Colorado Renters’ Rights: Protecting Your Mail Privacy

As a Colorado renter, your right to privacy extends beyond your front door — it also covers the mail and packages you receive while living in your home. Understanding your mail privacy rights helps ensure your personal information remains protected and prevents misunderstandings with your landlord. Here’s what every renter in Colorado should know about mail privacy, landlord entry, and your legal options.

Mail Privacy Rights for Colorado Tenants

Federal and Colorado laws both protect your right to privacy regarding your personal mail while renting:

• Only you or an authorized person can open or access your mail. Even your landlord should not open, hold, or interfere with your personal mail or packages.
• U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1702) makes it a crime for anyone, including landlords, to obstruct, open, or delay mail addressed to another person without permission.
• Colorado’s rental statutes guarantee a right to peaceful enjoyment of your rental unit, which covers your expectation of privacy, including mail delivery^[1].

Landlords may only handle a tenant’s mail under very specific circumstances, such as forwarding it upon your written request after you move out.

When Can a Landlord Handle Tenant Mail?

It may sometimes be unclear when a landlord can touch or access your mail. Here are the basics:

• Landlords cannot open, keep, or throw away your mail even if it arrives after you move out.
• If you have moved and informed your landlord in writing where to forward your mail, they should help by promptly sending it along, not opening it.
• If you suspect your landlord is deliberately interfering with or withholding your mail, this could be a federal crime and a violation of your tenant rights.

Your Legal Protections and Relevant Legislation

Mail privacy is ultimately protected under federal postal law and Colorado’s rental statutes. Key protections include:

• 18 U.S.C. § 1702 – Obstruction of Mail (federal criminal law)
• Colorado Revised Statutes Title 38, Article 12 — Colorado Residential Tenants Act^[1]

These laws make it clear: only the named recipient can access their mail.

What to Do If Your Landlord Interferes with Your Mail

Should you suspect that your mail is being opened, withheld, or tampered with by your landlord, here are recommended action steps:

• Document each instance of missing or tampered mail (dates, what was missing, any communication with your landlord).
• Submit a complaint to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for federal law violations.
• If your rental experience is affected, you may also file a civil complaint with your local county court under Colorado’s Residential Tenants Health and Safety Act.
• If you move, complete an official mail forwarding request form with the USPS and provide your landlord with written instructions for forwarding any stray mail that arrives.

Official Forms Tenants Can Use

• USPS Change of Address Form (PS Form 3575)
  When moving out, use this form to forward your mail to your new address. Available at any post office or fill it out online via the USPS Change of Address portal. For example, if you move out and need your landlord to forward mail for a short period, this ensures mail is sent directly to you.

Which Tribunal Handles Tenant Complaints?

In Colorado, tenant-landlord disputes regarding privacy and other rental complaints are handled by county courts and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing.

FAQ: Colorado Tenant Mail Privacy & Landlord Entry

1. Can my landlord open or look through my mail?
   No. It is illegal for anyone, including your landlord, to open or interfere with your mail without your permission.
2. What should I do if my landlord is withholding my mail?
   Document what’s happening and report the issue to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. You may also seek support through local tenant advocacy organizations or the county court.
3. If I move out, can my landlord forward my mail?
   Landlords should only forward your mail if you’ve provided written instructions. Officially forwarding your mail through the USPS is the best way to ensure you get your mail.
4. Which agency handles rental complaints in Colorado?
   The Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing provides guidance for rental disputes.
5. Is it a criminal offense if my landlord tampers with my mail?
   Yes. Mail tampering is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1702.

Key Takeaways for Colorado Renters

• Your mail is protected by federal and state law while renting.
• Landlords cannot open, hold, or dispose of your mail unless you provide explicit permission.
• Use official forms and report any privacy violations to the appropriate agencies.

Knowing your mail privacy rights helps protect your personal information and ensures a good relationship with your landlord during your tenancy.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Colorado Department of Local Affairs: Landlord-Tenant Information
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service: Report Mail Theft or Tampering
• USPS Change of Address Form Online
• Colorado Judicial Branch: File a Small Claims or Civil Complaint

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1. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 38, Article 12 – Colorado Residential Tenants Act

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