Category: STR Owner Guides

Last updated: September 2026

The short answer: yes, you can rent your Boulder home during Sundance 2027 even if you don’t live in it. The City of Boulder’s new Festival Lodging Rental License drops the principal-residence requirement, is open to any ownership type including LLCs, and allows 29 rental days a year. The festival runs 21–31 January 2027, applications are open now, and the one hard deadline in the region is 1 November 2026 for unincorporated Boulder County.

The Sundance Film Festival runs in Boulder from January 21 to 31, 2027, and the City of Boulder has created a license class specifically so residents can rent their homes to attendees. It’s called the Festival Lodging Rental License, and it does something Boulder’s ordinary short-term rental rules have never allowed. It lets you rent a property you don’t live in.

That’s the headline for most owners. Boulder’s standard short-term rental license requires the home to be your principal residence for more than half the year. The Festival Lodging license removes that requirement entirely.

Demand is real. Airbnb searches for Boulder during the festival window are up 500% year over year, and as of mid-August the city had received 964 festival lodging applications with roughly half already issued. Supply is filling. If you’re considering this, the useful question isn’t whether to do it. It’s what the actual deadlines are, and what your property is realistically worth.

The deadlines that matter

Only one jurisdiction has published a hard cut-off. The rest are governed by processing time, which amounts to the same thing.

Date	What happens
November 1, 2026	Application deadline for unincorporated Boulder County. The county has no festival license, so you need a standard short-term or vacation rental license, and this is the last date to apply for approval before the festival.
Early December 2026	Practical cut-off for a City of Boulder festival license. There is no published deadline, but the city states applications take two to six weeks to process. Work back from that.
December 31, 2026	Deadline to secure a booking to qualify for Airbnb’s $200 first-time-host bonus.
January 11, 2027	The rental window opens in Boulder, Superior and Louisville.
February 9–10, 2027	The window closes: February 9 in Boulder and Louisville, February 10 in Superior.
February 20, 2027	Sales tax return due for festival-period activity.

The county deadline is the one people miss. It’s a month earlier than everything else, it applies to mountain-corridor properties that often assume they’re less regulated, and county processing takes several weeks on top.

What the Boulder Festival Lodging License actually allows

Any ownership type qualifies. The city states plainly that “any property ownership type is allowed to hold the license” and that eligible units “do not have to be owner-occupied.” If you own a Boulder property through an entity and have never been able to license it, this is the exception.

Tenants can participate. In April 2026 the council unanimously approved letting renters sublease their homes during the festival, with written permission from the owner. Tenant licenses cost $75 against $190 for owners.

Accessory dwelling units are eligible, as are permanently affordable housing units, both excluded from the standard license.

You get 29 rental days per year, usable only during a designated festival period plus 10 days before and 9 days after. For Sundance that means January 11 to February 9, 2027.

Fees

	Cost	Term
Standard application	$190 + $25 business license	4 years
If you hold a long-term rental license	$75 + $25 business license	1 year
Tenant license	$75	1 year

What you’ll need

A signed ownership affidavit, a safety affidavit, and certification of life-safety equipment: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Sleeping areas have to be “habitable” as defined in the property maintenance code, and occupancy can’t exceed what that code permits. No physical inspection is required, and the city publishes no insurance requirement for this license.

What Boulder homes are actually asking

Sundance and Visit Boulder publish pricing guidelines for the official lodging program. As of the April 2026 guidance, a 1-bedroom sits at $250 a night with a four-night minimum, and a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath at $1,386 a night with an 11-night minimum. Larger homes are noted as commanding a premium.

Actual asking prices have run well above that. Reporting from June 2026 found listings on the official festival site ranging from $50 a night in Longmont to $3,636 a night for a five-bedroom Boulder home, with several properties above $5,000. By late July, Boulder-area listings on Sundance’s lodging page were clustering between $1,600 and $3,700 nightly. Boulder’s mayor, discussing the program in 2025, described hearing figures “like $30,000 for two weeks.”

Two things worth weighing against those numbers.

The official program can decline you for overpricing. Listing requirements include providing “reasonable pricing,” and the program reserves the right to deny significantly overpriced properties. Pricing above the guidance risks more than an empty calendar. It can cost you the channel.

