In court-decided eviction outcomes for Aspen, CO, tenants prevail in roughly 38.1% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
109d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Aspen, CO until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 109 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$4.3–10.8k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Aspen, CO costs landlords $4,325 to $10,821 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$2,081
43% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Aspen, CO is $2,081 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 43% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
43.0%
of households
43.0% of occupied housing units in Aspen, CO are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
11.8%
2.5% unemp.
11.8% of Aspen, CO residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 2.5%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
Dem margin +44.2% (2024)
7.8
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
7.8
State political climate
Colorado legislature & governorship
4.7
Economic stress
11.8% poverty · 2.5% unemp.
5.1
Supply constraint
$2,081 average · 43.0% renters
8.7
Rent Control risk
42.6% of income on rent
7.5
Eviction process difficulty
109 days filing → judgment
4.4
Tenant organizing strength
43.0% renters
8.2
Housing court bias
County bench composition
6.7
Geographic context
Risk heat across Aspen and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Aspen compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Pitkin County
Very High
#1of 8 cities
#1 of 8 cities in Pitkin County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Colorado
High
#81of 479 cities
#81 of 479 cities in Colorado for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
4.6
/ 10 · MODERATE
The verdict
A Moderate-tier market.
Composite 4.6/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a sharp climb.
50-yr trend+2.6 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steepening since 2010 · COVID inflection visible
109d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $2,081/mo. A contested eviction takes 109 days and costs $4,325–$10,821 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
43.0%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 6,756 residents, 43.0% rent. 43% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 11.8% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
7.8
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 7.8 and 7.8 (Dem margin +44.2% (2024)). State climate at 4.7, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
4.7
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 4.7/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 4.4, housing court bias 6.7, rent-control risk 7.5. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-0.6 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
5.1
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 5.1. Supply constraint: 8.7. The numbers behind those: 11.8% poverty, 2.5% unemployment, 43% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Aspen sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Aspen · 109d · ~$7.6k all-in ($69/day) · score 4.6National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Aspen, Colorado, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 4.6/10 (MODERATE tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Aspen is a city of 6,756 residents where 43.0% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 42.6% of income on rent. At an average rent of $2,081/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Aspen eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 4.4/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Aspen closes 109 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Aspen's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 6.7/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Aspen runs $4,325 to $10,821 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 109 days of typical timeline and $2,081/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 8.2/10 in Aspen, and the city carries meaningful rent control exposure (7.5/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Colorado, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Aspen: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a MODERATE tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Colorado's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $10,821 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Aspen
Trap · 51.9 POINTS
Politically, Pitkin County voted Democratic by 51.9 points in 2020, a baseline that correlates with tenant-protective legislative pressure. Combined with 42.6% rent-to-income ratio, expect baseline enforcement of CRS 13-40 + HB23-1115.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What is the fastest way to get a tenant out in Aspen?
The fastest way is often "cash for keys." If a tenant isn't paying, offer them a reasonable sum to move out quickly and amicably. This avoids court entirely and saves months of lost rent and legal fees. If that's not an option, diligently follow the 10-day pay-or-quit notice and file in court immediately once the notice period expires.
Q2
How much does an eviction cost in Aspen?
Expect to pay between $4,325 and $10,821 for a typical eviction in Aspen. This includes attorney fees, court costs, and lost rent during the 109-day average timeline. It's a significant expense, so preventative screening and clear communication are key.
Q3
Can I evict a tenant in Aspen without a lawyer?
You can, but it's risky. Colorado eviction laws are specific, and judges are strict about landlords following procedure. A single mistake on a notice or filing can lead to delays or even dismissal, forcing you to restart. Given the high costs and long timelines, hiring an attorney is highly recommended to protect your investment.
Q4
What is the security deposit limit in Aspen?
In Aspen, like the rest of Colorado, you can charge up to 2.00 months' rent for a security deposit. You must return it within 30 days of the tenant vacating, or provide an itemized list of deductions.
Q5
Does Aspen have just cause eviction laws?
No, Colorado does not have statewide just-cause eviction laws. This means you generally don't need a specific "just cause" to terminate a tenancy at the end of a lease term, though you'll still need to provide proper notice (e.g., 91 days for no-cause termination).
A 4.6/10 places Aspen in the 84th percentile of Colorado cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has risen sharply since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Aspen (4.6/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
