Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-804
Service animals - violations - penalties.
Effective Aug 6, 2025L. 95: Entire section added, p. 325, § 3, effective August 7. L. 2002: (2) amended, p. 1534, § 254, effective October 1. L. 2014: (1) and (3)(a) amended and (3)(c) added, (SB 14-118), ch. 250, p. 982, § 13, effective August 6. L. 2021: (2) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3228, § 425, effective March 1, 2022. L. 2025: (3)(a)(I) amended, (HB 25-1239), ch. 232, p. 1102, § 6, effective August 6.
(1) It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or agent of any person, firm, or corporation to:
- (a) Withhold, deny, deprive, or attempt to withhold, deny, or deprive a qualified individual with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal or a trainer of a service animal of any of the rights or privileges secured in section 24-34-803;
- (b) Threaten to interfere with any of the rights of a qualified individual with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal or a trainer of a service animal secured in section 24-34-803;
- (c) Punish or attempt to punish a qualified individual with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal or a trainer of a service animal for exercising or attempting to exercise any right or privilege secured by section 24-34-803; or
- (d) Interfere with, injure, or harm, or cause another dog to interfere with, injure, or harm, a service animal.
(2)
- (a) Any person who violates subsection (1)(a), (1)(b), or (1)(c) of this section commits a petty offense and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-503.
- (b) Any person who violates subsection (1)(d) of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
(3)
(a)
- (I) Except as provided for in subsections (3)(a)(II) and (3)(a)(III) of this section, a person who violates any provision of subsection (1) of this section is liable to the qualified individual with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal or a trainer of a service animal whose rights were affected for the penalties provided in section 24-34-602.
- (II) A person who willfully or wantonly causes harm to a service animal or a service animal in training is liable to the legal owner of the service animal or service animal in training for treble the amount of actual damages.
- (III) The legal owner of an animal that is willfully or wantonly allowed to cause harm to a service animal or a service animal in training is liable to the legal owner of the service animal or service animal in training for treble the amount of actual damages.
- (b) In any action commenced pursuant to this subsection (3), a court may award costs and reasonable attorney fees.
- (c) An animal care or control agency is exempt from the provisions of this subsection (3) if, after a good-faith effort, the agency is unaware that the animal is a service animal.
- (4) Nothing in this section is intended to interfere with remedies or relief that any person might be entitled to pursuant to parts 3 to 7 of this article.
Source: L. 95: Entire section added, p. 325, § 3, effective August 7. L. 2002: (2) amended, p. 1534, § 254, effective October 1. L. 2014: (1) and (3)(a) amended and (3)(c) added, (SB 14-118), ch. 250, p. 982, § 13, effective August 6. L. 2021: (2) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3228, § 425, effective March 1, 2022. L. 2025: (3)(a)(I) amended, (HB 25-1239), ch. 232, p. 1102, § 6, effective August 6.
Editor's note: The provisions of subsection (3)(a) in SB 14-118 have been renumbered on revision to conform to statutory format.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2002 act amending subsection (2), see section 1 of chapter 318, Session Laws of Colorado 2002. For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1239, see section 1 of chapter 232, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.