Park City is the reality check. In the festival’s final Utah season, hosts earned roughly $125 to $425 a night. Boulder’s asking prices reflect a first-year market with no booking history behind it.

Location drives rate more than square footage

Sundance’s Boulder footprint is unusually compact: roughly a dozen venues inside a two-mile radius, against the 40-plus square miles the festival occupied in Park City.

Venues cluster in three areas. Downtown and Pearl Street carries the Boulder Theater, eTown Hall, Boulder High School Auditorium, the Dairy Arts Center and the Canyon Theater at the public library, with festival HQ at the Hotel Boulderado. The CU campus and University Hill hosts Macky Auditorium, Muenzinger, Roe Green Theatre and Old Main. Chautauqua Auditorium anchors the west side, and Cinemark Century Boulder covers the 29th Street corridor to the east.

Walkability to Pearl Street or Macky is the single biggest rate driver. A modest home within walking distance of downtown will outprice a larger one that requires a car and parking during a festival week.

One scheduling detail most owners miss: the in-person core runs January 21 to 26, six days of premieres and industry events, with the gala on Friday the 22nd. The awards fall on Friday the 29th, and January 28 to 31 is partly an online streaming period. The back half of the festival is not the same demand as the front half, and pricing a flat rate across all 11 nights leaves money on the table at one end and empty nights at the other.

Taxes, and the mistake that catches people out

Short-term stays in Boulder carry a combined 12.835% tax: the city’s 7.5% accommodations tax, 2.9% state, 1.335% Boulder County and 1.1% RTD.

Here’s the part that trips up first-time hosts. Boulder is home-rule and self-collecting. The city portion is remitted directly to the City of Boulder through the Boulder Online Tax System, not through the state and not automatically through Airbnb. A platform’s tax collection does not discharge your city obligation. You register with the city and file directly, and the return for festival-period activity is due February 20, 2027.

There’s also a federal provision worth raising with your accountant. Under the Augusta Rule, IRS Section 280A(g), a homeowner can rent a primary residence for up to 14 days a year and exclude that income from federal taxable income. An 11-night Sundance stay fits inside that window. It doesn’t affect your local tax obligations, but for an owner-occupant it can change the arithmetic substantially.

If you’re not in the City of Boulder

Boulder isn’t the only option, and neighbouring jurisdictions differ sharply.

Jurisdiction	Can you rent for Sundance?	Terms
City of Boulder	Yes, Festival Lodging License	29 days, any ownership type, tenants may sublease. $190 + $25, or $75 + $25 with a long-term license. Window Jan 11 – Feb 9.
Superior	Yes, Festival STR License	No residency requirement, and multiple units per owner are allowed. The most investor-friendly terms in the county. $200 per unit per festival. Requires $1,000,000 continuous insurance. Window Jan 11 – Feb 10.
Louisville	Yes, temporary festival license	A genuine one-off, since Louisville prohibits short-term rentals year-round. All residential types eligible including apartments, mobile homes and ADUs. Requires a Life Safety Affidavit and proof of insurance. License number must appear in listings and be posted inside. Window Jan 11 – Feb 9.
Unincorporated Boulder County	Yes, but no festival license	You need a standard short-term or vacation rental license, valid two years. Apply by November 1, 2026. Occupancy limited by septic capacity.
Lafayette	No festival license	Primary residence required year-round.
Longmont	Not as of September 2026	Only Longmont residents may hold a license. A regional-event license was under consideration, so confirm current status before relying on it.
Broomfield	No	Non-principal-residence short-term rental is prohibited outright.
Erie	No rules at all currently	Erie has no short-term rental regulations in its code. Both an ordinance and a lodging tax are expected this autumn, with the tax potentially effective January 1, 2027.

The Airbnb host bonus

Airbnb is offering $200 to first-time Boulder hosts to expand supply for the festival. To qualify you need to have had no active Boulder listing as of August 1, 2026, list an entire home inside Boulder city limits available for the January period at a minimum of $100 a night, and secure a booking by December 31, 2026. Cancelling without rebooking voids it. Renters can participate with landlord permission.

