Colorado criminal charge
Public buildings in Colorado
Public buildings is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-110. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-110.
What is the penalty for public buildings in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Impeding public official/employee by force or intimidation (subsection 2) — Applies when a person violates subsection (2), willfully impeding a public official or employee through restraint, abduction, coercion, intimidation, or force and violence.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Impeding public official/employee by force or intimidation (subsection 2) — Applies when a person violates subsection (2), willfully impeding a public official or employee through restraint, abduction, coercion, intimidation, or force and violence.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Disrupting judicial, legislative, or administrative meeting (subsection 4) — Applies when a person violates subsection (4), willfully impeding, disrupting, or hindering a meeting or session through intrusion or intimidation of a member or official.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Disrupting judicial, legislative, or administrative meeting (subsection 4) — Applies when a person violates subsection (4), willfully impeding, disrupting, or hindering a meeting or session through intrusion or intimidation of a member or official.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Denying lawful rights to enter, use, or leave public building (subsection 1) — Applies when a person violates subsection (1), willfully denying a public official, employee, or invitee the right to enter, use, or leave a public building.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Denying lawful rights to enter, use, or leave public building (subsection 1) — Applies when a person violates subsection (1), willfully denying a public official, employee, or invitee the right to enter, use, or leave a public building.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Refusal to leave building when ordered (subsection 3) — Applies when a person violates subsection (3), willfully refusing to leave a public building after being properly requested to do so due to disruptive conduct.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Refusal to leave building when ordered (subsection 3) — Applies when a person violates subsection (3), willfully refusing to leave a public building after being properly requested to do so due to disruptive conduct.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Disrupting executive body proceedings (subsection 5) — Applies when a person violates subsection (5), willfully impeding, disrupting, or hindering an executive body or official through intrusion into designated areas.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Disrupting executive body proceedings (subsection 5) — Applies when a person violates subsection (5), willfully impeding, disrupting, or hindering an executive body or official through intrusion into designated areas.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Picketing inside legislative building (subsection 6) — Applies when a person violates subsection (6), picketing inside a building housing the general assembly's chambers, offices, or legislative hearings.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Picketing inside legislative building (subsection 6) — Applies when a person violates subsection (6), picketing inside a building housing the general assembly's chambers, offices, or legislative hearings.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is public buildings classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impeding public official/employee by force or intimidation (subsection 2) | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when a person violates subsection (2), willfully impeding a public official or employee through restraint, abduction, coercion, intimidation, or force and violence. | 18-9-110(8)(a) |
| Disrupting judicial, legislative, or administrative meeting (subsection 4) | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when a person violates subsection (4), willfully impeding, disrupting, or hindering a meeting or session through intrusion or intimidation of a member or official. | 18-9-110(8)(a) |
| Denying lawful rights to enter, use, or leave public building (subsection 1) | petty offense | Applies when a person violates subsection (1), willfully denying a public official, employee, or invitee the right to enter, use, or leave a public building. | 18-9-110(8)(b) |
| Refusal to leave building when ordered (subsection 3) | petty offense | Applies when a person violates subsection (3), willfully refusing to leave a public building after being properly requested to do so due to disruptive conduct. | 18-9-110(8)(b) |
| Disrupting executive body proceedings (subsection 5) | petty offense | Applies when a person violates subsection (5), willfully impeding, disrupting, or hindering an executive body or official through intrusion into designated areas. | 18-9-110(8)(b) |
| Picketing inside legislative building (subsection 6) | petty offense | Applies when a person violates subsection (6), picketing inside a building housing the general assembly's chambers, offices, or legislative hearings. | 18-9-110(8)(b) |
Common questions about public buildings in Colorado
Is public buildings a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: public buildings ranges from a petty offense to a class 2 misdemeanor in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-110.
Impeding public official/employee by force or intimidation (subsection 2): class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-110(8)(a)) · Disrupting judicial, legislative, or administrative meeting (subsection 4): class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-110(8)(a)) · Denying lawful rights to enter, use, or leave public building (subsection 1): petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-110(8)(b)) · Refusal to leave building when ordered (subsection 3): petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-110(8)(b)) · Disrupting executive body proceedings (subsection 5): petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-110(8)(b)) · Picketing inside legislative building (subsection 6): petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-110(8)(b))
What are the penalties for public buildings in Colorado?
Penalties for public buildings in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a petty offense up to a class 2 misdemeanor — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers public buildings?
Public buildings is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-110 (Public buildings - trespass, interference - penalty).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.