Rule 34.Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land for Inspection and Other Purposes
Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified July 10, 2026
In one sentenceC.R.C.P. 34 lets a party demand that another party produce or permit inspection of documents, data compilations, and tangible things, or allow entry onto land for testing and photographing, with a 35-day deadline to respond or object.
(a)Scope. Subject to the limitations contained in the Case Management Order, a party may serve on any other party a request:
(1)To produce and permit the party making the request, or someone acting on the party's behalf, to inspect and copy any designated documents (including writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, phono-records, and other data compilations from which information can be obtained, translated, if necessary, by the respondent through detection devices into reasonably usable form), or to inspect and copy, test, or sample any tangible things which constitute or contain matters within the scope of C.R.C.P. 26(b) and which are in the possession, custody, or control of the party upon whom the request is served; or
(2)To permit entry upon designated land or other property in the possession or control of the party upon whom the request is served for the purpose of inspection and measuring, surveying, photographing, testing, or sampling the property or any designated object or operation thereon, within the scope of C.R.C.P. 26(b).
(b)Procedure. The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by individual item or by category, and describe each item or category with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts. The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within 35 days after the service of the request. A shorter or longer time may be directed by the court or agreed to in writing by the parties pursuant to C.R.C.P. 29. The response shall state, with respect to each item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, or state with specificity the grounds for objecting to the request. The responding party may state that it will produce copies of information instead of permitting inspection. The production must then be completed no later than the time for inspection stated in the request or another reasonable time stated in the response. An objection must state whether any responsive materials are being withheld on the basis of that objection. If objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be specified. A timely objection to a request for production stays the obligation to produce which is the subject of the objection until the court resolves the objection. No separate motion for protective order pursuant to C.R.C.P. 26(c) is required. The party submitting the request may move for an order pursuant to C.R.C.P. 37(a) with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested. A party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business or shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories in the request. Rule 34. Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land for Inspection and Other Purposes, CO ST RCP Rule 34
(c)Persons Not Parties. As provided in C.R.C.P. 45, this Rule does not preclude an independent action against a person not a party for production of documents and things and permission to enter upon land.
Amendment History
Amended effective January 1, 1989; January 1, 1995; January 1, 2012; July 1, 2015.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 34 is the document and property request. A party can ask another party to produce, or let them inspect and copy, any document, data compilation, or tangible thing that falls within the scope of discovery and is in that party's possession, custody, or control. It also covers entry onto land the other party controls, for measuring, photographing, testing, or sampling. The request has to describe each item or category with reasonable particularity and propose a reasonable time, place, and manner for the inspection.
The party served has 35 days to respond in writing, item by item or category by category: either agree to produce or inspect, or state specific grounds for objecting, including whether anything is being withheld on that basis. A responding party can choose to hand over copies instead of allowing inspection, so long as production happens by the deadline in the request or another reasonable time stated in the response. Documents produced have to be organized either as they're normally kept in business or labeled to match the categories requested.
If the other side won't produce what's asked for, Rule 37 backs this rule with a motion to compel. And because Rule 34 only reaches parties, getting documents or land access from someone outside the case calls for a subpoena or a separate action under Rule 45.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a party have to respond to a document request?
The party served has 35 days from service of the request to serve a written response, unless the court sets a different time or the parties agree in writing to one.
Can the other side send me copies instead of letting me inspect the originals?
Yes. Rule 34(b) lets the responding party produce copies instead of permitting inspection, as long as production is completed by the deadline stated in the request or another reasonable time given in the response.
Can I use Rule 34 to get documents from someone who isn't a party?
No. Rule 34 only reaches parties to the case; getting documents or land access from a nonparty requires a subpoena or an independent action under Rule 45.
What can I ask to inspect besides documents?
Rule 34 also covers tangible things you can test or sample, and entry onto land or property the other party controls for inspection, measuring, surveying, photographing, testing, or sampling.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (Colo. R. Civ. P. 34). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Colorado (C.R.S. § 13-2-108; Colo. Const. art. VI). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 10, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:RFPrequest for productiondocument requestproduction of documentsentry upon landinspection demand