Colorado Small Claims Court Limit: How Much Can You Sue For?

The Dollar Limit

Colorado small claims court handles claims up to $7,500 in principal, exclusive of interest and court costs. This ceiling is set by C.R.S. § 13-6-403 and applies across all 64 county courts statewide.

The $7,500 figure covers the core amount you are owed — not the prejudgment interest that accrues on top (8% per annum, compounded annually, under C.R.S. § 5-12-102 if no contract rate exists) and not the filing fees you paid to start the case.

What If Your Claim Exceeds $7,500?

You have two choices. First, you can waive the amount above $7,500 and file in small claims court under C.R.C.P. Rule 506. This waiver is permanent — you cannot sue later for the excess. If a contractor owes you $9,000, you can file for $7,500 and accept the loss of $1,500 in exchange for a faster, cheaper, no-lawyer process.

Second, you can file in county civil court (claims up to $25,000) or district court (claims above $25,000). These courts allow higher recovery but involve more complex procedures, longer timelines, and typically require an attorney.

What Counts Toward the $7,500

The limit covers the principal amount of your claim. Common examples:

• Security deposit disputes: the deposit amount your landlord withheld, or up to triple damages under C.R.S. § 38-12-103 for conduct on or after January 1, 2026, if the withholding was wrongful and the landlord fails to return the deposit or withheld amount within 7 days after receiving your demand and notice of intent to file — as long as the treble amount stays at or below $7,500
• Contractor disputes: the deposit paid or the cost of hiring someone to finish the work
• Unpaid invoices: the face value of what is owed
• Property damage: the reasonable repair or replacement cost

No Claim-Splitting Allowed

You cannot divide one dispute into multiple lawsuits to get around the cap. If a single breach of contract caused $12,000 in damages, you cannot file one $7,500 claim and another $4,500 claim. C.R.C.P. Rule 502 prohibits this, and courts will dismiss the second action.

Filing Frequency Caps

Beyond the dollar limit, C.R.S. § 13-6-405 restricts how often you can use small claims court: no more than 2 claims per month and 18 per year in any single county. Form JDF 250 requires you to certify compliance under penalty of perjury.

When Small Claims Is Not the Right Forum

Some disputes are excluded regardless of dollar amount: evictions, defamation, libel, slander, malicious prosecution, class actions, and criminal matters. These belong in county civil, district, or municipal court depending on the nature of the claim.

For a claim covered by the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, written notice under C.R.S. § 24-10-109 must be filed within 182 days after discovery of the injury. The claim cannot be brought until the public entity denies it or 90 days have passed after notice was filed, whichever comes first.

Knowing whether your dispute fits the $7,500 ceiling and the court's subject-matter limits is the first decision in the process. The Colorado small claims filing guide covers this eligibility check and every step that follows.

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