Do you need a license to be a property manager in Colorado?

In Colorado, managing or renting property for others for pay is real estate work that needs a license: the real estate broker license, issued by the Colorado Real Estate Commission and Division of Real Estate. The exact wording, with any exceptions, is below.

Managing property for others"(6) (a) “Real estate broker” or “broker” means any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, association, or corporation that, in consideration of compensation by fee, commission, salary, or anything of value or with the intention of receiving or collecting such compensation, ... (I) Selling, exchanging, buying, renting, or leasing real estate, or interest therein, or improvements affixed thereon; ... (VIII) Performing any of the foregoing acts as an employee of, or on behalf of, the owner of real estate, or interest therein, or improvements affixed thereon at a salary or for a fee, commission, or other consideration; ... It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, association, or corporation to engage in the business or capacity of real estate broker in this state without first having obtained a license from the commission." official source
On-site and employee exemptions"(IV) Any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or association acting personally or a corporation acting through its officers or regularly salaried employees, on behalf of that person or on its own behalf as principal in acquiring or in negotiating to acquire any interest in real estate;" "(VIII) A corporation with respect to property owned or leased by it, acting through its officers or regularly salaried employees, when the acts are incidental and necessary in the ordinary course of the corporation’s business activities of a non-real-estate nature" "(XII) A regularly salaried employee of an owner of an apartment building or complex who acts as an on-site manager of such an apartment building or complex. This exemption applies only in respect to the customary duties of an on-site manager performed for his or her employer." "(XIII) A regularly salaried employee of an owner of condominium units who acts as an on- site manager of such units. For purposes of this subsection (6)(b)(XIII) only, the term “owner” includes a homeowners’ association formed and acting pursuant to its recorded condominium declaration and bylaws. This exemption applies only in respect to the customary duties of an on-site manager performed for his or her employer." official source
Licensing agencyColorado Real Estate Commission and Division of Real Estate (Department of Regulatory Agencies) official source
CredentialReal estate broker license (Colorado has no separate salesperson or property manager license; brokers work as employing or independent brokers) official source

Checked against official Colorado sources on Oct 27, 2026. This is not legal advice: rules change and exemptions depend on who employs you, so confirm with the licensing agency. This page lists only what we could confirm on an official page.

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