Skip to main content
Explainer · Reviewed October 2026

What Is the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA)?

The Colorado Privacy Act covers controllers processing personal data of 100,000+ Colorado consumers or 25,000+ while selling data, subject to the statute and exceptions. Residents have rights to access, correction, deletion, portability, and opt-out of targeted advertising, sale, and profiling. Colorado requires covered controllers to recognize qualifying universal opt-out mechanisms, including recognized GPC signals. Enforcement is via the Attorney General and district attorneys. The general 60-day cure provision sunset on January 1, 2025, but a limited 60-day notice-and-cure rule for specified provisions remains through December 31, 2026; current notice and enforcement steps still depend on the statute and the enforcing authority.

Rahul Kandoriya
Written byRahul Kandoriya·Founder, OfflistMe·Last updated October 11, 2026

At a glance

Full name
Colorado Privacy Act
Short code
CPA
Effective date
July 1, 2023
Response reference
45 days in this snapshot
Cure period
None recorded in this snapshot
Private right of action
No
Enforcement
Colorado Attorney General
Penalty reference
Up to $20,000 per violation under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act

Who CPA applies to

A business is covered if it meets the applicability thresholds set out in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-1301 et seq.. The thresholds listed below are the research record for this law. Whether one or more applies depends on the current statute, its exceptions, and the business's facts; do not assume a universal threshold structure.

  • Controls or processes personal data of 100,000+ Colorado consumers in a calendar year, OR
  • Derives revenue or receives a discount from the sale of personal data AND processes data of 25,000+ Colorado consumers

Follow the route that matches your next question. Each link stays within a documented topic cluster and points to a canonical content page.

Consumer rights under CPA

Right to deletion (§ 6-1-1306)

Right to opt out via universal opt-out mechanisms (GPC)

Right to opt out of sale and targeted advertising

Right to appeal denials

AG + DA enforcement; no private right of action

Notable features (vs. CCPA)

The CPA is notable for formally recognizing a universal opt-out mechanism (UOOM), meaning Colorado was among the first states to require businesses to honor browser-based signals like Global Privacy Control (GPC). The Colorado AG publishes a list of UOOMs it recognizes under the CPA rules. CPA also mandates a privacy notice, data protection assessments, and explicit opt-in consent for sensitive data.

Enforcement and penalty reference

Enforcing agency: Colorado Attorney General

Penalty reference: Up to $20,000 per violation under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act

Cure period: The general 60-day cure period sunset on January 1, 2025. However, the 2026 statute retains a 60-day notice-and-cure rule for specified provisions (§§ 6-1-1305.5, 6-1-1308.5, and 6-1-1309.5) through December 31, 2026; do not assume a blanket cure rule or blanket no-cure rule without checking the provision and current law.

Private right of action: The CPA has no private right of action. Enforcement is shared between the Colorado AG and district attorneys.

Where to file a complaint: Colorado Attorney General

How to exercise your CPA rights

  1. 1

    Identify the business that holds your data. OfflistMe can help you review a provider route across 1,034 US/global data brokers in the 1,052-record research universe; it does not decide whether a law applies to a specific request.

  2. 2

    Submit a verifiable consumer request. Submit a request to the business's designated contact using the provider's current verification instructions. Include only the information reasonably needed to match your record and check the applicable Colorado residency, scope, exemption, and verification rules before sending.

  3. 3

    Track the applicable response window. This research snapshot records a 45-day reference window for the modeled request. Confirm the current statute, request type, controller scope, extension rule, and verification date before treating it as a deadline.

  4. 4

    Escalate if denied or ignored. If the provider does not respond or disputes the request, preserve the request and response record, review the applicable exceptions, and consider the Colorado Attorney General complaint route at https://complaints.coag.gov. A complaint route does not itself guarantee deletion or a particular enforcement result.

Generate requests in under 60 seconds

Generate your CPA privacy request, $9 one-time

Review the provider route, applicable law, and information you intend to send before dispatch. You remain in control of the request and any evidence kept.

FAQ

Does Global Privacy Control work in Colorado?+

Yes. Colorado is one of the states that requires businesses to honor GPC browser signals as a legal opt-out of sale and targeted advertising. Enabling GPC in your browser adds a second layer of opt-out beyond individual deletion requests.

Is there still a cure period under Colorado CPA?+

The general 60-day cure provision sunset on January 1, 2025, but a limited 60-day notice-and-cure rule for specified provisions remains through December 31, 2026. That does not establish a guaranteed investigation or penalty timeline; review the current statute, rules, and notice issued by the Attorney General or district attorney for the matter at issue.

Official sources & citations

Compare with sibling state laws

CPA is one of 18 comprehensive US state privacy laws. Its closest peers by effective date, useful when tracking how this law influenced or was influenced by neighboring legislation:

State privacy-law comparison: effective dates, cure periods, and penalties

18 explainer states are compared from the state-law datasets. The chart emphasizes cure-period days; the table preserves effective dates and penalty wording.

