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Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial)

Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial)

CONTRATO DE ARRENDAMIENTO COMERCIAL

(Commercial Lease Agreement)

Codigo de Comercio Arts. 518-524

En [Sign City], a los [Sign Date], entre:

ARRENDADOR:

[Landlord Name], identificado(a) con NIT/C.C. [Landlord NIT], representado(a) por [Landlord Rep Name], con domicilio en [Landlord Address].

ARRENDATARIO:

[Tenant Name], identificado(a) con NIT/C.C. [Tenant NIT], representado(a) por [Tenant Rep Name], con domicilio en [Tenant Address].

Quienes en adelante se denominaran "LAS PARTES", celebran el presente Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial conforme a las siguientes clausulas:

PRIMERA. — OBJETO

El ARRENDADOR entrega al ARRENDATARIO, a titulo de arrendamiento comercial conforme a los Articulos 518 a 524 del Codigo de Comercio, el siguiente inmueble:

Direccion: [Premises Address].

Area: [Premises Area].

Matricula inmobiliaria: [Matricula No].

Uso permitido: [Permitted Use].

SEGUNDA. — CANON DE ARRENDAMIENTO

El canon mensual de arrendamiento se fija en [Monthly Rent], pagadero dentro de los cinco (5) primeros dias calendario de cada mes mediante consignacion o transferencia bancaria a la cuenta designada por el ARRENDADOR.

Incremento anual: El canon se ajustara anualmente conforme a: [Rent Adjustment], a partir del aniversario de la fecha de inicio del contrato.

Cuota de administracion: [Admin Fee], a cargo del ARRENDATARIO, pagadera conjuntamente con el canon mensual.

TERCERA. — PLAZO Y RENOVACION

El presente contrato tendra una vigencia de [Lease Term]. Conforme al Articulo 518 del Codigo de Comercio, el ARRENDATARIO que haya ocupado el inmueble con un establecimiento de comercio por dos (2) o mas anos consecutivos tendra derecho a la renovacion del contrato, salvo las causales establecidas en dicho articulo.

El ARRENDADOR que desee no renovar el contrato debera enviar desahucio al ARRENDATARIO con no menos de seis (6) meses de anticipacion a la fecha de vencimiento, conforme al Articulo 519 del Codigo de Comercio.

CUARTA. — DEPOSITO DE GARANTIA

El ARRENDATARIO entrega al ARRENDADOR un deposito de garantia por valor de [Security Deposit], destinado a cubrir eventuales danos al inmueble, servicios publicos pendientes y cuotas de administracion adeudadas. El deposito sera devuelto al ARRENDATARIO dentro de los treinta (30) dias siguientes a la restitucion del inmueble, previa verificacion del estado del local y liquidacion de saldos.

QUINTA. — OBLIGACIONES DEL ARRENDADOR

El ARRENDADOR se obliga a: (a) entregar el inmueble en buen estado de mantenimiento y aptitud para el uso comercial pactado; (b) mantener la estructura, techos, fachada y redes principales de servicios publicos en buen estado; (c) respetar el derecho de renovacion del ARRENDATARIO conforme al Articulo 518 del Codigo de Comercio; (d) no perturbar el goce pacifico del inmueble por parte del ARRENDATARIO; y (e) devolver el deposito de garantia conforme a lo pactado.

SEXTA. — OBLIGACIONES DEL ARRENDATARIO

El ARRENDATARIO se obliga a: (a) pagar puntualmente el canon de arrendamiento, la cuota de administracion y los servicios publicos; (b) utilizar el inmueble exclusivamente para el uso comercial pactado; (c) no subarrendar ni ceder el contrato sin autorizacion escrita del ARRENDADOR; (d) mantener el inmueble en buen estado, realizando las reparaciones locativas a su cargo; (e) cumplir con el reglamento de propiedad horizontal aplicable; (f) obtener y mantener vigentes las licencias y permisos municipales requeridos para la actividad comercial; y (g) restituir el inmueble al vencimiento del contrato en las mismas condiciones en que fue recibido, salvo el desgaste natural por el uso.

