Landlord Insurance in Colorado: Costs, Requirements & Best Providers
Hail is the main reason Colorado rentals cost more to insure than most. The homeowners benchmark is $3,910 a year, and landlord policies usually run 15-25% higher. Wildfire is the second reason, and the Marshall Fire showed it reaches suburbs as well as mountain towns. Get a landlord insurance quote and look closely at the wind and hail deductible, since that's where Colorado policies hide most of their cost.
By LandlordTested editorial teamPrices checked
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What landlords pay in Colorado
- Homeowners benchmark
- $3,910 a yearAbout $326 a month; 57% above the $2,490 national average.
- Estimated landlord policy
- $4,500-$4,900 a yearLandlord (DP-3) cover typically runs 15-25% above homeowners cover on the same building. Your quote will differ.
- Main hazards
- Hail, Wildfire, Wind, Winter storm/freeze, Flash flood
- Not included
- Flood and earthquakeBoth need separate policies (NFIP or private flood; earthquake endorsement or policy).
Source: NerdWallet, 2026 homeowners (HO-3) median, $400,000 dwelling cover
Landlord insurance providers in Colorado
Both write landlord policies in all 50 states and quote online. Neither publishes prices, so the only way to know your premium is to get a quote for your address.
- 1
Steadily
Our pickSingle-family and 2-4 unit rentals, including vacant and short-term.
8.5/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- Covers all 50 states.
- Fast online quotes.
- Writes vacant and renovation properties too.
Watch out
- Mixed claim experiences, including wear-and-tear denials.
- Underwritten through a carrier some lenders have queried.
- Flood needs a separate policy.
Skip it if
Anyone who wants a local agent sitting across the desk.
- 2
Obie
Investors with several properties; portfolio policies available.
8.1/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- All 50 states plus DC.
- Portfolio (blanket) policies for several rentals.
- Covers short-term rentals and renovations.
Watch out
- Claims run through third-party administrators.
- Some reports of non-renewal after claims.
- Support is mostly email.
Skip it if
Landlords who want claims handled by the company they bought from.
Prices checked Oct 18, 2026. Scores are provisional until our account tests are done.
Want to see how Colorado compares? We keep a table of landlord insurance rates by state, with the method behind every figure.
On this page
Hail is the biggest line on a Colorado premium
Colorado’s benchmark of $3,910 is about 57% above the national average. A landlord (DP-3) policy on the same $400,000 house would start around $4,500 to $4,890. The Front Range, from Fort Collins through Denver to Colorado Springs, is one of the most hail-prone stretches in the country. The May 2017 Denver hailstorm became the costliest insured event in state history.
Insurers have responded in three ways, and you’ll see all three on Colorado quotes:
- Percentage wind and hail deductibles. A 2% deductible on a $350,000 dwelling limit is $7,000 per hail claim.
- Cosmetic damage exclusions. Dents in metal roofs, gutters and siding that don’t let water in may not be covered.
- Actual cash value on older roofs. Past a certain age, the policy pays depreciated value instead of a new roof.
None of these show up in the headline premium. Compare quotes on the deductible and roof terms, not only the price.
Wildfire reaches the suburbs now
The Marshall Fire on December 30, 2021 destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Superior and Louisville, driven by wind across dry grassland. Many owners discovered their dwelling limits fell short of rebuild costs. For a rental, check that your dwelling limit reflects current construction prices, and ask whether the policy offers extended replacement cost.
In the mountains and foothills, insurers score each address for wildfire risk. A high score can bring non-renewal. Colorado set up a FAIR Plan, which began writing policies in 2025, as a last resort for properties the private market won’t take.
Winter and water
Chinook winds can peel shingles in January, and hard freezes burst pipes in units where a tenant leaves the heat off. Flood is excluded from landlord policies. The 2013 floods along the Front Range and recurring flash floods below burn scars are why a separate flood policy is worth pricing even outside mapped zones.
What lenders require
Lenders typically want dwelling coverage at least equal to the loan or the rebuild cost, wind and hail included, the lender named as mortgagee, and flood coverage in a mapped flood zone. Investment and DSCR lenders often add loss-of-rent coverage.
How to cut a Colorado premium
- Re-roof with Class 4 impact-resistant shingles. Many insurers in the state offer a discount, and the roof survives more storms.
- Pick your hail deductible on purpose. A higher percentage cuts the premium, but only if you hold the cash.
- Create defensible space in wildfire areas and document it with photos for the underwriter.
- Insure several rentals together. Obie writes portfolio policies, and Steadily quotes each property online.
Colorado deposit rules that shift your risk
Colorado caps deposits at two months’ rent (C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5). You must return the deposit within 30 days after the lease ends, or up to 60 days if the lease says so, and wrongful withholding can bring treble damages plus attorney fees. From January 1, 2026, under HB25-1249, the deposit is the tenant’s property held by you as fiduciary, you can’t deduct for normal wear and tear or pre-existing damage, and you must provide photos, invoices or receipts within 14 days if the tenant asks. Since hail damage and tenant damage can overlap, keep dated roof and exterior photos at every turnover.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How much is landlord insurance in Colorado?
NerdWallet's 2026 benchmark for a Colorado homeowners policy on a $400,000 house is $3,910 a year, about 57% above the national average of $2,490. Landlord policies usually run 15-25% higher. Front Range hail and mountain wildfire risk push many quotes higher still. A quote for your address is the only real figure.
What is a cosmetic damage exclusion?
Some Colorado policies exclude hail damage that only affects the look of a roof or siding, such as dents in metal, without letting water in. Insurers use it to keep hail costs down. It can save premium, but you'd pay to fix dented metal yourself, so check whether your quote includes it.
Does Colorado have a FAIR Plan for hard-to-insure properties?
Yes. Colorado created a FAIR Plan by law in 2023, and it began writing policies in 2025 as a last resort for properties that can't find coverage in the regular market, mostly in high wildfire-risk areas. Coverage is more limited than a standard policy, so try private insurers and brokers first.
Do I need flood insurance for a rental in Boulder or Fort Collins?
Your lender will require it only in a FEMA special flood hazard area, but the 2013 Front Range floods damaged homes well outside mapped zones. Standard landlord policies exclude flood. A policy from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer covers it, and burn scars raise flash-flood risk for years after a fire.