Short-Term Rentals in Longmont, CO

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Longmont, Colorado, there are 8 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Occupancy Limits

Longmont caps overnight occupancy in a licensed short-term rental at two guests per legal conforming bedroom, plus two additional people, under Longmont Municipal Code section 15.02.080.D.5. The planning and development services director enforces the cap through short-term rental licensing, inspections and revocation for repeat violations, with the approved occupancy figure printed on the license posted inside the rental.

Key details: Occupancy cap: 2 guests per legal conforming bedroom, plus 2 more. Governing section: Longmont Municipal Code § 15.02.080.D.5. Enforcing agency: Planning and development services director. Posting requirement: Approved occupancy printed on posted STR license. Criminal penalty: Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail (§ 1.12.010).

Renting above the posted occupancy figure breaches the license's conditions of approval under section 15.02.080.D.13 and is a development code violation under section 15.09.030, each day of the violation counting as a separate offense under section 15.09.040. The city can withhold future permits from the owner, impose administrative civil penalties under chapter 2.97, or prosecute criminally under the general penalty in section 1.12.010, which allows a fine up to $500.00 and up to 90 days in jail. Three documented violations can trigger outright license revocation under section D.16.

Noise Rules

Longmont does not set a separate noise limit for short-term rentals; instead it makes the citywide unreasonable-noise standard part of every license, under Longmont Municipal Code section 15.02.080.D.10. The posted license inside the rental must spell out the relevant provisions of section 10.20.090, and repeated noise complaints can build toward license revocation.

Key details: Governing section: Longmont Municipal Code § 15.02.080.D.10. Noise standard used: Citywide unreasonable-noise ordinance, § 10.20.090. Posting requirement: License posted inside unit must cite noise section. Also posted: Occupancy limit, fire extinguisher location, manager contact. Revocation trigger: 3+ noise/other notices support pattern-of-nuisance revocation.

Failing to post the required license notice, including the section 10.20.090 noise language, breaches section 15.02.080.D.10 and D.13 and is a development code violation under section 15.09.030. A confirmed noise violation at the property is itself enforced under the separate citywide noise ordinance, but it also counts toward the short-term rental "pattern of nuisance" standard: three or more notices, warnings, citations or fines against the same rental let the director revoke the license under section D.16, in addition to whatever fine applies under the noise ordinance itself.

Repeat Violator Strikes

Longmont revokes a short-term rental license after a documented pattern of nuisance, defined as three or more notices of violation, warnings, citations or fines against the same property, under Longmont Municipal Code section 15.02.080.D.16.a.ii. A single uncorrected notice can also trigger revocation if the licensee simply ignores it.

Key details: Governing section: Longmont Municipal Code § 15.02.080.D.16.a.ii. Strike threshold: 3+ notices, warnings, citations or fines = revocation. Single-notice trigger: Ignoring even 1 notice can also revoke license. Process: Investigation, notice and appeal under chapter 15.09. Renewal effect: Cause for revocation also bars license renewal.

Accumulating three or more notices of violation, warnings, citations or fines, in any combination, meets the pattern-of-nuisance standard in section 15.02.080.D.16.a.ii and exposes the license to revocation, following the investigation and appeal procedures in chapter 15.09. Ignoring even a single notice can independently support revocation under section D.16.a.i. Each underlying violation also remains separately punishable as a development code violation under section 15.09.030, carrying the general penalty of up to $500.00 and 90 days in jail under section 1.12.010.

Taxes & Fees

Longmont taxes short-term rentals under its 2% lodgers tax, because 'lodging services' covers rooms rented for consideration for less than 30 consecutive days in apartments, guesthouses, and similar dwellings: the same 30-day line the city's STR rule uses.

Key details: Tax rate: 2% of lodging price. Covered stays: under 30 consecutive days. License required: sales and use tax license. Enforced by: Director of Finance.

