule quoted
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(2)
Lien filing deadline
4 months
C.R.S. § 38-22-109(5)
Written contract
Rule quoted
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)
Find your last day to cancel
Only the signing date is needed for the cancel dates. Add the other dates when they happen and the rules that start from them get a calendar day too. Counting starts the day after the date you enter.
Enter the signing date to see your dates.
Days are counted the way each rule defines them: federal “business days” skip Sundays and federal holidays and count Saturdays; where a state rule defines business days as Monday to Friday we skip Saturdays and Sundays; where a rule says business days without defining them, or just says “days”, we count every calendar day and show the earliest possible date. State holidays are not subtracted, so a real deadline can fall a day or two later than shown. If the last day lands on a weekend, do not wait for it. General information from public rules, not legal advice.
Colorado against the other states
Calendar-day equivalents are used for the bars only (business days scaled by 7/5, months by 30, years by 365); the exact unit is in the tables.
Before you sign: Colorado checklist
Every line below comes from a rule on this page. Tick a line as you check it.
Colorado: written contract
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Before a Colorado roofer starts roofing work on your home, it must give you a written contract signed by both you and the roofer. Section 6-22-102 excludes new construction and roofing work for which the compensation is one thousand dollars or less per contract. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1) Covers: Roofing work on a residential property (a detached one- or two-family dwelling, or multiple single-family dwellings of not more than three stories with separate egress); not new construction, and not roofing work for which the compensation is $1,000 or less per contract. | |
| A Colorado roofing contract must state at least what work and materials are included, the approximate dates, and the approximate cost based on the damage known when you sign. The contract must also give the roofer's physical address, e-mail address and telephone number, and identify its surety and liability insurer where applicable (§ 6-22-103(1)(d)-(e)). |
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(a)-(c) Covers: Roofing work on a residential property (a detached one- or two-family dwelling, or multiple single-family dwellings of not more than three stories with separate egress); not new construction, and not roofing work for which the compensation is $1,000 or less per contract. |
Colorado: right to cancel
The federal rule (16 CFR §429.1(a)) gives 3 business days for a sale made at your home. Rules of Colorado below are added to it.
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Colorado roofing contract must include a clause that lets you cancel and get a full refund of any deposit within 72 hours after you enter into the contract. The statute requires the roofer to put this clause in the contract; it is separate from the 72-hour right after an insurance denial. |
72 hours | C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(f)(I) Covers: Roofing work on a residential property (a detached one- or two-family dwelling, or multiple single-family dwellings of not more than three stories with separate egress); not new construction, and not roofing work for which the compensation is $1,000 or less per contract. |
| If you signed a Colorado roofing contract to be paid from insurance and the insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, you can cancel by giving the roofer written notice within 72 hours after you are told of the denial. The notice may be sent electronically (effective on transmission), by mail (effective on deposit in the mail, postage prepaid) or delivered in person (effective on delivery). The right does not apply to a denial of a supplemental roofing claim for damage that could not reasonably have been foreseen at the initial inspection or contract. |
72 hours | C.R.S. § 6-22-104(1)(a)-(b) Covers: A written roofing contract on residential property where payment will be made from the proceeds of a property and casualty insurance policy. |
| After you cancel a Colorado insurance-paid roofing contract because of a denial, the roofer must return your payments and deposits within ten days. Section 6-22-104(3) lets the roofer keep only an amount that pays for roofing work actually performed in a workmanlike manner. |
10 days counted from the day the notice is given |
C.R.S. § 6-22-104(2) Covers: A contract rescinded after an insurer's denial under § 6-22-104(1). |
Colorado: deposits and down payments
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Colorado roofing contract must say in bold type on its face that the roofer holds your payment in trust until it has delivered the roofing materials to the site or has done most of the work. | C.R.S. § 6-22-103(2) Covers: Roofing work on a residential property (a detached one- or two-family dwelling, or multiple single-family dwellings of not more than three stories with separate egress); not new construction, and not roofing work for which the compensation is $1,000 or less per contract. |
Colorado: Mechanic's lien
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Before a Colorado supplier or subcontractor files a mechanic's lien against your home, it must serve you and the prime contractor a notice of intent at least ten days before filing. The ten days run back from the date the lien statement is filed with the county clerk and recorder. |
10 days counted from the date the rule names |
C.R.S. § 38-22-109(3) Covers: A lien claimant under the Colorado mechanics' lien article. |