It is a modest incentive, but December 31 is a real deadline and it falls earlier than most people are planning around.

Getting listed

You have three routes.

The official Sundance booking engine at lodging.sundance.org. To be listed you need a valid Boulder short-term rental or Festival Lodging license, the ability to process payments, the capacity to provide guest support across the whole stay (reservation, check-in, cleaning, departure), and reasonable pricing.

Self-listing on Airbnb, Vrbo or direct.

An approved property management partner. Visit Boulder lists seven, and Effortless Rental Group manages short-term rentals across Boulder County if you’d rather not run the operation yourself.

That middle requirement on the official channel is the one owners underestimate. Guest support across an 11-night stay during the busiest week in the city’s history is not a set-and-forget arrangement, and a bad review from a festival guest follows the listing afterward.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent my Boulder house during Sundance if I don’t live there?

Yes, under the Festival Lodging Rental License. Boulder’s standard short-term rental license requires the property to be your principal residence, but the festival license removes that requirement and is open to any ownership type. It allows up to 29 rental days a year during the designated festival window.

How much does the Festival Lodging License cost?

$190 plus a one-time $25 business license for a four-year term, or $75 plus $25 for a one-year term if you already hold a long-term rental license. Tenant licenses are $75.

When do I need to apply by?

The City of Boulder hasn’t published a deadline, but says applications take two to six weeks to process, so apply by early December at the latest. Unincorporated Boulder County has a hard deadline of November 1, 2026.

Can I rent my apartment if I’m a tenant?

Yes, in the City of Boulder, with written permission from your landlord. The council approved tenant subleasing in April 2026 and tenant licenses became available that May. Louisville also allows renters to participate during its festival window with owner permission.

What can I charge?

Official guidance runs from $250 a night for a one-bedroom to $1,386 for a four-bedroom, though actual listings have run well above that. Note that the official booking program can decline properties it considers significantly overpriced.

Do I have to collect taxes?

Yes. Short-term stays in Boulder carry a combined 12.835% tax, and Boulder self-collects its 7.5% portion, so you register in the Boulder Online Tax System and file directly rather than relying on a booking platform. The return for festival-period activity is due February 20, 2027.

What if my property is outside Boulder city limits?

Superior and Louisville both run festival programs, and Superior has no residency requirement and allows multiple units per owner. Unincorporated Boulder County requires a standard license applied for by November 1, 2026. Lafayette, Broomfield and Longmont have no festival provision.

Methodology & Sources

Every figure in this guide traces to a primary government source or a named data vendor, accessed September 2026. Regulations in Boulder County are changing quickly — confirm current requirements with the issuing jurisdiction before you apply or list.

City of Boulder (Festival Lodging Rental License; Short-Term Rental Licensing; Tax Rates & Types; Sundance Film Festival FAQs; Rules of the Road) · Sundance Institute · Visit Boulder (Festival Lodging Program) · Boulder County (Sundance Information and Resources Guide) · City of Longmont · City of Louisville · City of Lafayette · Town of Superior · City and County of Broomfield · Boulder Reporting Lab · Denver Gazette · Axios Boulder · Rocky Mountain PBS · Denver7 · CBS Colorado. All accessed September 2026.

About the Author

Effortless Rental Group is a Colorado-based short-term rental management company managing 210+ properties for 196+ owners across the Front Range and Colorado’s mountain markets, including Boulder and Boulder County. We handle licensing, pricing, guest communication and operations as one turnkey service.

Last updated: August 2026

The short answer: A well-managed Breckenridge Airbnb earns roughly $60,000–$70,000 in gross annual revenue in 2026, with an average daily rate around $430–$560 and active-listing occupancy near 60%. Top-quartile properties — ski-in/ski-out condos and larger homes — regularly clear $90,000 to $270,000+ a year.

Because Breckenridge is one of Colorado’s most seasonal markets, roughly 60% of that income is earned between December and March, so pricing strategy and licensing eligibility matter far more here than in a year-round city market.

What Is a Good Airbnb Revenue in Breckenridge?