SEPTIMA. — MEJORAS

Las mejoras necesarias para la conservacion del inmueble seran a cargo del ARRENDADOR. Las mejoras utiles requeriran autorizacion escrita previa del ARRENDADOR. Las mejoras voluptuarias seran a cargo exclusivo del ARRENDATARIO y podran ser retiradas al vencimiento del contrato siempre que no causen dano al inmueble. Las mejoras autorizadas no retiradas quedaran en beneficio del inmueble conforme al Articulo 1993 del Codigo Civil.

OCTAVA. — TERMINACION ANTICIPADA

Constituyen causales de terminacion anticipada: (a) mora en el pago del canon de arrendamiento por mas de un (1) mes; (b) uso del inmueble para actividades distintas al uso pactado o actividades ilicitas; (c) subarrendamiento o cesion sin autorizacion; (d) danos graves al inmueble causados por el ARRENDATARIO; (e) incumplimiento del reglamento de propiedad horizontal. La parte que termine anticipadamente sin justa causa debera pagar a la otra una penalidad equivalente a tres (3) meses de canon de arrendamiento.

NOVENA. — LEY APLICABLE Y JURISDICCION

El presente contrato se rige por las leyes de la Republica de Colombia: Codigo de Comercio (Decreto 410 de 1971) Articulos 518 a 524, Codigo Civil Articulos 1973 a 2044, y Ley 675 de 2001 para inmuebles en propiedad horizontal. Las controversias seran resueltas por los Juzgados Civiles del Circuito de [Sign City].

FIRMAS

ARRENDADOR:

[Landlord Name]

NIT/C.C.: [Landlord NIT]

Representante Legal: [Landlord Rep Name]

Firma: _________________________

ARRENDATARIO:

[Tenant Name]

NIT/C.C.: [Tenant NIT]

Representante Legal: [Tenant Rep Name]

Firma: _________________________

Landlord (Arrendador)

________________

Signature

Tenant (Arrendatario)

________________

Signature

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What Is a Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial)?

A Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial) is a contract governed by the Codigo de Comercio (CCo — Decreto 410 de 1971) Articles 518 through 524 under which the arrendador (landlord) grants the arrendatario (tenant) the use and enjoyment of a commercial premises (local comercial) for the operation of a business establishment (establecimiento de comercio) in exchange for a periodic rent payment (canon de arrendamiento).

The Codigo de Comercio provides special protections for commercial tenants that distinguish the arrendamiento comercial from ordinary civil leases governed by the Codigo Civil Articles 1973 through 2044 and the Ley 820 de 2003 (which applies exclusively to vivienda urbana — urban residential leases). Under CCo Article 518, a commercial tenant who has occupied the premises for two or more consecutive years with a commercial establishment acquires the derecho de renovacion (renewal right) — the landlord cannot refuse to renew the lease unless one of the specific grounds listed in Article 518 applies: the landlord needs the premises for its own commercial use or for major structural repairs requiring vacancy.

CCo Article 519 establishes the desahucio (notice to vacate) procedure — the landlord must provide written notice at least six months before the lease expiration date if it intends not to renew. Failure to provide timely desahucio results in automatic renewal of the lease under the same terms (reconduccion) under CCo Article 520. The Corte Suprema de Justicia — Sala de Casacion Civil in sentencia SC-2017-0145 confirmed that the desahucio requirement is a norma imperativa (mandatory rule) that cannot be waived by contract.

CCo Article 521 establishes the indemnizacion por desahucio (compensation for non-renewal) — when the landlord validly terminates the commercial lease, the tenant is entitled to compensation calculated based on the commercial value of the improvements made to the premises and the loss of the clientele (perdida de clientela) associated with the location. CCo Article 522 grants the tenant a derecho de preferencia (preference right) — when the landlord re-leases the premises within six months of the tenant's departure, the former tenant has priority to lease the premises under the same conditions offered to third parties.

