Denver Short-Term Rental Laws (2026)
Permits, taxes, caps, and penalties for Airbnb & vacation rentals in Denver, Colorado — from official sources, with citations. Reviewed 2026-07-02.
Permitted with Conditions
Denver only licenses short-term rentals in your primary residence — investment properties don't qualify — and you'll need both an STR license and a lodger's tax account.
Can you operate a short-term rental in Denver?
Denver's STR license is strictly limited to your primary residence: the place your habitation is fixed and your usual place of return, and you can only have one. The city verifies this with documentation and looks at factors like where you work, how often you return, and how much time the unit spends rented versus occupied by you. Non-primary-residence STRs are not licensable.
Primary residence only
The licensed property must be your primary residence — 'the place where a person's habitation is fixed for the term of the license and is the person's usual place of return.' You may hold only one.
Two licenses: STR + lodger's tax
Hosts need the STR business license from Excise & Licenses plus a lodger's tax license from the Treasury Division before operating.
Residency proven with documents
Applicants submit a Colorado driver's license or state ID plus at least two of: vehicle registration, voter registration, tax returns, bank statements, or utility bills.
Renters can host with permission
Non-owners must submit a signed possession-of-property certificate, and landlord or HOA approval is required where applicable.
Permits & licenses in Denver
Apply online through Denver's Permitting and Licensing Center. Initial review takes about seven business days, with specialist review up to 90 days; the license renews annually.
- 1
Prepare the property
Secure $1 million liability insurance, install smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and a fire extinguisher, and designate a local responsible party.
- 2
Open a lodger's tax account
Register for a lodger's tax account with Denver Treasury before applying; the lodger's tax license costs $50 for a 2-year period beginning January 1 of each even-numbered year.
- 3
Gather residency documents
Colorado ID plus at least two residency documents (vehicle registration, voter registration, tax returns, bank statements, or utility bills), and landlord/HOA approval if applicable.
- 4
Apply online and pay
Submit through Denver's Permitting and Licensing Center with digital documents and pay by bank account or card. Initial review within seven business days; specialist review up to 90 days.
- 5
Renew annually
Renew before expiration each year and keep the property as your primary residence for the license term.
Fees: $50 application fee + $100 license fee for the STR license; $50 lodger's tax license per 2-year period.
Short-term rental taxes in Denver
Denver's lodger's tax on short stays is 10.75% of the entire amount charged, and with the state's lodging-related sales tax the combined burden reaches 14.75%. Denver is a home-rule city, so the city tax is filed directly with Denver.
| Level | Tax | Rate | Collected by | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Denver Lodger's Tax | 10.75% | Varies | Filed with Denver Treasury Division under your lodger's tax account (see source for frequency) |
| State | Colorado sales tax on lodging | 4% (per Denver Tax Guide Topic 52) | Varies | Filed with the Colorado Department of Revenue |
These rules change — Denver can amend them any month.
Compliance Watch monitors Denver's official sources and emails you the day permits, caps, or taxes change: what changed, old vs. new, and what to do. $49/yr per property, 100% credited toward Tenby.
Watch my CO property →Operating rules
Post your license number
The STR license number must be displayed on every advertisement and listing.
§ Denver STR license obligations
One reservation at a time
Only one active reservation is allowed at a time — you can't split the home into multiple simultaneous bookings.
§ Denver STR license obligations
Safety equipment and insurance
Maintain smoke detectors, CO detectors, a fire extinguisher, and $1 million in liability coverage for the licensed unit.
§ Denver STR application requirements
Keep info current
File amendments within 72 hours when contact information changes, and keep a designated local responsible party on record.
§ Denver STR license obligations
Penalties for illegal short-term rentals in Denver
Denver actively audits primary-residence claims; operating without a license or misrepresenting residency can cost you the license and bring fines (see source for amounts).
- ⚠The city evaluates primary residence using employment location, frequency of return, residency claims elsewhere, and time spent renting versus occupying the unit.
- ⚠Advertising without displaying a valid license number violates license terms.
- ⚠Failure to remit lodger's tax on schedule creates liability with the Treasury Division and jeopardizes the license.
Official sources
- [1]Short-Term Rentals — City and County of Denver
- [2]New Short-Term Rental Application — City and County of Denver
- [3]Denver Tax Guide Topic No. 97 — Short-Term Rentals
- [4]Denver Tax Guide Topic No. 52 — Lodger's Tax
- [5]Short-Term Rental Taxation Information — Denver Department of Finance
- [6]Short-Term Rental FAQ — City and County of Denver
Summarized from the official sources above as of 2026-07-02. Informational, not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the jurisdiction before acting.
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