Colorado statute

C.R.S. § 18-4-105 — Fourth degree arson.

Current through 2025 Regular Session

Part of Part 1: ARSON, Colorado Revised Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Fourth degree arson

Full text of C.R.S. § 18-4-105

Statutory text current through the 2025 Regular Session. This is an officially sanctioned publication using the official text of the Colorado Revised Statutes; it is not the official statutes of the State of Colorado.

C.R.S. § 18-4-105Primary source, current through the 2025 Regular Session

(1) A person who knowingly or recklessly starts or maintains a fire or causes an explosion, on his own property or that of another, and by so doing places another in danger of death or serious bodily injury or places any building or occupied structure of another in danger of damage commits fourth degree arson. (2) Fourth degree arson is a class 4 felony if a person is thus endangered. (3) Fourth degree arson is: (a) A petty offense if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is less than three hundred dollars; (b) A class 2 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is three hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars; (c) A class 1 misdemeanor if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one thousand dollars or more but less than two thousand dollars; (d) A class 6 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is two thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars; (e) A class 5 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is five thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars; (f) A class 4 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars; (g) A class 3 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one hundred thousand dollars or more but less than one million dollars; and (h) A class 2 felony if only property is thus endangered and the value of the property is one million dollars or more. (4) Repealed. (5) It shall not be an arson offense pursuant to this section if: (a) A person starts and maintains a fire as a controlled agricultural burn in a reasonably cautious manner; and (b) No person suffers any of the following as a result of the fire: (I) Bodily injury; (II) Serious bodily injury; or (III) Death. (6) For purposes of this section, "controlled agricultural burn" means a technique used in farming to clear the land of any existing crop residue, kill weeds and weed seeds, or reduce fuel buildup and decrease the likelihood of a future fire.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is fourth degree arson a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?

It depends on the circumstances: fourth degree arson ranges from a petty offense to a class 2 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-4-105.

Fourth degree arson — person endangered: class 4 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(2)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value less than $300: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(a)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value $300 to $1,000: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(b)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value $1,000 to $2,000: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(c)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value $2,000 to $5,000: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(d)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value $5,000 to $20,000: class 5 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(e)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value $20,000 to $100,000: class 4 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(f)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value $100,000 to $1,000,000: class 3 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(g)) · Fourth degree arson — property endangered, value $1,000,000 or more: class 2 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-105(3)(h))

Which Colorado statute covers fourth degree arson?

Fourth degree arson is governed by C.R.S. § 18-4-105 (Fourth degree arson).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.