| A Colorado lien claimant that supplied labor or materials generally has four months after its last labor or materials to file its lien statement with the county clerk and recorder. Subsection (4) allows two months after completion for claims for labor by the day or piece, and subsection (10) lets a claimant extend the time by recording a notice. |
4 months counted from the last day of work or delivery of materials |
C.R.S. § 38-22-109(5) Covers: Lien claimants other than those who claim for labor by the day or piece without furnishing laborers or materials. |
| A Colorado mechanic's lien stops holding your property six months after the last work or the completion of the improvement unless the lien claimant has started a lawsuit to enforce it and recorded a notice of that suit. The statute also requires a notice that the action has been commenced to be filed for record within the same six months. |
6 months counted from the last day of work or delivery of materials |
C.R.S. § 38-22-110 |
| When a building permit is issued for repairs or improvements to your Colorado home, the permit office must mail you a written notice about mechanic's liens. Section 38-22-105.5(6) says the permit office's failure to send the notice is not an affirmative defense to a lien. |
C.R.S. § 38-22-105.5(1) Covers: Building permits for residential property; not required for new residential construction or property with more than four living units. | |
| If you own an existing single-family home and have paid your contractor everything you owe under the contract, that payment is a defense against a subcontractor's or supplier's lien claim. | C.R.S. § 38-22-102(3.5) Covers: An existing single-family dwelling unit, an owner-built residence, or a single-family owner-occupied dwelling (§ 38-22-102(3.5)(a)-(c)). |
Colorado: insurance claims and your roofer
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Colorado roofer paid from your insurance claim may not advertise or promise to pay, waive or rebate any part of your deductible, and an insurer need not consider the estimate of a roofer that does. Section 6-22-105(2)(b) also lets the property owner or the insurer sue the roofer in court for damages caused by the violation. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-105(1)-(2)(a) Covers: A roofing contractor performing residential roofing work that will be paid from the proceeds of a property and casualty insurance policy. | |
| If you may use insurance money for the roof, a Colorado roofing contract must include a written statement that the roofer cannot pay, waive or rebate your insurance deductible. | C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(g) Covers: Roofing work on a residential property (a detached one- or two-family dwelling, or multiple single-family dwellings of not more than three stories with separate egress); not new construction, and not roofing work for which the compensation is $1,000 or less per contract. | |
| A Colorado roofer may not claim to be or act as a public insurance adjuster, but once you have a valid contract it may discuss the scope of repairs with your insurer on your behalf. Colorado requires a license to act as a public adjuster (§ 10-2-417(1)(a)); the roofing article leaves licensed public adjusters free to act as such. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-105(3) Covers: A roofing contractor soliciting roofing services on residential property. |
The insurer’s own deadlines are on the Colorado claim deadlines page.
Colorado: after a disaster
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In an area covered by a declared disaster, Colorado treats charging a grossly excessive price for repair or reconstruction services as an unfair and unconscionable practice, and only the attorney general or a district attorney can enforce it. Section 6-1-730(5)(f) defines the disaster period as running from the start of the disaster declaration until 180 days after the final declaration expires. |
C.R.S. § 6-1-730(2) and (4) Covers: Sales and services in the designated area during a disaster period. |
What we could not confirm in Colorado
- A cap on the deposit a Colorado roofer may ask for: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (C.R.S. title 6 articles 1 and 22, title 38 article 22); § 6-22-103(2) requires a trust statement but sets no dollar or percentage limit.
- Rules on assignment of insurance benefits to a roofer in Colorado: not confirmed. Not found in a text search of title 10 for assignment provisions; the sections that appeared concern health, life, motor vehicle and auto-glass benefits, and none names roofing contractors.
- Rules on contractor registration or licensing after a declared disaster in Colorado: not confirmed. Not found in a text search of title 6 (articles 1 and 22), title 10 article 2 and title 38 article 22; § 6-1-730 covers price gouging only.
- A limit on contractor deposits after a declared disaster in Colorado: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (title 6 articles 1 and 22); § 6-1-730 contains no deposit limit.
- A general cooling-off right for door-to-door home sales in Colorado: not confirmed. Not found in a text search of title 6 (article 1 and article 22) for door-to-door, home solicitation and three-business-day provisions; § 6-1-105(1)(p) addresses door-to-door identification only, and § 6-22-103 and § 6-22-104 are the roofing-specific rescission provisions.
Colorado contract questions
- How long can I cancel a roofing contract in Colorado?
- C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(f)(I): 72 hours, counted from the date the rule names. The federal rule gives 3 business days for sales made at your home. The median across the 25 of 27 states with a confirmed number is about 4 calendar days (business days scaled by 7/5). The statute requires the roofer to put this clause in the contract; it is separate from the 72-hour right after an insurance denial.
- Can I cancel if my Colorado insurer denies the roof claim?
