Colorado Legal Ages

Legal ages in Colorado

1. Age 2

   • Rear-facing car seat age requirement ends

     The law requires a rear-facing seat until age 2; after that a child may ride forward-facing.

     A child under 2 who weighs 40 pounds or more may ride forward-facing.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 42-4-236(2)(a)(II)

2. Age 6

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Colorado requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from age 6.

     Applies to children who turn 6 on or before August 1.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 22-33-104(1)(a)

3. Age 9

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 9; after that a seat belt can be used.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 42-4-236(2)(a)(IV), (2)(b)

4. Age 14

   • Can work limited hours in non-hazardous jobs (federal rule)

     Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work in permitted non-hazardous jobs, outside school hours and within weekly hour limits.

     Limits: no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out; only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) (29 C.F.R. 570.35).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can work (state minimum age)

     Colorado bars employment of minors under 14 except in listed light jobs.

     From age 12, minors may do listed nonhazardous work such as babysitting, yard work and newspaper delivery; a few jobs are open from age 9.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 8-12-105(1)

5. Age 15

   • Can get a learner's permit

     Colorado issues a learner permit at 15 with a 30-hour driver education course.

     From 15 and 6 months, a 4-hour driver awareness program can replace the 30-hour course.

     Colorado law · Colorado DMV, permits and first-time licenses (under 21)

   • Can pre-register to vote

     Colorado lets residents pre-register to vote at 15; they can vote once they are 18, or in a primary at 17.

     The pre-registration age dropped from 16 to 15 in a version effective January 1, 2025.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 1-2-101(2)

6. Age 16

   • Can work any non-hazardous job (federal rule)

     At 16, the general federal minimum working age applies: any job except those the Labor Department declares hazardous.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a first license to drive alone

     A minor license for driving alone is available at 16 after holding a permit for 12 months.

     Requires 50 hours of logged supervised driving, 10 at night.

     Colorado law · Colorado DMV, permits and first-time licenses (under 21)

   • Lowest marriage age with parent or court consent

     With a court's approval, the lowest age to marry is 16.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. 14-2-106(1)(a)(I), 14-2-108(1)-(2), 14-2-106.5(2)

7. Age 17

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Colorado's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 17th birthday.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 22-33-104(1)(a)

   • Can vote in a primary if 18 by the general election

     Colorado lets 17-year-olds vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the general election.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 1-2-101(2)(c)

8. Age 18

   • Can work in jobs federal law calls hazardous

     At 18, the federal bar on jobs the Labor Department declares hazardous for minors ends for non-farm work.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Teen license limits end (varies, see rule)

     Passenger limits on a minor license end at 18 or after the first year, whichever comes first.

     The midnight to 5 a.m. curfew and passenger limits apply only in the first year of licensure, so a teen licensed at 16 is free of them at 17. Drivers under 18 may not text or talk on a phone while driving.

     Colorado law · Colorado DMV, permits and first-time licenses (under 21)

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

     From 18, a person can be tattooed without a parent's consent.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 13-22-101(1) (age of majority); C.R.S. § 25-4-2103

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult, with full rights to contract and sue, at 18.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 13-22-101(1)

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 18.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. 15-11-501

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 18.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. 14-2-106(1)(a)(I)

   • Adult adoptee can get the original birth certificate

     An adult adoptee can request a copy of the original birth certificate from age 18.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 19-1-103 (adult adoptee); § 19-5-305

   • Can vote

     The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote at 18 in every federal, state and local election.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. amend. XXVI, § 1

   • Must register with Selective Service (men)

     Men 18 through 25 who are U.S. citizens or live in the United States must register with the Selective Service System.

     Men admitted on a nonimmigrant visa are exempt while they keep that status (50 U.S.C. 3802(a)).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 50 U.S.C. § 3802(a)

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 18.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 13-71-105(2)(a)-(c)

   • Can be called for federal jury service

     Federal courts may call U.S. citizens 18 or older who have lived in the judicial district for a year.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)

   • Charged as an adult by default (juvenile court age ends)

     Colorado tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 18; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     A juvenile court can transfer some younger defendants to adult court for serious offenses.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 19-1-103(21)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     State law bars selling lottery tickets to, or buying them by, anyone under 18.

     A lottery ticket may still be given to someone under 18 as a gift.

     Colorado law · C.R.S. § 44-40-116(1)(c)

9. Age 21

   • Can drive a commercial truck across state lines

     Federal rules require drivers of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce to be at least 21.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(1)

   • Can buy tobacco or vapes

     Federal law bars any retailer from selling cigarettes, vapes or other tobacco products to anyone under 21, in every state.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 21 U.S.C. § 387f(d)(5)

   • Can buy alcohol

     Federal highway funding law withholds funds from any state that lets anyone under 21 buy alcohol or possess it in public, so every state sets 21.

     Federal rules let states exempt possession (not purchase) for a religious purpose, with a parent, spouse or legal guardian 21 or older, for medical use, in private clubs, or in lawful employment (23 C.F.R. 1208.3).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 23 U.S.C. § 158(a)

   • Under-21 credit card limits end (no cosigner or independent income needed)

     Under 21, a card issuer may open a credit card only with a cosigner or proof that you can repay on your own.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 15 U.S.C. § 1637(c)(8)

10. Age 25

    • Can serve in the U.S. House

      The Constitution sets 25 as the minimum age for the U.S. House of Representatives.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 2, cl. 2

11. Age 30

    • Can serve as governor

      Colorado's constitution requires the governor to be at least 30 years old.

      Colorado law · Colo. Const. art. IV, § 4

    • Can serve in the U.S. Senate

      The Constitution sets 30 as the minimum age for the U.S. Senate.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 3

12. Age 35

    • Can serve as President

      The Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for President.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 5

13. Age 62

    • Can start Social Security retirement benefits (reduced)

      Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, permanently reduced.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Retirement Benefits: Benefit reduction for early retirement

14. Age 65

    • Eligible for Medicare by age

      Medicare hospital insurance by age begins at 65 for people entitled, or who would be entitled, to Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 42 U.S.C. § 426(a)

15. Age 67

    • Full Social Security retirement age (born 1960 or later)

      Full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

16. Age 73

    • Retirement-account minimum withdrawals begin

      Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts begin at 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9)(C)(v)

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