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.
Under BRC 6-3-7, Boulder distinguishes between hosted STRs, where the licensee is present during the guest stay, and unhosted whole-home rentals where guests have exclusive use. Both formats are permitted but only at the host's primary residence. Hosted rentals can occur unlimited days per year. Whole-home rentals are capped (see night-cap rules). The host-presence framework reduces nuisance complaints common in college-town neighborhoods near CU-Boulder by ensuring an accountable resident on-site or a clear license linkage. Property managers cannot substitute for owner residency.
Renting an unlicensed whole-home STR or misrepresenting host presence may revoke the license and trigger penalties up to $1,000 per day under BRC 5-2-4 enforcement.
Boulder, CO
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 let...
Boulder, CO
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 t...
See how Boulder's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
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