- C.R.S. § 6-22-104(1)(a)-(b): If you signed a Colorado roofing contract to be paid from insurance and the insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, you can cancel by giving the roofer written notice within 72 hours after you are told of the denial. 72 hours, counted from the date the rule names. The notice may be sent electronically (effective on transmission), by mail (effective on deposit in the mail, postage prepaid) or delivered in person (effective on delivery). The right does not apply to a denial of a supplemental roofing claim for damage that could not reasonably have been foreseen at the initial inspection or contract.
- What are the deposit rules for a roofing job in Colorado?
- C.R.S. § 6-22-103(2): A Colorado roofing contract must say in bold type on its face that the roofer holds your payment in trust until it has delivered the roofing materials to the site or has done most of the work.
- What is a mechanic's lien on a house in Colorado?
- C.R.S. § 38-22-109(5): A Colorado lien claimant that supplied labor or materials generally has four months after its last labor or materials to file its lien statement with the county clerk and recorder. Subsection (4) allows two months after completion for claims for labor by the day or piece, and subsection (10) lets a claimant extend the time by recording a notice.
- Can a roofer in Colorado handle my insurance claim for me?
- C.R.S. § 6-22-105(3): A Colorado roofer may not claim to be or act as a public insurance adjuster, but once you have a valid contract it may discuss the scope of repairs with your insurer on your behalf. Colorado requires a license to act as a public adjuster (§ 10-2-417(1)(a)); the roofing article leaves licensed public adjusters free to act as such.
- Can a roofer in Colorado waive my insurance deductible?
- C.R.S. § 6-22-105(1)-(2)(a): A Colorado roofer paid from your insurance claim may not advertise or promise to pay, waive or rebate any part of your deductible, and an insurer need not consider the estimate of a roofer that does. Section 6-22-105(2)(b) also lets the property owner or the insurer sue the roofer in court for damages caused by the violation.
Why contracts get signed fast after a Colorado hailstorm
NOAA lists 10 Colorado cities in our data with 606 city-days of hail at 1 inch or more since 2014; the largest stone was 4.25 inches and the busiest month is Jun. County by county: Colorado hail history.
Colorado cities we cover
| City | Cost | Roofers |
|---|---|---|
| Arvada | Roof age | Roofers in Arvada |
| Boulder | Roof age | Roofers in Boulder |
| Colorado Springs | Roof age | Roofers in Colorado Springs |
| Denver | Roof age | Roofers in Denver |
| Fort Collins | Roof age | Roofers in Fort Collins |
| Greeley | Roof age | Roofers in Greeley |
| Longmont | Roof age | Roofers in Longmont |
| Loveland | Roof age | Roofers in Loveland |
| Pueblo | Roof age | Roofers in Pueblo |
| Westminster | Roof age | Roofers in Westminster |
Where each Colorado rule comes from
| Rule | Source | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract: no fixed number Before a Colorado roofer starts roofing work on your home, it must give you a written contract signed by both you and the roofer. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1) statute text Quote“Prior to engaging in any roofing work, a roofing contractor shall provide a written contract to the property owner, signed by both the roofing contractor or his or her designee and the property owner” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Written contract: no fixed number A Colorado roofing contract must state at least what work and materials are included, the approximate dates, and the approximate cost based on the damage known when you sign. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(a)-(c) statute text Quote“The scope of roofing services and materials to be provided ... The approximate dates of service ... The approximate costs of the services based on damages known at the time the contract is entered” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Right to cancel: 72 hours A Colorado roofing contract must include a clause that lets you cancel and get a full refund of any deposit within 72 hours after you enter into the contract. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(f)(I) statute text Quote“a rescission clause allowing the property owner to rescind the contract and obtain a full refund of any deposit within seventy-two hours after entering the contract” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Right to cancel: 72 hours If you signed a Colorado roofing contract to be paid from insurance and the insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, you can cancel by giving the roofer written notice within 72 hours after you are told of the denial. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-104(1)(a)-(b) statute text Quote“after the property owner receives written notice from the property and casualty insurer that the claim for payment for roofing work on the residential property is denied in whole or in part ... The property owner shall give written notice of rescission of the contract to the roofing contractor at the physical address provided in the contract within seventy-two hours after he or she is notified of the denial” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Right to cancel: 10 days After you cancel a Colorado insurance-paid roofing contract because of a denial, the roofer must return your payments and deposits within ten days. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-104(2) statute text Quote“Within ten days after rescission of a contract in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, the roofing contractor shall return to the property owner any payments or deposits made by or evidence of indebtedness of the property owner” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Deposits and down payments: no fixed number A Colorado roofing contract must say in bold type on its face that the roofer holds your payment in trust until it has delivered the roofing materials to the site or has done most of the work. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(2) statute text Quote“shall include, on the face of the contract, in bold-faced type, a statement indicating that the roofing contractor shall hold in trust any payment from the property owner until the roofing contractor has delivered roofing materials at the residential property site or has performed a majority of the roofing work” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Mechanic's lien: 10 days Before a Colorado supplier or subcontractor files a mechanic's lien against your home, it must serve you and the prime contractor a notice of intent at least ten days before filing. |
