Denver, CO Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- Fire, hazard, and liability insurance
- Coverage limits
- Set by the director
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Excise and Licenses
- Also a license-denial ground
- DRMC § 33-53(d)
- Max fine
- $999 per offense
Summary
Denver requires every licensed short-term rental to carry fire, hazard, and liability insurance meeting coverage limits set by the Department of Excise and Licenses, or the operator is committing an unlawful act under the licensing code.
(e)Insurance. It shall be unlawful to operate a short-term rental without, fire, hazard and liability insurance within the liability coverage limits set by the director.(f)Unlawful transactions. On and after February 1, 2020, 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 and County of Denver. The provisions of this subsection (f) are entirely strict liability in nature.(g)Records. On and after February 1, 2020, it shall be unlawful for any person or entity to fail to comply with section 33-55.(h)Penalty. In addition to the general penalty provided for in D.R.M.C. sec. 1-13(a), a booking service provider who violates subsection (f) or (g) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per violation per day. (Ord. No. 262-16, § 1, 6-13-16; Ord. No. 240-20, § 1, 3-31-20; Ord. No. 1229-20, § 1, 11-23-20)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Denver's short-term rental ordinance makes it unlawful to operate without fire, hazard, and liability insurance, with the specific coverage limits set administratively by the director of the Department of Excise and Licenses rather than fixed in the code itself. Insurance is also a standalone eligibility requirement: an application can be denied, and an active license suspended or revoked, if the applicant or licensee fails to obtain or maintain the required coverage. The rule applies citywide since Denver operates as a single consolidated city and county with no separate unincorporated jurisdiction.
Violations & Fines
Operating without required insurance is an unlawful act under DRMC § 33-49(e); the Department of Excise and Licenses can deny, suspend, or revoke the license, and violators face fines up to $999 per offense under the Code's general penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Denver require short-term rental hosts to carry insurance?
What happens if a Denver STR host lacks the required insurance?
How much insurance coverage does Denver require?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
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