  • Highlighted state
  • Other states with an explainer
Texas30 daysTexas
Effective: 2024-07-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 per violation
Virginia30 daysVirginia
Effective: 2023-01-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 per violation
ColoradononeColorado
Effective: 2023-07-01
Penalty: Up to $20,000 per violation under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act
ConnecticutnoneConnecticut
Effective: 2023-07-01
Penalty: Up to $5,000 per violation under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act
Utah30 daysUtah
Effective: 2023-12-31
Penalty: Up to $7,500 per violation
OregonnoneOregon
Effective: 2024-07-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 per violation under the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act
Tennessee60 daysTennessee
Effective: 2025-07-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 per violation; a court may award treble damages for willful or knowing violations
DelawarenoneDelaware
Effective: 2025-01-01
Penalty: Up to $10,000 per violation under the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act
New HampshirenoneNew Hampshire
Effective: 2025-01-01
Penalty: Up to $10,000 per violation under RSA 358-A:4
New JerseynoneNew Jersey
Effective: 2025-01-15
Penalty: Up to $10,000 for the first violation; up to $20,000 for each subsequent violation under the NJ Consumer Fraud Act
MarylandnoneMaryland
Effective: 2025-10-01
Penalty: Up to $10,000 per violation; up to $25,000 for repeat violations under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act
MinnesotanoneMinnesota
Effective: 2025-07-31
Penalty: Up to $7,500 per violation under existing consumer protection authority
Iowa90 daysIowa
Effective: 2025-01-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 per violation under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act
Montana30 daysMontana
Effective: 2024-10-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 for each violation under Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-2820, following the statutory notice-and-cure period
Indiana30 daysIndiana
Effective: 2026-01-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 for each violation under Ind. Code § 24-15-10-2, plus reasonable enforcement expenses
Nebraska30 daysNebraska
Effective: 2025-01-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 in civil penalties for each violation under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-1124, following the statutory cure period or a breach of the written statement
Kentucky30 daysKentucky
Effective: 2026-01-01
Penalty: Up to $7,500 in damages for each continued violation under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 367.3627
Rhode IslandnoneRhode Island
Effective: 2026-01-01
Penalty: An intentional disclosure to a shell entity or in violation of the chapter carries a $100–$500 fine per disclosure under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-48.1-8; other Deceptive Trade Practices Act remedies are not summarized here

“None” follows the explainer's null cure-period field; it is not an inference about a different provision. Effective dates are “Not stated” when the matching state-page field is absent.

Show the data as a table
State privacy-law comparison: effective dates, cure periods, and penalties data table
StateEffective dateCure periodPenalty text
Texas2024-07-0130 daysUp to $7,500 per violation
Virginia2023-01-0130 daysUp to $7,500 per violation
Colorado2023-07-01noneUp to $20,000 per violation under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act
Connecticut2023-07-01noneUp to $5,000 per violation under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act
Utah2023-12-3130 daysUp to $7,500 per violation
Oregon2024-07-01noneUp to $7,500 per violation under the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act
Tennessee2025-07-0160 daysUp to $7,500 per violation; a court may award treble damages for willful or knowing violations
Delaware2025-01-01noneUp to $10,000 per violation under the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act
New Hampshire2025-01-01noneUp to $10,000 per violation under RSA 358-A:4
New Jersey2025-01-15noneUp to $10,000 for the first violation; up to $20,000 for each subsequent violation under the NJ Consumer Fraud Act
Maryland2025-10-01noneUp to $10,000 per violation; up to $25,000 for repeat violations under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act
Minnesota2025-07-31noneUp to $7,500 per violation under existing consumer protection authority
Iowa2025-01-0190 daysUp to $7,500 per violation under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act
Montana2024-10-0130 daysUp to $7,500 for each violation under Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-2820, following the statutory notice-and-cure period
Indiana2026-01-0130 daysUp to $7,500 for each violation under Ind. Code § 24-15-10-2, plus reasonable enforcement expenses
Nebraska2025-01-0130 daysUp to $7,500 in civil penalties for each violation under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-1124, following the statutory cure period or a breach of the written statement
Kentucky2026-01-0130 daysUp to $7,500 in damages for each continued violation under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 367.3627
Rhode Island2026-01-01noneAn intentional disclosure to a shell entity or in violation of the chapter carries a $100–$500 fine per disclosure under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-48.1-8; other Deceptive Trade Practices Act remedies are not summarized here
Sources (36)

