Effective July 1, 2023

Colorado Privacy Act (CPA)

A practical compliance guide for website owners. Learn what Colorado's privacy law requires and how to implement it on your site.

Who Must Comply

Controls/processes personal data of 100K+ Colorado residents, OR controls/processes data of 25K+ residents and derives revenue from selling personal data

Consent model: Opt-outGPC RequiredSensitive data: Opt-in required

What Your Website Must Do

RequirementStatus
Cookie consent bannerRecommended
Do Not Sell linkRequired
Do Not Share linkRequired
Honor GPC browser signalsRequired
Universal opt-out mechanismRequired
Sensitive data opt-in consentRequired

Required Links & Notices

The CPA requires the following links or notices to be visible on your website:

  • 1Your Privacy Choices
  • 2Privacy Policy

Enforcement & Penalties

Enforcement Body
Colorado Attorney General
Maximum Penalty
Enforced under Colorado Consumer Protection Act — penalties vary. No specific per-violation amount.

Key Things to Know

Colorado is one of the most important states for privacy compliance because it requires honoring Universal Opt-Out Mechanisms (UOOM) — including Global Privacy Control (GPC) — as of July 2024. This is a technical requirement that many businesses overlook.

Unique requirement: Colorado specifically mandates that businesses recognize "universal opt-out mechanisms" as defined by the Colorado AG. GPC is the primary recognized mechanism. Failure to honor GPC signals is a compliance violation.

How to Configure LegalBanner for CPA

  1. 1

    Create your site

    Sign up for free and add your website domain in the dashboard.

  2. 2

    Set consent mode to "Opt-out"

    In Settings, select the consent mode that matches Colorado's requirements.

  3. 3

    Install the snippet

    Add the one-line script tag to your website. The banner, opt-out links, and GPC support are automatic.

  4. 4

    Generate your Privacy Policy

    Use the built-in policy wizard to generate a CPA-compliant privacy policy.

Set up CPA compliance in 5 minutes

LegalBanner handles Colorado privacy requirements automatically — cookie banner, opt-out links, and GPC support included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Colorado's Universal Opt-Out Mechanism (UOOM) requirement?

As of July 2024, Colorado requires businesses to honor Universal Opt-Out Mechanisms (UOOM) such as Global Privacy Control (GPC). This means your website must detect and automatically respect GPC browser signals as opt-out requests for targeted advertising and sale of personal data.

Does Colorado require a cookie consent banner?

Colorado does not require opt-in cookie consent. However, you must provide clear opt-out mechanisms for targeted advertising and data sale, and honor universal opt-out signals like GPC. A cookie preference center with opt-out controls is strongly recommended.

Is GPC required in Colorado?

Yes. As of July 2024, Colorado requires businesses to honor GPC signals as a valid universal opt-out mechanism. LegalBanner automatically detects and processes GPC signals for Colorado compliance.

What is the difference between Colorado and California privacy laws?

Both require honoring GPC signals. Colorado uses 'Universal Opt-Out Mechanism' terminology and has specific AG rules defining recognized mechanisms. California uses 'opt-out preference signal' language. Both have similar scope but different enforcement structures.

What are the penalties for CPA violations?

The Colorado AG enforces the CPA under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. There is no specific per-violation penalty amount — penalties are determined by the court. There is a 60-day cure period (sunset January 2025).

Disclaimer: This page provides practical implementation guidance only. It does not constitute legal advice. The information is current as of the most recent review date but privacy laws change frequently. Consult a qualified attorney for legal advice specific to your situation. LegalBanner provides compliance tools, not legal counsel.