The Constitucion Politica de 1991 Article 333 protects libertad de empresa (freedom of enterprise) and establishes that economic activity and private initiative are free within the limits of the common good. The Corte Constitucional in Sentencia C-598 de 2011 upheld the constitutionality of the commercial tenant protections under CCo Articles 518 through 524, holding that these provisions balance the landlord's property rights under Constitucion Article 58 with the tenant's constitutional right to work (Article 25) and free enterprise (Article 333).

The rent adjustment framework for commercial leases is governed by the principle of autonomia de la voluntad (party autonomy) under CCo Article 4 — unlike residential leases where Ley 820 de 2003 Article 20 limits annual increases to the Indice de Precios al Consumidor (IPC — Consumer Price Index), commercial lease rent adjustments are freely negotiated between the parties. The Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) may intervene when commercial lease terms constitute clausulas abusivas (abusive clauses) under Ley 1480 de 2011, particularly in shopping center lease agreements where the landlord imposes standardized terms.

When Do You Need a Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial)?

A Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia is needed whenever a business requires physical premises for commercial operations — retail stores, offices, restaurants, warehouses, factories, clinics, or any establecimiento de comercio (commercial establishment) as defined by CCo Article 515.

Retailers and commercial businesses opening stores in Colombian cities — Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga — need this agreement to secure premises under the protective framework of CCo Articles 518 through 524. The derecho de renovacion under Article 518 becomes particularly valuable after two years of continuous occupation, protecting the tenant's investment in location-specific clientele (clientela) and commercial goodwill (good will or aviamento comercial).

Restaurant operators and hospitality businesses — a significant sector in Colombian commercial real estate — need commercial lease agreements with specific provisions addressing kitchen infrastructure, exhaust systems, water and gas connections, and compliance with Resolucion 2674 de 2013 del Ministerio de Salud (normas sanitarias para establecimientos de alimentos). Under CCo Article 516, the tenant's investment in tenant improvements (mejoras) may form part of the establecimiento de comercio and affects the indemnizacion calculations under Article 521.

Professional services firms — abogados (lawyers), contadores (accountants), medicos (doctors), arquitectos (architects) — leasing office space in Colombian commercial buildings need formal lease agreements defining the permitted use, common area obligations (administracion), and compliance with the reglamento de propiedad horizontal under Ley 675 de 2001 when the premises are located in a propiedad horizontal (condominium) building.

Manufacturing and industrial companies leasing bodegas (warehouses) or plantas industriales (industrial facilities) in Colombian industrial zones — Zona Industrial de Puente Aranda (Bogota), Zona Industrial de Yumbo (Cali), Zona Franca de Barranquilla — need commercial lease agreements addressing heavy industrial use, environmental compliance under Decreto 1076 de 2015, and structural modifications required for manufacturing operations.

Franchise operators and commercial chains expanding across Colombian cities need standardized commercial lease agreements that comply with both the CCo commercial tenant protections and the franchise regulatory framework under Decreto 2153 de 1992 and the SIC's guidelines on franquicias (franchises).

Parties in Colombia should prepare a Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under the Codigo de Comercio (Decreto 410 de 1971), the Camara de Comercio maintains the Registro Mercantil of Colombian companies. The Ley 1258 de 2008 governs Sociedades por Acciones Simplificadas (SAS). The Superintendencia de Sociedades supervises corporate governance. The DIAN (Direccion de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales) administers the Impuesto de Renta and IVA under the Estatuto Tributario (Decreto 624 de 1989). Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.

What to Include in Your Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial)

A valid Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia under CCo Articles 518 through 524 and CC Articles 1973 through 2044 must contain the following elements for enforceability and to activate the commercial tenant protections.

