United States · Colorado
Short-term rental rules in Denver
Legal regime
Short-Term Rental (STR) license required from the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses for any residential dwelling unit available for rent for one to 29 days. The STR must be the licensee's primary residence, defined per the Denver ordinance as 'the place where a person's habitation is fixed for the term of the license and is the person's usual place of return.' A person may have only one primary residence. Rentals of 30 or more consecutive days fall outside the STR regime and require a residential rental property license instead. The primary-residence requirement effectively excludes investor-only / non-owner-occupied STR operations in Denver.
Key parameters
- License required
- Yes
- Max nights/year
- No cap specified
License process
Apply online through the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses business licensing portal. Applicants must submit proof of primary residence and complete the required step-by-step application materials. Initial review takes up to 30 days; specialist review (e.g. zoning, building) may extend up to 90 days. License must be maintained current and renewed periodically. Operators must also register for and remit Denver's lodger's tax separately through the Department of Finance Treasury Division.