A good Airbnb revenue in Breckenridge depends on property size, ski access, licensing eligibility, guest appeal, and management quality. In a highly seasonal mountain market, revenue is shaped not only by average daily rate and occupancy, but also by peak-winter pricing, shoulder-season demand, listing quality, and active revenue management.

Breckenridge STR Revenue Benchmarks (2026)

Breckenridge is a large, competitive, and highly seasonal STR market anchored by Breckenridge Ski Resort (part of Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass network) and a walkable historic Main Street.

Metric	2026 figure	Source
Active STR listings	~3,000 (of 5,000+ total)	AirROI / AirDNA
Average annual revenue	$60,000–$70,000	AirROI, Airbtics, Chalet
Average daily rate (ADR)	$427–$561	Chalet / AirROI
Occupancy (active listings)	~60–62%	Airbtics, Chalet
RevPAR	~$220	AirROI
Peak-holiday ADR	up to $964	Ski Country Resorts

How to read this: the “average” Breckenridge Airbnb is not the same as a well-run one. Market-wide averages are pulled down by part-time and poorly optimized listings; actively managed properties land at the top of these ranges.

Why Breckenridge Revenue Estimates Vary So Much

Data tools quote Breckenridge “average revenue” anywhere from ~$43,000 to ~$70,000. That is not an error — it reflects what each dataset measures:

• All listings vs. active listings. AirROI’s 2026 figure of ~$59,641 at just 37.1% occupancy includes part-time listings; Airbtics and Chalet weight toward active listings and show ~$68,000–$70,000 at ~61% occupancy.
• Median vs. mean. Large luxury chalets pull the mean ADR ($561) above the median ($427).
• Gross vs. net. Almost every published figure is gross — before fees, cleaning, taxes, and Breckenridge licensing costs.
• Trailing 12 months vs. calendar year. Seasonality shifts the headline depending on the window.

Bottom line: treat $60,000–$70,000 as a realistic gross baseline for a well-run property, then adjust for zone, size, and management quality.

How Much Can You Earn by Property Size?

Bedroom count is the biggest revenue driver. Two-bedroom units are the most common inventory (~31.8%), followed by three-bedrooms (~30%). Larger homes command far higher nightly rates in peak weeks.

Property size	Typical gross annual revenue*	Notes
Studio / 1 BR	$35,000–$50,000	Highest supply competition
2 BR	~$76,500 gross (incl. cleaning/guest fees)	Most common unit type
3 BR	$70,000–$110,000	Family sweet spot; ~30% of market
4 BR	$110,000–$180,000	Higher ADR, group demand
5 BR+ / ski-in-ski-out	$180,000–$278,000+	Luxury & slope-adjacent homes

Ranges reflect well-managed properties across multiple 2026 datasets; individual results vary.

Real Effortless Rental Group performance (first-party data):

• Breckenridge, 5-bedroom home: $278,000 annual revenue · $1,073 ADR · 71% occupancy.
• Blue River (Breckenridge area), 2-bedroom: $90,000 annual revenue · $379 ADR · 65% occupancy.

These are actual managed-portfolio results, not market averages — and they sit well above the platform medians. Management quality is a revenue lever, not a rounding error.

Seasonality: When Breckenridge STRs Actually Make Money

Breckenridge is a two-season market, but the seasons are not equal. Winter (December–March) accounts for roughly 60% of annual STR income. Pricing flat across the year is the fastest way to lose revenue.

Period	Demand	What it means for revenue
Peak — February	Occupancy up to 89%; ~$11,116/mo	Highest-earning month; holiday ADR up to $964
Dec–Mar (ski season)	High	~60% of annual income; book 4–6 months out
March	Books earliest	Guests reserve ~83 days ahead — price early
Shoulder (Apr, Oct–Nov)	Low–moderate	Reward flexible, aggressive pricing
Trough — May	Occupancy ~23–24%; ~$2,000–$2,800/mo	Minimum-stay & rate discipline matter

Event spikes — the December holidays, MLK and Presidents’ Day weekends, Ullr Fest, Spring Fever, and spring skiing — are where dynamic pricing earns its keep. A single peak month can hit $13,008 at a $740 ADR versus a low month near $2,800.

