Las Animas County, Colorado Eviction Risk: Moderate

Las Animas County sits in southeastern Colorado's Purgatoire River valley, a largely rural county of 8,961 residents where roughly 39.3% of households rent rather than own. With an average eviction risk score of 4.6/10 -- placing the county 14th out of 64 Colorado counties -- it falls in the higher-risk third of the state. That ranking means 13 Colorado counties carry higher risk for landlords, while 50 are comparatively more favorable. For property owners operating here, understanding how Colorado's tenant-protection statutes apply in a low-density, high-poverty market is not optional; it is the foundation of every lease decision.

Trinidad accounts for the vast majority of the county's population at 8,286 residents and carries the same county-average score of 4.6/10. Smaller communities like Jansen (score 4.8/10) and Cokedale (score 4.7/10) come in as the riskiest cities in the county, while Branson and Hoehne sit at the lower end at 4/10. The spread from a minimum of 4/10 to a maximum of 4.8/10 across all 8 tracked cities reflects a fairly consistent risk floor throughout the county -- no community here reads as low-risk by Colorado standards. Average rent sits at $916 per month, and renters in the county put 31.1% of their income toward housing on average. With a poverty rate of 18.2%, the margin between a household making rent and a household in default is narrow, which directly informs the eviction risk picture.

Colorado law adds meaningful process requirements on top of that economic pressure. Under C.R.S. § 38-12 (Tenants and Landlords), landlords must follow strict notice timelines: a 10-day notice is required for nonpayment of rent (C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(d)) or a material lease violation (C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(e)), while a substantial violation shortens that window to just 3 days under C.R.S. 13-40-107.5. No-fault terminations -- such as owner move-ins or renovations -- require a full 90-day notice per C.R.S. 13-40-104 (HB24-1098), one of the longer such requirements in the region. Just-cause eviction protections apply statewide, meaning a landlord cannot remove a tenant without a qualifying reason regardless of lease terms. Court filing fees range from $105 to $200, sheriff lockout fees run $50 to $200, and attorney costs for contested cases routinely reach $750 to $3,500. An uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; a contested one can run 60 to 120 days. Landlords should also note that Colorado prohibits retaliation under C.R.S. § 38-12-509 and mandates habitability standards under C.R.S. § 38-12-503. Source-of-income discrimination -- including Section 8 voucher holders -- is prohibited by the Colorado Civil Rights Division.

Las Animas County's Moderate risk score reflects Colorado eviction laws's statewide tenant-protection framework landing on a rural economy with an 18.2% poverty rate and a renter share near 39.3% -- a combination that keeps eviction probability elevated even where rents are comparatively low.