CO state reference
Colorado lending rules
Colorado has 270 Census places covered on Personalloaned, with a combined estimated population of 4,391,096. Personal-loan terms in Colorado are set by licensed lenders under state law; the sourced rules below apply to every borrower in the state.
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- Usury cap UCCC finance-charge ceilings: 12% per year on non-supervised consumer loans; supervised loans 36% on the first $1,000, 21% on $1,000–$3,000, 15% above $3,000 (or 21% flat); 21% on revolving accounts
- Payday lending Permitted but capped at 36% APR (Proposition 111, effective February 1, 2019)
- State regulator Colorado Attorney General's Office — Consumer Credit Unit (Administrator of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code)
Sourced rules
Key rules for borrowers in Colorado
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | UCCC finance-charge ceilings: 12% per year on non-supervised consumer loans; supervised loans 36% on the first $1,000, 21% on $1,000–$3,000, 15% above $3,000 (or 21% flat); 21% on revolving accounts Source says: "not exceeding twelve percent per year on the unpaid balance of the amount financed"; "Thirty-six percent per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is one thousand dollars or less"; "Twenty-one percent per year on the unpaid balances of the amount financed". |
Colorado General Assembly — C.R.S. § 5-2-201 (Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 5) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted but capped at 36% APR (Proposition 111, effective February 1, 2019) Source says: "a finance charge for each deferred deposit loan or payday loan that must not exceed an annual percentage rate of thirty-six percent". |
Colorado General Assembly — C.R.S. § 5-3.1-105 (Deferred Deposit Loan Act) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required from the UCCC Administrator (master license required for more than one place of business); deferred deposit lenders must hold a supervised lender's license Source says: "if a supervised lender has more than one place of business, they must obtain a master license"; "no person shall engage in the business of deferred deposit loans without having first obtained a supervised lender's license" (C.R.S. § 5-3.1-116). |
Colorado Attorney General — Uniform Consumer Credit Code licensing as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Colorado Attorney General's Office — Consumer Credit Unit (Administrator of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code) Source says: "The Consumer Credit Unit regulates (through licensure/registration programs) companies and individuals involved in consumer lending"; it "licenses non-bank lenders such as finance companies and payday lenders". |
Colorado Attorney General — Consumer Protection Section as of 2026-09-16 |
Cities in Colorado
We cover 270 Census places in Colorado. The count and the combined population figures are summed from the US Census Bureau's Vintage 2023 subcounty population estimates (retrieved 2026-09-17).
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What interest rate can a lender charge in Colorado?
It depends on the product and the statute that governs it. The sourced table on this page lists Colorado's usury cap and the licensing rules, each with its publisher and a link to the primary source.
Are payday loans legal in Colorado?
Payday lending is regulated state by state; some states permit it, some cap it, and some prohibit it outright. See the sourced figure on this page for the current position.
Do I need a license to lend money in Colorado?
Most consumer lenders must be licensed by the state regulator named on this page. You can verify a lender's license with that regulator before you sign anything.