C.R.S. § 38-22-109(3) statute text Quote“there must be a notice of intent to file a lien statement served upon the owner or reputed owner of the property or the owner's agent and the principal or prime contractor or his or her agent at least ten days before the time of filing the lien statement with the county clerk and recorder” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-02-02 |
| Mechanic's lien: 4 months A Colorado lien claimant that supplied labor or materials generally has four months after its last labor or materials to file its lien statement with the county clerk and recorder. |
C.R.S. § 38-22-109(5) statute text Quote“the lien statements of all other lien claimants must be filed for record at any time before the expiration of four months after the day on which the last labor is performed or the last laborers or materials are furnished by such lien claimant” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-02-02 |
| Mechanic's lien: 6 months A Colorado mechanic's lien stops holding your property six months after the last work or the completion of the improvement unless the lien claimant has started a lawsuit to enforce it and recorded a notice of that suit. |
C.R.S. § 38-22-110 statute text Quote“shall hold the property longer than six months after the last work or labor is performed, or laborers or materials are furnished, or after the completion of the building, structure, or other improvement ... unless an action has been commenced within that time to enforce the same” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-02-02 |
| Mechanic's lien: no fixed number When a building permit is issued for repairs or improvements to your Colorado home, the permit office must mail you a written notice about mechanic's liens. |
C.R.S. § 38-22-105.5(1) statute text Quote“Upon issuing a building permit for the improvement, restoration, remodeling, or repair of or the construction of improvements or additions to residential property, the agency or other authority issuing the permit shall send a written notice” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-02-02 |
| Mechanic's lien: no fixed number If you own an existing single-family home and have paid your contractor everything you owe under the contract, that payment is a defense against a subcontractor's or supplier's lien claim. |
C.R.S. § 38-22-102(3.5) statute text Quote“it shall be an affirmative defense in any action to enforce a lien pursuant to this article that the owner or some person acting on the owner's behalf has paid an amount sufficient to satisfy the contractual and legal obligations of the owner” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-02-02 |
| Insurance claims and your roofer: no fixed number A Colorado roofer paid from your insurance claim may not advertise or promise to pay, waive or rebate any part of your deductible, and an insurer need not consider the estimate of a roofer that does. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-105(1)-(2)(a) statute text Quote“shall not advertise or promise to pay, waive, or rebate all or part of any insurance deductible applicable to the claim for payment for roofing work on the covered residential property ... is not obligated to consider the estimate of costs for the roofing work prepared by the roofing contractor” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Insurance claims and your roofer: no fixed number If you may use insurance money for the roof, a Colorado roofing contract must include a written statement that the roofer cannot pay, waive or rebate your insurance deductible. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-103(1)(g) statute text Quote“A written statement that if the property owner plans to use the proceeds of a property and casualty insurance policy ... the roofing contractor cannot pay, waive, rebate, or promise to pay, waive, or rebate all or part of any insurance deductible” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| Insurance claims and your roofer: no fixed number A Colorado roofer may not claim to be or act as a public insurance adjuster, but once you have a valid contract it may discuss the scope of repairs with your insurer on your behalf. |
C.R.S. § 6-22-105(3) statute text Quote“A roofing contractor soliciting roofing services in this state shall not claim to be or act as a public insurance adjuster adjusting claims for losses or damages ... precludes a roofing contractor from discussing, on behalf of the property owner, the scope of repairs with a property and casualty insurer when the roofing contractor has a valid contract with the property owner” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
| After a disaster: no fixed number In an area covered by a declared disaster, Colorado treats charging a grossly excessive price for repair or reconstruction services as an unfair and unconscionable practice, and only the attorney general or a district attorney can enforce it. |
C.R.S. § 6-1-730(2) and (4) statute text Quote“A person engages in an unfair and unconscionable act or practice when, during a disaster period and within the designated area, the person charges a price so excessive as to amount to price gouging ... Repair or reconstruction services ... This section is enforceable solely by, and at the discretion of, the attorney general or the district attorney with jurisdiction over the conduct at issue” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-04-15 |
Nearby states
Nebraska, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri or all states.
Related: Colorado claim deadlines, Colorado roofers, insurer roof-age rules.