Gross vs. Net: The Costs That Shape Your Real Return

A revenue number only matters after costs, and Breckenridge carries some of Colorado’s highest STR operating and regulatory costs.

Cost	2026 detail
Management fee	Full-service ~15–25% of revenue (Effortless: lowest full-turnkey fee in Colorado, as low as 15% for qualifying new properties)
Cleaning & turnover	Per-stay; higher in winter with tighter turns
Regulatory fee	$756 per studio/bedroom, per year (court-upheld March 2026) — a 3-BR owes ~$2,268/yr
Accommodation unit license fee	~$75–$175/year by size
Business & Occupational License Tax (BOLT)	Annual town tax
Lodging taxes (from guests)	~12.275% combined (Town 2.5% Sales + 3.4% Public Accommodation + county/state)
Insurance, utilities, HOA, supplies	Property-specific

A four-bedroom home can owe roughly $3,000+ per year in combined license and regulatory fees before a single guest checks in — which is why net revenue, not headline gross, should drive your decision. Fees and taxes are set by the Town of Breckenridge and change; confirm current figures before you buy or list.

What Separates Top Earners From the Median

The gap between an average listing and a top performer is rarely the property — it is the management. Independent ski-market data shows professionally managed homes averaged 46% higher RevPAR than other managers, and active management typically lifts gross revenue 20–35% versus self-management. The levers:

• Data-driven dynamic pricing tuned to the ski calendar, Epic Pass traffic, and events — not a flat rate.
• Event-aware minimum stays around holidays and festivals to capture peak ADR without gaps.
• Early-booking capture — March reserves ~83 days out and properties are ~67% booked 4–6 months ahead.
• Multi-channel distribution across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and direct booking.
• Professional operations — fast turns, winterized maintenance, and 5-star guest experience.

How to Estimate Your Breckenridge Property’s Revenue

1. Confirm your zone and license eligibility first — capped/waitlisted zones mean $0 revenue if you cannot legally operate.
2. Start from a size-based baseline (table above) and adjust for location, view, ski proximity, and finish quality.
3. Model seasonality, not an annual average — winter carries ~60% of income.
4. Subtract real costs — management, cleaning, the $756/bedroom regulatory fee, license fees, BOLT, and ~12.275% lodging taxes — to get net.
5. Get a property-specific projection — market tools give ranges; a local manager can model your exact address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can an Airbnb earn in Breckenridge?

A well-managed Breckenridge Airbnb earns roughly $60,000–$70,000 gross per year in 2026, with active-listing occupancy near 60% and an ADR around $430–$560. Ski-in/ski-out and larger homes often earn $90,000–$270,000+.

What is the best month to own a Breckenridge short-term rental?

February is the highest-earning month, with occupancy up to ~89% and roughly $11,000+ per listing. Winter (December–March) generates about 60% of annual income; May is the slowest month.

How much does a 2-bedroom Airbnb earn in Breckenridge?

A well-managed 2-bedroom can gross around $76,500 per year at roughly 70% occupancy. That total includes cleaning and guest fees, so it runs higher than a simple nightly-rate calculation. Two-bedroom units are the most common listing type in Breckenridge.

Is a Breckenridge Airbnb still worth it with the license caps and fees?

It can be, but net return depends on eligibility and costs. Some residential zones are capped and waitlisted, and the Town charges a $756-per-bedroom annual regulatory fee plus licensing and ~12.275% lodging taxes. Confirm your zone and model net revenue first.

Why do Breckenridge revenue estimates differ between websites?

Because datasets measure different things — all listings vs. active listings, median vs. mean, and gross vs. net. Treat $60,000–$70,000 as a realistic gross baseline for a well-run property.

Does professional management actually increase Breckenridge revenue?

Independent ski-market data shows professionally managed homes averaged about 46% higher RevPAR than other managers, and active dynamic pricing typically adds 20–35% versus self-management.

Methodology & Sources

This guide blends multiple 2026 third-party STR datasets (trailing-twelve-month windows) with Effortless Rental Group’s first-party managed-portfolio results and official Town of Breckenridge fee information. Where sources disagree, we show ranges and explain why. Market figures are estimates, not guarantees; regulatory figures are set by the Town and change — verify before purchasing or listing.

