Longmont, CO Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Longmont's STR program distinguishes two operating models with different presence rules. Model one is a whole-dwelling STR, where the entire dwelling unit is rented to one group at a time. A Longmont resident owner may operate a whole-dwelling STR unhosted - the owner does not have to be on-site during the rental, but the dwelling may be rented to only one group at a time (no concurrent multi-party bookings). The resident eligibility rule still applies: only City of Longmont residents may hold the license, and each resident is capped at one investment dwelling as an STR in addition to STR activity in their own primary residence. Model two is a room-by-room STR, where individual bedrooms within an owner-occupied dwelling are rented separately. The room-by-room model is allowed only when the owner, agent, or property manager 'resides and is present' at the dwelling during the rental period; this is a categorical hosted-rental requirement. The 'agent' or 'property manager' allowance accommodates situations where the owner is temporarily away and a designated on-site responsible person is staffing the rental, but a fully absentee room-by-room rental is prohibited. Because Longmont restricts STR ownership to City residents and caps non-primary investment STRs at one per resident, the practical effect is to keep STR inventory close to the primary-residence/investment-property of local residents rather than allowing absentee corporate STR portfolios. ADU (accessory dwelling unit) usage as an STR is generally prohibited except in specific PUDs with site plan approval, which removes one common vehicle for absentee STR activity.