Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Boulder limits short-term rentals to a host's primary residence under BRC 6-3-7. Investor-owned vacation rentals are prohibited citywide. Hosts must occupy the dwelling at least 185 days annually to qualify for a license.
Short-Term Rentals in Boulder, CO (2026)
12 verified short-term rentals rules for Boulder, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Boulder requires a short-term rental license with annual renewal. Non-owner-occupied STRs are capped citywide. Properties in residential neighborhoods must be owner-occupied or have a local manager.
Boulder Short-Term Rental Rules
Heavy RestrictionsNoise Rules
Boulder STRs must comply with general noise ordinance. Many cities impose stricter quiet hours for rentals. Complaints can trigger permit review.
Boulder STR Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Colorado state sales tax of 3.9% applies to lodging. Boulder levies additional local lodging tax. Platforms auto-collect. Total rates typically 7 to 12%.
Boulder STR Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsParking Rules
Boulder may require designated parking for STR guests. Parking plan may be part of STR permit. Mountain areas have winter parking challenges.
Boulder STR Parking Requirements
Some RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
Boulder limits the number of guests allowed in short-term rental properties. Occupancy caps are typically based on bedroom count or square footage to protect neighborhood quality of life.
Boulder Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Boulder may require hosts to carry liability insurance for short-term rental properties. Minimum coverage amounts vary by jurisdiction.
Boulder Short-Term Rental Insurance Rules
Some RestrictionsNight Caps
Boulder caps unhosted whole-home short-term rentals at a limited number of nights per year under BRC 6-3-7. The cap protects neighborhood character while letting residents earn supplemental income during peak CU events and travel periods.
Annual Night Caps for Whole-Home Rentals
Heavy RestrictionsHost Presence Rule
Boulder allows whole-home short-term rentals only when the host's primary residence is licensed. Hosted (occupied) rentals where the owner remains present are permitted year-round under standard licensing conditions and BRC 6-3-7 rules.
Host Presence and Whole-Home Rentals
Some RestrictionsRepeat Violator Strikes
Boulder may revoke STR licenses for repeated nuisance, occupancy, or tax violations under BRC 6-3-7 and BRC 5-2-9. A documented strike pattern leads to mandatory revocation and a multi-year reapplication ban for the property and licensee.
Repeat-Offender Revocation
Heavy RestrictionsHost Platform Liability
Boulder requires online STR platforms to display a valid city license number on every listing and to remove non-compliant listings on request. Compliance partnerships with Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms help enforce BRC 6-3-7.
Platform Compliance and Listing Removal
Some RestrictionsLooking for Boulder County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Boulder city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Boulder County →