[1] AirROI — Breckenridge, Colorado Airbnb Data 2026 (Occupancy, Revenue & STR Market Report)

[2] Airbtics — Annual Airbnb Revenue in Breckenridge, Colorado

[3] Chalet (getchalet.com) — Breckenridge, CO Airbnb/STR investor data

[4] AirDNA — Breckenridge, Colorado vacation rental market overview

[5] Ski Country Resorts — Breckenridge rental trends & stats

[6] Ski Country Resorts — Breckenridge booking-lead-time and monthly occupancy data (2026)

[7] Town of Breckenridge — Accommodation Unit (Short-Term Rental) Licenses, fees & taxes

About the Author

Effortless Rental Group is a Colorado-based, full-service short-term rental management company managing 210+ properties statewide, with 10+ years in the market and deep operating experience across Breckenridge and Summit County. We publish this guide from real managed-portfolio data and hands-on local licensing and revenue experience. Learn more about us or get a free property evaluation.

Denver’s short-term rental licensing process is fully online and relatively straightforward for hosts who meet the city’s primary residence requirement. Before you can legally accept bookings on Airbnb, Vrbo, or any other short-term rental platform, you must obtain the required licenses, submit documentation proving residency, and comply with Denver’s ongoing operating requirements.

This guide walks through the complete application process, required documentation, licensing requirements, timelines, safety standards, and ongoing compliance obligations.

Important: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Regulations and fees may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the City and County of Denver before applying.

Before You Apply: Do You Qualify?

Denver only permits short-term rentals in a host’s primary residence.

According to the City and County of Denver, a primary residence is the place where a person’s habitation is fixed and where they regularly return throughout the year. The city may consider documentation such as driver’s licenses, voter registration, vehicle registration, utility bills, and other residency records when determining eligibility.

Before applying, confirm that:

• The property is your primary residence

• You maintain only one active Denver STR license

• You can provide proof of residency

• If you are a tenant, you have written landlord approval

• If you are subject to HOA or condo rules, short-term rentals are permitted under governing documents

Denver does not permit:

• Non-owner-occupied investment properties

• Second homes

• Vacation homes

• Properties that do not meet the primary residence requirement

Source: City and County of Denver Short-Term Rental Program; Denver Excise & Licenses.

Licenses Required to Operate a Denver Short-Term Rental

Before accepting reservations, Denver requires hosts to obtain:

1. Short-Term Rental Business License

This license authorizes the operation of a short-term rental at your primary residence.

The license:

• Is tied to a specific property address

• Cannot be transferred

• Must be renewed annually

• Requires ongoing compliance with Denver regulations

2. Applicable Tax Registration

Short-term rental operators must comply with Denver’s lodging tax and business tax requirements.

Depending on your situation and booking platforms, additional tax registration and reporting obligations may apply.

Hosts should verify current requirements directly with Denver’s Department of Finance and Excise & Licenses.

Source: City and County of Denver Business Licensing Center and Denver Tax Guide for Short-Term Rentals.

Document Checklist

Gather all required documentation before starting your application.

All Applicants

• Valid Colorado driver’s license or Colorado state ID

• Proof of primary residence

• Two supporting residency documents, such as:

  • Vehicle registration

  • Voter registration

  • Utility bill

  • Lease agreement

  • Other qualifying residency records

• Proof of liability insurance

• Confirmation that required safety equipment is installed

If You Rent the Property

You must provide:

• Written landlord permission

• Required affidavit documentation if requested by the city

If You Live in a Condo or HOA Community

You should verify:

• HOA bylaws permit short-term rentals

• No community restrictions prohibit STR activity

A city license does not override HOA restrictions.

Step-by-Step Denver STR Application Process

Step 1: Create an Account

Visit Denver’s Business Licensing Center and create an account.

All applications, document uploads, payments, and status updates occur through the online portal.

Step 2: Submit Your Short-Term Rental License Application

Select:

Short-Term Rental License

You will be asked to:

• Enter property information

• Confirm primary residence status

• Upload residency documents

• Certify compliance with safety requirements

Step 3: Complete Tax Registration Requirements

Denver requires STR operators to comply with local lodging tax requirements.

