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Colorado data breach notification law

What Colorado requires when personal information is exposed: how fast residents must be notified, when the Attorney General has to be told, what it costs to get it wrong, and whether affected people can sue. Governed by Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-716 (businesses); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-73-103 (government entities).

30 days
Notification deadline
Required
AG notification
No
Private right of action
None
Liability protection

What this means if you sell security services

With only 30 days to notify residents, Colorado organizations are usually still mid-response when their filing becomes public, which is the point at which outside help is easiest to justify. Attorney General notice is required, and that filing is what puts the incident on the public record RiversideIQ tracks. The law itself gives individuals no right to sue, so the conversation centers on regulator penalties and remediation rather than lawsuits.

See recent Colorado breach filings →

Requirements in detail

Statute
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-716 (businesses); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-73-103 (government entities)
Deadline to notify residents
In the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay, but no later than 30 days after determining that a security breach occurred. If law enforcement delays notice, it is due no later than 30 days after law enforcement says notice will no longer impede the investigation.
Attorney General notification
Yes, within 30 days after determining that a breach occurred, if the breach is reasonably believed to have affected 500 or more Colorado residents, unless the investigation finds that misuse has not occurred and is not likely to occur. Nationwide consumer reporting agencies must be notified without unreasonable delay when more than 1,000 Colorado residents are notified.
Penalties
The Attorney General may sue in law or equity to address violations, obtain other relief needed to ensure compliance, and recover direct economic damages caused by a violation. The statute does not set a specific civil penalty amount.
Private right of action
No. The breach notification law itself doesn't give individuals a right to sue; the Attorney General enforces it. People can still bring other claims after a breach, such as negligence.
Encryption exemption
Colorado's notification requirements apply to unencrypted personal information. Encrypted data generally doesn't trigger notice unless the encryption key or credentials were also compromised.
Liability protection for security programs
None. Colorado has no law limiting breach lawsuits for organizations that maintain a security program.

Colorado breach notification FAQ

What is the data breach notification deadline in Colorado?

In the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay, but no later than 30 days after determining that a security breach occurred. If law enforcement delays notice, it is due no later than 30 days after law enforcement says notice will no longer impede the investigation. The governing law is Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-716 (businesses); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-73-103 (government entities).

Does Colorado require notifying the Attorney General of a data breach?

Yes, within 30 days after determining that a breach occurred, if the breach is reasonably believed to have affected 500 or more Colorado residents, unless the investigation finds that misuse has not occurred and is not likely to occur. Nationwide consumer reporting agencies must be notified without unreasonable delay when more than 1,000 Colorado residents are notified.

What are the penalties for failing to report a data breach in Colorado?

The Attorney General may sue in law or equity to address violations, obtain other relief needed to ensure compliance, and recover direct economic damages caused by a violation. The statute does not set a specific civil penalty amount.

Can individuals sue over a data breach in Colorado?

No. The breach notification law itself doesn't give individuals a right to sue; the Attorney General enforces it. People can still bring other claims after a breach, such as negligence.

Does encrypted data need to be reported in Colorado?

Colorado's notification requirements apply to unencrypted personal information. Encrypted data generally doesn't trigger notice unless the encryption key or credentials were also compromised.

Does Colorado limit breach lawsuits for companies with a cybersecurity program?

No. Colorado has no law limiting breach lawsuits for organizations that maintain a security program.

Last reviewed October 5, 2026. This summary is for general information and is not legal advice. Statutes change; confirm current requirements with counsel or the Colorado Attorney General before relying on them.

Other states with a 30-day deadline

Breach notification laws by state

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