Failing to collect or remit the 2% lodgers tax, or providing lodging services (including an STR) without a sales and use tax license, is a violation of the Longmont Municipal Code subject to code penalties.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Longmont only licenses a short-term rental if it is the applicant's primary residence or a single second/investment dwelling owned by a city resident, under Longmont Municipal Code section 15.02.080.D.14.a. Anything else, including out-of-town investors or a second rental beyond the one allowed per resident, must be denied.

Key details: Governing section: Longmont Municipal Code § 15.02.080.D.14.a. Eligibility rule: Must be applicant's primary residence or resident's 2nd dwelling. One-per-resident cap: Only one 2nd/investment STR per city resident. Residency proof: Colorado ID, affidavit, 2 of 5 more documents. License term: One year, renewable annually.

Operating a short-term rental that is not the applicant's primary residence or a documented second/investment dwelling of a city resident is grounds for denial under section 15.02.080.D.14.a, and, if discovered later, for non-renewal under D.15.b or revocation under D.16. Operating at all without a valid license is unlawful under section D.3 and a development code violation under section 15.09.030, punishable under the general penalty in section 1.12.010, up to $500.00 and 90 days in jail, plus administrative civil penalties under chapter 2.97.

Compared to other cities, Longmont takes a harder line on primary-residence-only rule. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Host Presence Rule

Longmont requires the property owner to actually live in a short-term rental before individual rooms can be rented out, under Longmont Municipal Code section 15.02.080.D.2.a. Renting an entire primary dwelling while the owner is away is allowed, but only to one group at a time; renting individual rooms in a second or investment dwelling likewise requires an on-site owner, agent or property manager.

Key details: Governing section: Longmont Municipal Code § 15.02.080.D.2.a. Primary dwelling rule: Rooms rentable only when owner also occupies unit. Owner absent rule: Whole dwelling to one group only, owner away. Second/investment dwelling: Room rentals need on-site owner, agent or manager. Primary dwelling definition: Person's usual place of return; only one allowed.

Renting individual rooms without the required on-site owner, agent or property manager violates the conditions of the short-term rental license under section 15.02.080.D.13 and is a development code violation under section 15.09.030, with each day of continued violation a separate offense under section 15.09.040. The director can withhold permits, assess administrative civil penalties under chapter 2.97, or pursue criminal prosecution under section 1.12.010's general penalty of up to $500.00 and 90 days in jail; three documented violations support license revocation under section D.16.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Longmont's short-term rental application requires a Colorado ID, a signed annual affidavit, LLC-member disclosure, and at least two additional documents proving the address is the applicant's residence or qualifying second home.

Key details: ID required: Colorado driver's license or state ID. Minimum extra documents: 2 of 5 listed proofs. Affidavit: Signed annually. Renewal cycle: Every 1 year.

Incomplete or falsified residency documentation is grounds for license denial; self-certifying false information on the application form is punishable as perjury under state law.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Longmont does not require extra off-street parking for a licensed short-term rental unless the city imposes it as a condition of that specific license, under Longmont Municipal Code section 15.02.080.D.8. Parking still has to comply with any conditions of approval, and unresolved parking complaints can feed into the license's revocation standard.

Key details: Governing section: Longmont Municipal Code § 15.02.080.D.8. Default rule: No extra off-street parking required for STRs. Exception: City may impose parking as license condition. Likely trigger: Conditional use approval for 2nd STR on a block. Enforcement tie-in: Parking conditions enforced under § 15.02.080.D.13.

Violating a parking condition that has been attached to a specific short-term rental license breaches section 15.02.080.D.13's conditions of approval and is a development code violation under section 15.09.030, with each day of an uncorrected violation a separate offense under section 15.09.040. The director can withhold future permits, impose administrative civil penalties under chapter 2.97, or refer the matter for criminal prosecution under the general penalty of up to $500.00 and 90 days in jail in section 1.12.010. Three documented violations support license revocation under section D.16.

Longmont is more permissive than most cities when it comes to short-term rental parking rules. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Longmont's short-term rentals rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Longmont is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Longmont's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.