Colorado § 39-11-142 - Disposition of certificates of purchase held by counties.

§ 39-11-142. Disposition of certificates of purchase held by counties.

(1) In cases where a tax lien on property has been struck off to the county at a tax lien sale and the county has held the certificate of purchase for three years or more, the board of county commissioners may apply for public auction for treasurer's deed and receive a treasurer's deed in the same manner as is provided by law in the case of certificates of purchase held by investors in accordance with article 11.5 of this title 39.

(2) In cases where the county has held the certificate of purchase for three years or more and the property is not located within the limits of any incorporated town or city within the county, the county may include in one request or demand any or all separate parcels of property for which it holds certificates of purchase for tax lien sales in any one year, and the board of county commissioners may apply for public auction for treasurer's deed and receive treasurer's deeds therefor.

(3) Repealed.

(4) In all cases, the owner of the property must have the right of redemption of the property as provided by law.

(5) Repealed.

(6) (a) In all cases where a tax lien on property has been struck off to the county at a tax lien sale and the county has held the certificate of purchase for five years or more without obtaining a treasurer's deed as provided in this section and article 11.5 of this title 39, then the treasurer shall declare the certificate of purchase void and of no effect.

(b) Repealed.

(c) Upon being presented with the list of tax liens, the board of county commissioners shall determine that the tax liens were struck off to the county, that the certificates of purchase relating thereto have been held by the county for five years or more, and that no treasurer's deed has been obtained or applied for as provided in this section and article 11.5 of this title 39. Upon making that determination, the board of county commissioners may declare that the certificates of purchase are void, and an order to that effect must be duly entered in the recorded proceedings of the board, which order must direct the treasurer to cancel such certificates of purchase.

(d) Upon receipt of an order or resolution of the board of county commissioners declaring that any certificates of purchase are void, the treasurer shall record that order or resolution in the public records and shall cancel all certificates of purchase specified in that order.

(e) Any action concerning a determination and declaration by a board of county commissioners made pursuant to this subsection (6) must be commenced within one year after the date of the board's order, or said action shall be forever barred.

(7) The treasurer shall at least once each year prepare and present, at any regular or special meeting of the board of county commissioners, a list of all tax liens on all property struck off to the county and all certificates of purchase relating thereto, which certificates of purchase have been held by the county for three years or more without obtaining a treasurer's deed or being otherwise disposed of under this article 11 or article 11.5 of this title 39.

Source: L. 64: R&RE, p. 738, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 137-11-41. L. 67: p. 802, § 2. L. 85: (1) and (6)(a) to (6)(c) amended, p. 1244, § 28, effective July 1. L. 2020: (1) amended, (6)(b) repealed, and (7) added, (HB 20-1077), ch. 80, p. 328, § 19, effective September 14. L. 2024: (1), (2), (3), (6)(a), (6)(c), and (7) amended, (HB 24-1056), ch. 165, p. 783, § 3, effective July 1. L. 2026: (1), (2), (4), (6)(a), (6)(c), (6)(d), (6)(e), and (7) amended and (3) and (5) repealed, (SB 26-144), ch. 135, p. 613, § 41, effective June 1.

Editor's note: Section 55(1) of chapter 135 (SB 26-144), Session Laws of Colorado 2026, provides that the act changing this section applies to any fee imposed, assessed, or collected by a county treasurer on or after June 1, 2026.