Texas Business & Commerce Code, Chapter 541 (TDPSA) · Texas AG. Consumer Privacy · Virginia Code § 59.1-575 (VCDPA) · Virginia AG. Consumer Privacy · Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 6, Part 13 (Colorado Privacy Act) · Colorado AG. Data Privacy · Connecticut Attorney General. The Connecticut Data Privacy Act · Connecticut Public Act 25-113 · Utah Code Title 13, Chapter 61 (UCPA) · Utah Code § 13-61-201, effective July 1, 2026 · Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 646A (2025 edition; check later session laws) · Oregon Legislature. Current ORS update and session-law notice · Tennessee Code, Title 47, Chapter 18, Part 33 (official code volume) · Tennessee Attorney General. TIPA consumer and business guide · Delaware Code Title 6, Chapter 12D (DPDPA) · Delaware DOJ. Consumer Protection · New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Chapter 507-H (NHDPA) · New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 358-A:4 · NJDPA (P.L. 2023, c. 266. Full Text) · New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs · Maryland SB 541 / MODPA (Signed Chapter 455) · Maryland AG. Consumer Protection Division · Minnesota Statutes Chapter 325M (MCDPA) · Minnesota AG. Consumer Protection · Iowa Code Chapter 715D (ICDPA) · Iowa AG. Consumer Protection · Montana Code Title 30, Chapter 14, Part 28 (MTCDPA) · Montana DOJ. Montana Consumer Data Privacy / SB 297 · Indiana Code Title 24, Article 15 (INCDPA) · Indiana Attorney General. Consumer Data Bill of Rights · Nebraska Revised Statutes §§ 87-1101–87-1130 (NBDPA) · Nebraska Revised Statute § 87-1103 (applicability) · Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 367 (KCDPA sections) · Kentucky Revised Statutes § 367.3611 (July 1, 2027 version) · Rhode Island General Laws Title 6, Chapter 48.1 (RIDTPPA) · Rhode Island General Laws § 6-48.1-3 (information sharing practices)

Checked state pages 2026-10-14; law explainers 2026-10-11

Recorded state response-window references

The bars show deletionDeadlineDays values recorded in the state-page dataset; states without that field remain visible in a separate list.

  • Highlighted focus state
  • Other recorded states
Iowa90 days
California45 days
Colorado45 days
Connecticut45 days
Delaware45 days
Florida45 days
Indiana45 days
Kentucky45 days
Maryland45 days
Minnesota45 days
Montana45 days
Nebraska45 days
New Hampshire45 days
New Jersey45 days
Oregon45 days
Rhode Island45 days
Tennessee45 days
Texas45 days
Utah45 days
Virginia45 days

This is a reference window recorded in this dataset; confirm the statute, request type, controller scope, verification rules, extensions, and exceptions before treating it as a deadline. A recorded window does not predict acceptance or completion.

Not recorded: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Show the data as a table
Recorded state response-window references data table
StateReference windowDataset status
AlabamaNot recordedContext
AlaskaNot recordedContext
ArizonaNot recordedContext
ArkansasNot recordedContext
California45 daysContext
Colorado45 daysFocus state
Connecticut45 daysContext
Delaware45 daysContext
Florida45 daysContext
GeorgiaNot recordedContext
HawaiiNot recordedContext
IdahoNot recordedContext
IllinoisNot recordedContext
Indiana45 daysContext
Iowa90 daysContext
KansasNot recordedContext
Kentucky45 daysContext
LouisianaNot recordedContext
MaineNot recordedContext
Maryland45 daysContext
MassachusettsNot recordedContext
MichiganNot recordedContext
Minnesota45 daysContext
MississippiNot recordedContext
MissouriNot recordedContext
Montana45 daysContext
Nebraska45 daysContext
NevadaNot recordedContext
New Hampshire45 daysContext
New Jersey45 daysContext
New MexicoNot recordedContext
New YorkNot recordedContext
North CarolinaNot recordedContext
North DakotaNot recordedContext
OhioNot recordedContext
OklahomaNot recordedContext
Oregon45 daysContext
PennsylvaniaNot recordedContext
Rhode Island45 daysContext
South CarolinaNot recordedContext
South DakotaNot recordedContext
Tennessee45 daysContext
Texas45 daysContext
Utah45 daysContext
VermontNot recordedContext
Virginia45 daysContext
WashingtonNot recordedContext
West VirginiaNot recordedContext
WisconsinNot recordedContext
WyomingNot recordedContext
Sources (50)

California attorney-general source · Texas attorney-general source · Florida attorney-general source · New York attorney-general source · Virginia attorney-general source · Colorado attorney-general source · Illinois attorney-general source · Washington attorney-general source · Connecticut attorney-general source · Oregon attorney-general source · Utah attorney-general source · Pennsylvania attorney-general source · Ohio attorney-general source · Georgia attorney-general source · Massachusetts attorney-general source · New Jersey attorney-general source · Minnesota attorney-general source · Tennessee attorney-general source · Maryland attorney-general source · Delaware attorney-general source · New Hampshire attorney-general source · Indiana attorney-general source · Iowa attorney-general source · Montana attorney-general source · Nebraska attorney-general source · Kentucky attorney-general source · Rhode Island attorney-general source · Arizona attorney-general source · North Carolina attorney-general source · Michigan attorney-general source · Nevada attorney-general source · Vermont attorney-general source · Wisconsin attorney-general source · Missouri attorney-general source · Alabama attorney-general source · South Carolina attorney-general source · Louisiana attorney-general source · Oklahoma attorney-general source · Kansas attorney-general source · Mississippi attorney-general source · Arkansas attorney-general source · West Virginia attorney-general source · Maine attorney-general source · New Mexico attorney-general source · Idaho attorney-general source · Hawaii attorney-general source · Alaska attorney-general source · North Dakota attorney-general source · South Dakota attorney-general source · Wyoming attorney-general source

Checked state pages 2026-10-14

Related concepts & guides