Boulder County, Colorado

Actions a Host needs to take

1. Visit the Boulder County short-term rental page to determine what type of license your listing requires
   • If applicable, complete the Short-Term Rental Checklist. This will include elements like proof of insurance, proof of property tax payment, proof of primary residence, among other items.
   • If applicable, complete the Vacation Rental Checklist. This will include elements similar to the short-term rental license but without the declaration of primary residence.
2. Apply for a license on the County portal by logging in or creating an account
3. Follow the steps to complete the application

NOTE: Please note that this is information for Hosts in Boulder County, if you are in Boulder city limits, you will want to consult the City of Boulder Responsible Hosting Page.

Relevant information for Hosts

Short term rental licensing

A local license issued by Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting is required to operate any Short-Term or Vacation Rental in unincorporated Boulder County. A Short-Term or Vacation Rental is a rental that is offered to a single booking party for a rental duration of fewer than 30 days at a time. Boulder County does not issue licenses for the incorporated cities and towns (e.g. Boulder, Nederland, Longmont) located in Boulder County.

In February of 2024, Boulder County updated and adopted regulations regarding short-term rentals.The update includes a distinction in licensing between short-term rentals and vacation rentals, defined as the following:

• A Short-Term Rental is the primary residence, the dwelling unit in which a person resides for more than six months out of the year, of an owner or tenant and generally rented while the owner or tenant is residing and present at the property. There is an exception of up to 45 nights per year where the entire Dwelling Unit may be rented while the owner or tenant is not present.
• A Vacation Rental is a single-family Dwelling Unit offering transient lodging accommodations to a single booking party at a time within that dwelling unit for a rental duration of fewer than 30 days where the entire dwelling unit is solely occupied by the rental party during the duration of the rental period:

If you have additional questions, you can visit the Boulder County short-term rental page, email strlicensing@bouldercounty.gov, or consult a local lawyer or tax professional.

Contracts and rules

It's also important to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo board or co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable.

Fees

• The total cost for a Short-Term Rental License is $350 for the initial license and $250 for renewal with no confirmed license violations or new unpermitted work during the previous 2-year licensing term.
• The total cost for a Vacation Rental License is $500 for the initial license and $300 for renewal with no confirmed license violations or new unpermitted work during the previous 2-year licensing term.

Other resources to help you Host

• Safety & Airbnb
• Airbnb Resource Center to help you become your best Host
• Boulder area Airbnb Host Facebook Group