7 verified short-term rentals rules for Denver, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Denver requires anyone offering a short-term rental to first obtain a license from the Department of Excise and Licenses before operating, and unlicensed booking transactions are unlawful too.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 33-47
It shall be unlawful to offer, provide, or operate a short-term rental in the City and County of Denver without first obtaining a license as provided in this article III and in compliance with any and all applicable laws and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
Denver charges the same 10.75% lodger's tax on short-term rentals that it charges hotels, and every licensed short-term rental host must hold a valid city lodger's tax account before renting out a room.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 53-156(a)
The amount of tax levied hereby is ten and three-quarters (10.75) percent of the purchase price paid or charged for purchasing such lodging. One and three-quarters (1.75) percent of such tax shall be used to pay debt related to and costs of operating, maintaining and improving the National Western Center Campus and the Colorado Convention Center and other tourism related projects.
Denver's zoning code explicitly exempts short-term rentals from any maximum number of guests per night, one of the few limits the city chose not to impose on hosts.
Denver Zoning Code § 11.8.10.1.J
J. Shall not be subject to a maximum number of guests per night.
Denver requires every licensed short-term rental to carry fire, hazard, and liability insurance meeting coverage limits set by the Department of Excise and Licenses, or the operator is committing an unlawful act under the licensing code.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 33-49(e)
(e)Insurance. It shall be unlawful to operate a short-term rental without, fire, hazard and liability insurance within the liability coverage limits set by the director.(f)Unlawful transactions. On and after February 1, 2020, it shall be unlawful for any booking service provider to receive payment, directly or indirectly, for an unlicensed short-term rental located in the City and County of Den...
Denver bans short-term rentals of any home that isn't the host's primary residence: investment properties and second homes can't be licensed, and operating one anyway is unlawful under the city code.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 33-49(b)
(b) Primary residence. It shall be unlawful to operate a short-term rental in any location that is not the applicant's primary residence.
Denver makes it unlawful for booking service providers like Airbnb or Vrbo to accept payment for an unlicensed short-term rental: a strict-liability offense that applies even without proof of knowledge or intent.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 33-49(f), (h)
(f) Unlawful transactions. On and after February 1, 2020, it shall be unlawful for any booking service provider to receive payment, directly or indirectly, for an unlicensed short-term rental located in the City and County of Denver. The provisions of this subsection (f) are entirely strict liability in nature. ... (h) Penalty. ... a booking service provider who violates subsection (f) or (g) o...