Cal. Civ. Code § 38-12-501
Legislative declaration - matter of statewide concern - purposes and policies.
Operative Text
(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the provisions of this part 5 are a matter of statewide concern. Any local government ordinance, resolution, or other regulation that is in conflict with this part 5 shall be unenforceable. (2) The underlying purposes and policies of this part 5 are to: (a) Simplify, clarify, modernize, and revise the law governing the rental of dwelling units and the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants; (b) Encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of housing; (c) Make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this part 5 throughout Colorado; (d) Promote public health by ensuring rental housing is safe and healthy for tenants; and (e) Protect and provide remedies for tenants who experience uninhabitable conditions at their residential premises. (3) This part 5 should be broadly interpreted to achieve its intended purpose.
Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-501 establishes that the state's residential rental laws under Part 5 are a matter of statewide concern, meaning local government rules that conflict with Part 5 are unenforceable. The provision sets out the overarching goals of Part 5: to clarify and modernize landlord-tenant law, promote housing quality and public health, and provide remedies for tenants facing uninhabitable conditions. Courts and agencies are directed to interpret Part 5 broadly to carry out these purposes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 38-12-501, the entire framework of Part 5 applies uniformly across Colorado, so property owners and managers cannot rely on a conflicting local ordinance to excuse non-compliance with state standards. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with Part 5's requirements as the baseline governing their rental units statewide, regardless of the municipality in which those units are located. Because § 38-12-501 calls for broad interpretation of Part 5, operators typically err on the side of meeting the statute's housing quality and habitability standards rather than seeking narrow readings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 38-12-501 signals that Part 5 is designed to protect tenants and should be read broadly in their favor, including providing remedies for uninhabitable conditions at a rental home. Tenants can note that any local rule conflicting with Part 5 is unenforceable, meaning the state-level protections under this part generally cannot be stripped away by a city or county ordinance. Tenants who believe their rights under Part 5 are being violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or consulting with a legal aid provider to understand what remedies the statute makes available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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