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Aurora, CO Short-Term Rentals: Host Platform Liability (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing law: Aurora City Code § 26-219
Platform penalty: $1,000 per violation per day
Host license required: General business + lodger's license
Entire-unit rental cap: 180 days per 365-day period
Current through: Ordinance No. 2024-41 (Sept. 9, 2024)

Summary

Aurora, Colorado makes booking service providers like Airbnb and Vrbo liable if they collect payment for an unlicensed short-term rental or one not used as the host's primary residence, backed by a $1,000-per-violation daily civil penalty.

(e) 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 of Aurora. ... (g) Penalty. In addition to the general penalty provided for in section 1-13, a booking service provider who violates subsection (d) or (e) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation per day.

Source: Aurora STR LicensingView official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Aurora City Code § 26-219(e) and (f) bar any booking service provider, the platform facilitating the rental, not just the host, from accepting payment on an unlicensed short-term rental or one the provider knows or should know isn't the operator's primary residence. Subsection (g) sets a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation per day for platforms that violate the primary-residence rule (subsection (d)) or the unlicensed-rental rule (subsection (e)). Hosts separately need a general business license and lodger's license, and entire-unit rentals cap at 180 days per year. Current through Ordinance No. 2024-41 (Sept. 9, 2024).

Violations & Fines

Booking platforms face a $1,000-per-violation civil penalty per day for accepting payment on unlicensed listings or non-primary-residence rentals; hosts risk license revocation and the general Sec. 1-13 penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Airbnb or Vrbo be fined for an Aurora listing?

Yes. Under § 26-219(e)-(f), a booking service provider that accepts payment for an unlicensed short-term rental, or one it knows isn't the host's primary residence, faces a $1,000-per-day civil penalty.

Does the platform have to verify the host's license itself?

Yes, § 26-219(b) requires a booking service provider using the city's lodger's-tax agreement to confirm the host's license number before listing the property for rental.

Sources & Official References

[1]Aurora, Colorado Municipal Code § 26-219 (Short-term rentals unlawful acts)

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