Colorado § 24-34-508 - Relief authorized.

§ 24-34-508. Relief authorized.

(1) In addition to the relief authorized by section 24-34-306 (9), the commission may order a respondent who has been found to have engaged in an unfair housing practice:

(a) To rehire, reinstate, and provide back pay to any employee or agent discriminated against because of his obedience to this part 5;

(b) To take affirmative action regarding the granting of financial assistance as provided in section 24-34-502 (1)(b) or the showing, sale, transfer, rental, or lease of housing;

(c) To make reports as to the manner of compliance with the order of the commission;

(d) To reimburse any person who was discriminated against for any fee charged in violation of this part 5 and for any actual expenses incurred in obtaining comparable alternate housing, as well as any storage or moving charges associated with obtaining such housing;

(e) To award actual damages suffered by the aggrieved person and injunctive or other equitable relief;

(f) (I) To pay a civil penalty in the following amount:

(A) No more than ten thousand dollars if the respondent has not been adjudged to have committed a prior discriminatory housing practice;

(B) No more than twenty-five thousand dollars if the respondent has been adjudged to have committed another discriminatory housing practice during the five-year period ending on the date of the filing of the charge; or

(C) No more than fifty thousand dollars if the respondent has been adjudged to have committed two or more discriminatory housing practices during the seven-year period ending on the date of the filing of the charge.

(II) The commission shall require a respondent to pay, in addition to any award of damages pursuant to section 24-34-505.6, a civil penalty to the plaintiff pursuant to this subsection (1)(f) in an amount of at least five thousand dollars if:

(A) The respondent is found to have engaged in a violation of section 24-34-502 (1)(h), (1)(l), (1)(m), (1)(n), (1)(o), (1)(p), or (1)(r); and

(B) The violation concerns discrimination on the basis of an individual's use of a housing subsidy, as defined in section 38-12-902 (1.7).

(2) In addition to the relief authorized by the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, an individual with a disability who has suffered an unfair housing practice based on his or her disability is entitled to the relief set forth in section 24-34-802.

Source: L. 79: Entire part R&RE, p. 936, § 3, effective July 1. L. 89: Entire section amended, p. 1042, § 10, effective July 1. L. 90: (1)(e) and (1)(f) added, p. 1231, § 11, effective April 16. L. 2014: (2) added, (SB 14-118), ch. 250, p. 978, § 6, effective August 6. L. 2025: (1)(f) amended, (HB 25-1240), ch. 291, p. 1497, § 6, effective May 29.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1240, see section 1 of chapter 291, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.

ANNOTATION

Damages could not be awarded based on the injuries suffered by nonparties. May v. Colo. Civil Rights Comm'n, 43 P.3d 750 (Colo. App. 2002).

Party's nonparticipation is not an appropriate factor to consider when calculating damages for emotional distress. May v. Colo. Civil Rights Comm'n, 43 P.3d 750 (Colo. App. 2002).