Aurora permits long-term rental of ADUs (leases of 30+ days) with no city license required beyond the ADU permit. Short-term rental of an ADU (under 30 days) is allowed only when the property owner lives in the primary dwelling, under UDO 146-3.3.6, and requires an Aurora STR business license and collection of the 8% Aurora lodger's tax plus 4.25% state lodger's tax. STRs without a license are a code violation. HB24-1152 will affect owner-occupancy conditioning beginning June 30, 2025.
Aurora's short-term rental framework is a relatively recent ordinance: STRs are allowed citywide as a home occupation under UDO 146-3.3.J only when the operator's primary residence is on the property. For ADUs, UDO 146-3.3.6 adds that the ADU may serve as the STR space only when the owner lives in the primary structure. Operators must obtain a general business license through the Aurora Tax and Licensing Division, register the STR specifically, collect Aurora's 8% lodger's tax (City Code 130-152) plus the State of Colorado's 4.25% lodger's tax, and file returns monthly or quarterly. Long-term rentals (30+ days) are exempt from the lodger's tax and do not require a city license, though landlords must follow Colorado state landlord-tenant law including the 2024 warranty-of-habitability and just-cause eviction statutes. Aurora does not maintain a separate long-term rental registry. ADUs may be rented long-term to family members or third parties without restriction beyond the building code's occupancy limit. Colorado HB24-1152 preempts owner-occupancy as a condition of operating an ADU, which will require Aurora to revisit the STR conditioning rule in 146-3.3.6 during the 2025-2026 UDO update.
Operating an unlicensed STR is a violation of Aurora City Code Chapter 86 (Business Licensing) prosecuted in Municipal Court with fines up to $2,650 per day. Failure to remit lodger's tax accrues interest, penalties, and personal liability for the operator. Renting an ADU as an STR without owner occupancy in the primary dwelling violates UDO 146-3.3.6 with similar penalty exposure. Aurora Code Enforcement actively monitors listing platforms.
Aurora, CO
Aurora imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The Sign Code in UDO 146...
Aurora, CO
Aurora has no ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, motor noise, and lighting hours are not capped by the city for...
Aurora, CO
Aurora has no ordinance limiting the duration, brightness, or hours of residential holiday lighting on private property. The Aurora UDO Section 146-4.9 (Exte...
Aurora, CO
An outdoor kitchen in Aurora typically requires a building permit when it exceeds 120 sq ft, includes a roof or pergola, or is attached to the house. Gas lin...
Aurora, CO
Aurora has no code section specifically targeting residential smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens beyond the general IFC 308 open-flame rules adopted...
Aurora, CO
Aurora adopts the 2021 International Fire Code under Aurora City Code Chapter 66 (Fire Prevention and Protection). IFC 308.1.4 prohibits charcoal burners, pr...
See how Aurora's adu rental restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.