4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Boulder County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
All short-term and vacation rentals in unincorporated Boulder County must be licensed under Ordinance 2023-02. Two license types exist: a Short-Term Rental License (owner-occupied, $350 initial / $250 renewal) and a Vacation Rental License (non-owner-occupied, $500 initial / $300 renewal). Vacation rentals are geographically capped at 194 in Upper St. Vrain, 83 in Bald Mountain, and zero on the Plains, and limited to Forestry (F) and Mountain Institutional (MI) zone districts.
Boulder County Ordinance 2023-02, Section 2 (License Required)
Section 2: License Required. A. Local License Required. It is a violation of this Ordinance to offer, provide, or operate a Short-Term Rental or Vacation Rental within the unincorporated area of Boulder County, Colorado without a current Short-Term Rental License or Vacation Rental License. B. A property which is deed-restricted as affordable housing is not eligible for a License. C. Only one L...
Unincorporated Boulder County requires a Short-Term Rental or Vacation Rental license under Ordinance 2023-02 (effective March 5, 2024). Initial Short-Term Rental license is $350; Vacation Rental license is $500. Renewal fees are $250 and $300 respectively. Vacation Rentals also need a $1,000 septic Change of Use permit.
Boulder County requires all guest parking for unincorporated Short-Term and Vacation Rentals to be on-site. Short-Term Rentals must provide two on-site parking spaces. Vacation Rentals must provide two spaces or one space per four approved occupants, whichever is fewer, all on-site. Adopted under Ordinance 2023-02 and Land Use Code Article 4.
Boulder County limits unincorporated Short-Term and Vacation Rentals to a maximum of 8 individuals OR the on-site wastewater system's permitted occupancy capacity, whichever is fewer. The cap is property-based (septic capacity and total guests), consistent with Colorado HB24-1007 which prohibits occupancy limits keyed to family relationships.
2 cities in Boulder County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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