Review all current tax registration requirements during the application process and confirm which taxes are automatically collected and remitted by your booking platforms.

Step 4: Pay Applicable Fees

Denver licensing fees may change periodically.

Applicants should verify all current fee schedules directly through the Business Licensing Center before submitting an application.

Step 5: Wait for Review

According to Denver’s licensing guidance:

Standard Applications

Typically reviewed within approximately:

30 days

Applications Requiring Additional Review

Can take:

Up to 90 days

Factors that may increase review time include:

• Missing documents

• Residency verification issues

• Additional compliance review

Do not begin hosting until your license has been approved and issued.

Step 6: Display Your License Number

Once approved, your license number must be displayed on:

• Airbnb listings

• Vrbo listings

• Direct booking websites

• Online advertisements

• Marketing materials where required

Denver also requires hosts to maintain compliance records and provide information during audits or investigations when requested.

Safety Requirements

Denver requires hosts to maintain certain safety standards.

Before applying, confirm the property includes:

Requirement	Details
Smoke Detectors	Installed and functioning
Carbon Monoxide Detectors	Installed where required
Fire Extinguisher	Accessible and maintained
Liability Insurance	Appropriate STR coverage
Guest Information Packet	Emergency and property information
Emergency Access Information	Available to guests

Safety requirements may be updated periodically, so verify current standards before applying.

Ongoing Compliance Requirements

Obtaining a license is only the first step.

Denver hosts must continue complying with local regulations throughout the life of the license.

Maintain Primary Residence Status

The property must continue serving as your primary residence.

Changes in residency may affect license eligibility.

Follow Occupancy Limits

Do not exceed the occupancy limits established by Denver or applicable building codes.

Maintain Safety Standards

Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and other safety requirements must remain operational.

Comply With Tax Requirements

Maintain all required registrations and comply with applicable tax obligations.

Hosts should regularly review platform tax collection practices and verify compliance with local requirements.

Renew Annually

Denver STR licenses require annual renewal.

Renewal generally requires:

• Updated residency documentation

• Confirmation of continued eligibility

• Payment of renewal fees

Operating with an expired license may result in penalties and enforcement action.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Denver STR License?

Application Type	Estimated Timeline
Standard Application	Approximately 30 Days
Additional Review Required	Up to 90 Days
Annual Renewal	Often Faster Than Initial Application

If you plan to launch before a major event or busy season, apply well in advance.

Need Help Navigating Denver’s STR Requirements?

Licensing, compliance, tax requirements, and revenue optimization can quickly become overwhelming for property owners.

Effortless Rental Group helps Denver property owners navigate licensing requirements, optimize property performance, improve occupancy, and maximize revenue through full-service vacation rental and airbnb management in Denver. Learn more about our short-term vacation rental management services

Request Your Free Property Revenue Analysis

Sources

City and County of Denver – Short-Term Rentals
https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Business-Licensing/Short-Term-Rentals

City and County of Denver – Business Licensing Center
https://www.denvergov.org

City and County of Denver – Short-Term Rental Tax Information
https://www.denvergov.org

Denver Excise & Licenses
https://www.denvergov.org

Massive events significantly impact short-term rental owners in an age when many consumers value experiences over possessions. Conventions, sports championships, and even natural phenomena like meteor showers and the northern lights are a huge draw for those hoping to witness something unforgettable. As such, it’s not a bad idea to pause to reflect on some of the things we need to consider when playing host to various enthusiasts.

Dana Lubner and Matt Landau have been strong voices & leaders in the short-term rental industry. Both have been seeking more immediate ways to address current advocacy challenges in the space and drive forward some of the standards showcased in last year’s Good Neighbor Summit; a collaborative event

 

There’s a lot to think about as a short-term rental host, especially when you’re first starting out. You’ll consider pricing, interior design elements, details you want to include in your listing, and much more. But even with all of these decisions ahead, the most important choice you’ll make

With the rise in popularity of short-term rentals, many owners are turning their investment properties into a second source of income. Once the decision to rent out the property using a short-term strategy has been made, there are numerous other questions that the owner must ask himself or herself: how