Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord generally may not interrupt utilities provided to a residential tenant—such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and in some areas, trash collection—unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

A landlord generally may not shut off utilities to a residential tenant because the tenant is late in paying for the utilities. Laws vary from state to state, and laws related to a landlord’s interruption of a residential tenant’s utility services are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Colorado, landlords are prohibited from intentionally interrupting a tenant's utilities as a form of eviction or to force a tenant to vacate the property. This includes utilities such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, and security systems. The only exceptions to this rule are when utility interruptions are necessary for repairs, construction, or in response to an emergency situation. This is in accordance with Colorado's landlord-tenant laws, which are designed to protect tenants from retaliatory or punitive actions by landlords, such as shutting off utilities due to late payment. Tenants who experience unlawful utility shutoffs by their landlords may have legal recourse and should consider consulting with an attorney to understand their rights and potential remedies under Colorado law.