Cheyenne County, Colorado Eviction Risk: Low

Cheyenne County sits in the far southeastern corner of Colorado, a sparsely populated High Plains county where the combined population of all three tracked cities totals just 1,305 residents. With an eviction risk score of 3.4/10, the county ranks 63rd out of 64 Colorado counties for landlord risk, meaning 62 counties across the state present higher eviction risk than this one. For landlords operating here, the local environment is about as favorable as it gets within Colorado.

The county seat, Cheyenne Wells (population 979), anchors the local rental market and scores 3.4/10 on its own. Kit Carson, the second-largest community at 273 residents, comes in slightly higher at 3.5/10, making it the highest-risk point in the county. Arapahoe, the smallest tracked city at 53 residents, scores the lowest at 3.3/10. The spread between the county's minimum score (3.3) and maximum (3.5) is narrow, which reflects how consistent conditions are across this rural market. Average rent runs $880 per month, and the average rent burden sits at 20.1% of household income. That burden figure is well below the nationally recognized 30% stress threshold, which generally signals that renters here have more financial cushion than those in higher-cost urban counties. The renter share of occupied housing stands at 31.6%, and the poverty rate averages 9.4%.

Colorado's statutory framework shapes every landlord-tenant relationship in the county regardless of local conditions. Under C.R.S. § 38-12 (Tenants and Landlords), landlords must provide 48 hours' notice before entry, give tenants a 10-day cure window for nonpayment under C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(d), and follow a 10-day notice for material lease violations under C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(e). Substantial violations carry a shorter 3-day notice period under C.R.S. 13-40-107.5. Just-cause eviction is required statewide, which means landlords cannot end a tenancy without a qualifying reason even when a lease term expires. No-fault terminations for owner move-in or renovation require a full 90-day notice under C.R.S. 13-40-104 (HB24-1098). Colorado does not preempt local rent control ordinances, though no such ordinances are in effect in Cheyenne County. Court filing fees range from $105 to $200, and an uncontested eviction typically resolves in 21 to 45 days. Contested cases extend to 60 to 120 days, and attorney fees can run from $750 to $3,500 depending on complexity. The Colorado Civil Rights Division handles fair housing complaints, and source of income is a protected class under state law.

Cheyenne County's low eviction risk reflects a combination of modest rent levels, a below-average rent burden of 20.1%, and a small, stable rental population spread across three rural communities.