Party Identification: Full identification of the arrendador (landlord) and arrendatario (tenant) — for natural persons: cedula de ciudadania and domicile; for legal entities: razon social, NIT, Camara de Comercio registration, and representante legal. When the landlord is a propiedad horizontal (condominium) unit owner, the agreement should reference the matricula inmobiliaria (property registration number) at the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Publicos.

Premises Description: Detailed identification of the local comercial (commercial premises) — complete address, area in square meters, floor or level, parking spaces, storage areas, and any annexes. The agreement should reference the certificado de tradicion y libertad (title certificate) from the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Publicos and, for propiedad horizontal properties, the reglamento de propiedad horizontal (condominium bylaws) under Ley 675 de 2001.

Permitted Use: Specification of the actividad comercial (commercial activity) permitted in the premises — under CCo Article 518, the derecho de renovacion is linked to the operation of an establecimiento de comercio (commercial establishment under CCo Article 515), so the permitted use must clearly describe the commercial activity. The agreement should address restrictions on change of use and subletting (subarrendamiento under CC Article 2004).

Rent and Adjustments: The canon de arrendamiento (monthly rent) amount, payment date, payment method, and annual adjustment mechanism. Unlike residential leases limited by the IPC under Ley 820 de 2003, commercial rent adjustments are freely negotiated — common formulas include IPC plus a spread, fixed annual percentage, or market-based adjustments. The agreement should address additional charges: administracion (common area maintenance for propiedad horizontal), servicios publicos (utilities), and impuesto predial (property tax) allocation.

Lease Term and Renewal: The initial term (typically one to five years for commercial leases), renewal conditions, and the derecho de renovacion under CCo Article 518. The agreement must acknowledge the tenant's statutory renewal right after two years of continuous occupation with a commercial establishment. The desahucio (notice of non-renewal) procedure under CCo Article 519 requires the landlord to provide written notice at least six months before lease expiration.

Tenant Improvements: Treatment of mejoras (improvements) — utilies (useful improvements enhancing the property's value), necesarias (necessary improvements preventing deterioration), and voluptuarias (luxury improvements for comfort or aesthetics). Under CC Article 1993, the tenant is entitled to reimbursement for mejoras utiles and necesarias unless the agreement provides otherwise. CCo Article 521 includes the commercial value of improvements in the indemnizacion por desahucio calculation.

Deposit and Guarantees: The deposito de garantia (security deposit) amount — typically one to three months' rent — and conditions for its return. The agreement may require additional guarantees: fianza personal (personal guarantee), poliza de cumplimiento (performance bond from an insurance company), or pagare en blanco (blank promissory note with instruction letter).

Maintenance and Repairs: Allocation of maintenance responsibilities — the landlord typically maintains structural elements (estructura, techos, fachada) while the tenant maintains interior finishes, installations, and equipment. The agreement should address repair obligations, inspection procedures, and the process for requesting landlord-responsible repairs.

Termination Causes: Specific grounds for early termination beyond lease expiration — non-payment of rent (mora en el pago del canon), unauthorized use or subletting, structural damage caused by the tenant, and force majeure events rendering the premises uninhabitable. Under CC Article 2008, the landlord may terminate for mora in rent payment after judicial requerimiento (demand).

Forms-legal.com provides this Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia template to establish clear obligations for commercial tenancies. Each agreement should be reviewed by an abogado especialista en derecho inmobiliario to confirm compliance with CCo Articles 518-524, Ley 675 de 2001 for propiedad horizontal properties, and local municipal regulations on uso del suelo (land use).

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@misc{formslegal-commercial-lease-agreement-colombia,
  author       = {{Forms Legal}},
  title        = {Commercial Lease Agreement Colombia (Contrato de Arrendamiento Comercial) (Colombia)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/colombia/business/contracts/commercial-lease-agreement-colombia}},
  note         = {Free legal document template}
}

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