Short-term rental frequently asked questions

Property owners and long-term renters can apply for a license at their primary residence, meaning the place in which a person's habitation is fixed for the term of the license and is the person's usual place of return. Renters must certify and provide verification(PDF, 34KB) that they have the permission of their landlord to conduct short-term rentals. This document must be completed by the appropriate party and uploaded to the online application when submitting. Please read the "Do I qualify for a short-term rental license?" section before applying.

Applications for short-term rental licenses are submitted online. Visit the short-term rental license page to start the process. Applicants must certify and provide verification they meet the requirements.

Please see the Required Documents section for the new or renew application.

The Department may have additional review for any short-term rental application and additional items may be requested.

If the property is not your primary residence, it is not eligible to be licensed as a short-term rental. To rent such a property on a short-term basis, you need to get a lodging facility license. See the licensing page for more information and to check eligibility requirements. Lodging facilities are restricted to certain zone districts. A change of building occupancy classification could be required and will likely have construction impacts, including but not limited to requirements for a fire sprinkler system, a fire alarm/detection system, exit signage, and accessibility upgrades. Visit for change of occupancy guidelines.

A change in zoning use from residential to lodging could also be required. A zoning permit is required to change or establish a new zoning use. A change in use to lodging (whether it's one unit in a building changing use, or an entire building changing use) is allowed under the Denver Zoning Code as long as the property is in a zone district that allows lodging accommodations as a zoning use. Visit for more information on the permitting requirements for a change in zoning use, or to determine your property's zone district.

Short-term rentals are allowed as an accessory use wherever residential uses are allowed. That includes residential and mixed-use commercial districts. Homeowners associations (HOAs) can prohibit short-term rentals through their private covenants and rules.

An application fee of $50 and an annual license fee of $100 will be assessed for individual short-term rental license applications. Short-term rental licenses are for one year and must be renewed on time to avoid fines. Short-term rental licenses can be renewed up to 60 days before expiration.

An application fee will be assessed for lodger's tax account. And the amount depends on when the short-term rental began operation and when the tax account starts. Tax accounts must be renewed every odd year.

The Department of Excise and Licenses requires documentation of primary residency, meaning the place in which a person's habitation is fixed for the term of the license and is the person's usual place of return, upon application and renewal of a short-term rental license. The director also has the authority to request additional documentation that is pertinent to establishing primary residency. The Department may investigate further if there is further question about an applicant's primary residence. The Department may also require an inspection if there is a question about the status of the dwelling unit(s) on a property.

Short-term rental licensees must pay lodger's tax (10.75%), occupational privilege tax ($48 a year), and any other applicable taxes or fees. The tax license application is available on the city's business taxes webpage.

A short-term rental application may require an in-person inspection if there is a question about the status of the dwelling unit(s) on a property where a short-term rental application has been submitted. Refusal to allow inspection will result in denial of the application.

A license is required if you are advertising a short-term rental, meaning it is possible to make a reservation for under 29 nights. Rentals advertised with minimum stay of 29 nights do not require a license, but that minimum must be reflected in the booking calendar, not just the text.

Excise and Licenses tracks and monitors various short-term rental platforms for licensed and unlicensed short-term rental being advertised. No personal licensee information will be included in the license number. It is unlawful to post an advertisement for a short-term rental without displaying a business file number.

If you use Airbnb, the business file number should be listed in the "Registration/License Number" field so it is not blocked by the website.

The city tracks and monitors complaints about licensed and unlicensed short-term rental units. Excise and Licenses responds to complaints. It also conducts proactive enforcement measures through department inspectors. The director has summary authority to levy penalties, fines, suspension, or show-cause hearings that could lead to revocation of a license for violating any provision of the short-term rental rules and regulations. Or for violating any local or state law. Or if the property is found to be adversely affecting the public health, safety, or welfare of the immediate neighborhood. Fines can be up to $999 per incident.

No. License holders can conduct short-term rentals while they are on vacation and/or the property is otherwise unoccupied. Hosts are required to leave a brochure that includes contact information and instructions on city services. The name and contact information of a general manager/local responsible party must also be provided as part of the license application. This person must be available to address issues when the licensee is out of town. Please note that the definition of primary residence includes "place of usual return" so if a license holder is not usually able to return to the dwelling because it is rented, it would cease to be their primary residence.

Hosts can set the maximum number of guests. According to the Denver Zoning Code, short-term rentals are accessory to primary residential use. That is the overall character of the property should remain residential. The Denver Zoning Code also states that short-term rentals do not include rental of a dwelling unit for commercial events. This includes parties or weddings. Only one rental contract can be allowed at a time in any short-term rental. Multiple rental contracts to separate parties in a short-term rental are not allowed.

• An accessory-dwelling unit can be used as a short-term rental by a property owner or long-term renter who is living in the primary structure on the property. An owner or renter living in an accessory-dwelling unit cannot conduct a short-term rental in the primary structure.
• For more information about accessory-dwelling units and short-term rentals, refer to the following resources:
• • The Denver Zoning Code Interpretation published by the zoning administrator regarding short-term rental accessory use.
  • Watch a video of the presentation given by Community Planning and Development at the Aug. 11, 2020, Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee meeting.
  • View the slide deck(PDF, 384KB) presented by Community Planning and Development at the Aug. 11, 2020, Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee meeting.
  • Watch a video of a special question-and-answer session with Community Planning and Development on Sept. 15, 2020.
  • Read additional questions and answers about accessory-dwelling units and short-term rentals(PDF, 175KB).

Each unit in a duplex is a separate primary dwelling unit, so the primary resident of each can get a license to conduct a short-term rental. A person who resides in one duplex unit cannot get a license to conduct a short-term rental in the adjacent unit because that unit is not their primary residence. See the Do I qualify for a short-term rental license? section for more information.

• Short-term rentals are widely operating as a popular home-sharing practice for Denver residents.
• Provide a regulatory environment that allows the popular practice to continue while focusing responsibility and accountability among operators and limiting the impact on neighborhoods and the availability of housing for residents.

Visit www.DenverGov.org/STR to review licensing requirements, apply for a license, report issues related to short-term rentals, and send comments or questions to city staff.

1. Click on "I've forgotten my password."
2. Enter your email address in the appropriate field and then hit the tab key.
3. The security question will then appear. (The security question will not appear until you have "tabbed" out of the email section above.)
4. Answer the security question.
5. Click "Send New Password."
6. The new password will be emailed to you. Follow the instructions to set your new password.

A short-term rental license can be revoked or sanctioned, and an application for a new or renewed license can be denied, if a short-term rental dwelling unit is found to be adversely affecting the public health, safety, or welfare of the immediate neighborhood. Licenses can also be denied or revoked if a short-term rental property is found not to be the applicant's or licensee's primary residence.

A short-term rental can include a single bedroom, entire home, or multiple bedrooms. Short-term rental hosts cannot rent simultaneously to more than one party under separate contracts. If multiple rooms are available, they must be rented together by the same party or be rented one at a time with no overlap between rentals(PDF, 175KB).