Short-Term Dwelling and Vacation Rental Licensing

Licensing

A local license issued by Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting is required to operate any Short-Term Rental in unincorporated Boulder County. A Short-Term Rental (such as VRBO or Airbnb) 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 towns and cities (e.g., Boulder, Nederland) located in Boulder County.

There are two types of Short-Term Dwelling Rental Licenses depending on the type of rental property the owner wants to operate:

1. A Short-Term Rental License is required for:
   • Primary Dwelling Short-Term Rental – A single-family dwelling unit offering 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 dwelling unit is the primary residence of the owner.
   • Secondary Dwelling Short-Term Rental – A single-family dwelling unit offering 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 dwelling unit is not the primary residence of the owner;
     • The dwelling unit is rented 60 days per year or less; and
     • The dwelling unit is rented with a two-night stay minimum.
2. A Vacation Rental License is required for:
   • Vacation Rental* – A single-family dwelling unit offering 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 dwelling unit is not the primary residence of the owner; and
     • The dwelling unit is rented more than 60 days per year.

*Please note: Vacation Rentals are allowed in the F, A, RR, and MI zoning districts provided they are on unsubdivided land. In other words, Vacation Rentals are not allowed in subdivisions. You may Ask a Planner if you are unsure whether you are in a Subdivision. Vacation Rentals are also allowed in B, Cl, LI, and GI zoning districts.

Property owners who would like to have a Secondary Dwelling Short-Term Rental or a Vacation Rental will need to go through the appropriate review and approval process as required by and outlined in the Boulder County Land Use Code (Articles 4-507 and 4-516, see Resolution 2020-104) prior to being eligible to apply for a Short-Term Dwelling Rental License. Property owners who have received approval to run a Short-Term Rental prior to February 8, 2021 and are operating within the terms of that approval will not need to go through an additional land use review process but will still need to apply for a license.

Please use this tool to help determine which process and license is right for you.

Boulder County Short-Term Dwelling Rental Licensing Regulations

• Final Licensing Ordinance (No. 2020-01): Effective February 8, 2021

Fees

• Short-Term Rental License (Primary and Secondary Dwelling Short-Term Rentals): $200.00 initially, $175.00 renewal
• Vacation Rental License (Vacation Rentals): $300.00 initially, $275.00 renewal

A $50.00 discount is given on renewals when there are no confirmed violations during the License Period (of two years).

Application and Application Checklists

• Application Checklists to review as you prepare the materials you will need for the online application:
  • Primary Dwelling Short-Term Rental License
  • Secondary Dwelling Short-Term Rental License
  • Vacation Rental License
• Online Application
  • A printed copy of the application may be hand delivered or mailed to the address below.
• Report of Changes (coming soon)
• Fee Schedule (coming soon)

Guidelines For Rental Properties

• Good Neighbor Guidelines
• OWTS (Septic) Safety
• Wildlife Safety
• Wildfire Safety