Permit Requirements: Boulder vs Longmont
How do permit requirements rules compare between Boulder, CO and Longmont, CO?
Boulder and Longmont have similar restriction levels.
Boulder, CO
Boulder County
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.
View full Boulder rules →Longmont, CO
Boulder County
The City of Longmont requires every short term rental (rental of an entire dwelling or individual rooms for fewer than 30 consecutive days) to hold both a Short Term Rental (STR) license and a separate Sales and Use Tax license before advertising or accepting bookings. Only City of Longmont residents are eligible, only someone with at least 50% ownership of the dwelling (or their representative) may apply, and a Longmont resident may operate a maximum of one investment dwelling as an STR in addition to their primary residence. The STR license costs $100 to apply and $100 to renew annually; the Sales and Use Tax license carries a one-time $25 processing fee. Applications are filed online through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal or in person at the Development Services Center, 385 Kimbark Street. Operating an STR without a current license is enforceable at up to $500 per day plus a possible summons.
View full Longmont rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Boulder | Longmont |
|---|---|---|
| License | Required, annual renewal | - |
| Non-Owner | Capped citywide | - |
| Contact | 30-minute response | - |
| Inspection | Safety inspection required | - |
| STR License | - | Required for all rentals under 30 days (LMC, City program page) |
| Initial License Fee | - | $100 |
| Annual Renewal | - | $100 |
| Sales & Use Tax License | - | $25 one-time processing fee (required separately) |
| Eligibility | - | City of Longmont residents only; 50%+ owner or representative |
| Investment Dwelling Cap | - | Maximum 1 per resident |
| Allowed Zones | - | All except N-PE and N-PF |
| Application Portal | - | Accela Citizen Access (ACA) |
| Penalty | - | Up to $500/day plus possible court summons |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Boulder FAQ
Can I rent my whole home short-term?
Non-owner-occupied whole-home STRs are capped. Apply for a license and check current availability.
What about the University Hill area?
STRs near CU campus face additional review due to neighborhood density and noise concerns.
Longmont FAQ
Do I need a license to rent my Longmont home on Airbnb or VRBO?
Yes. The City of Longmont requires both a Short Term Rental license ($100 initial, $100 annual renewal) and a separate Sales and Use Tax license ($25 one-time processing fee) before any rental of fewer than 30 days. Apply through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal or in person at the Development Services Center, 385 Kimbark Street. Operating without these licenses can trigger fines of up to $500 per day.
Can a non-resident or out-of-state owner operate an STR in Longmont?
No. The Longmont STR program restricts licenses to City of Longmont residents only. Out-of-city or out-of-state owners are categorically ineligible, even if they own a dwelling inside city limits. Additionally, only a person with at least 50% ownership of the dwelling (or their authorized representative) may apply for the license.
How many STRs can one Longmont resident operate?
A Longmont resident may operate STRs in their own primary residence and a maximum of one additional investment dwelling. The entire dwelling can only be rented to one group at a time. Individual room rentals (renting bedrooms within a dwelling rather than the whole unit) are allowed only when the owner, agent, or property manager resides and is present during the rental period.
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