Lakewood, CO Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Revocation trigger
- 2 citations or 1 noise conviction
- Governing section
- LMC § 5.55.070(A)(3)
- Cross-referenced noise code
- LMC § 9.52.040
- Application denial trigger
- 2+ noise summons in prior 12 months
- Possible penalty
- Probation, civil fine, or revocation
Summary
A Lakewood short-term rental that racks up two excessive-noise citations, or a single noise conviction, gives the City's Lodging/STR Licensing Authority grounds to open a show-cause hearing to suspend, revoke or not renew the STR license.
A.Show Cause to Suspend or Revoke. The City Clerk may request that the Authority suspend, revoke or not renew a license, and the Authority may issue an Order to Show Cause why a license should not be suspended or revoked, for any one or more of the following:1.The STR is listed on a hosting platform or Short-Term Marketplace Facilitator site without including the Lakewood Short-Term license number of the STR;2.The STR has received two citations for violation of any of the City's nuisance codes, or been convicted of any one violation of the City's nuisance codes;3.The STR has received two citations for violation of the City's excessive noise (such excessive noise verified by a member of the City's law enforcement team), or one conviction for a violation of the City's noise ordinance;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 14 | Zoning Ordinance: ?).
Full Breakdown
Lakewood Municipal Code § 5.55.070(A) lets the City Clerk request, and the Authority issue, an Order to Show Cause why an STR license should not be suspended or revoked for any of several conditions. Item 3 targets noise directly: "The STR has received two citations for violation of the City's excessive noise (such excessive noise verified by a member of the City's law enforcement team), or one conviction for a violation of the City's noise ordinance." That sits next to related grounds: two nuisance-code citations or one nuisance conviction (item 2), and calls for service at or above two in a 12-month period (item 5).
Enforcement reaches back to the licensing stage too. Under § 5.55.060(A)(4), the City Clerk must deny a new or renewal application if the property was cited for a public nuisance in the previous 12 months, was the site of a substantiated noise complaint, or if two or more summons alleging a violation of the City's noise code, § 9.52.040, were issued; a noise complaint is "substantiated" only upon a municipal court conviction. Applicants also must swear, under the notarized affidavit required by § 5.55.030(B)(5)(c), that renters will be told about applicable City noise rules.
If the Authority finds probable cause that a licensee deliberately and willfully violated a law or created an undue risk to public health, safety or welfare, § 5.55.070(B) allows summary suspension by written order, delivered to the licensee or posted at the property, even before a hearing is held.
Violations & Fines
Two excessive-noise citations or one noise-ordinance conviction supports a show-cause hearing under § 5.55.070(A)(3); the Authority can then place the license on probation, impose a civil fine under the adopted fine schedule, or revoke the license (§ 5.55.080.C). Two or more noise summons in the prior year also blocks a new or renewal application outright (§ 5.55.060(A)(4)), and probable cause of a willful noise violation supports immediate summary suspension (§ 5.55.070(B)).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many noise complaints can get a Lakewood STR shut down?
Can a Lakewood STR license be suspended immediately for a loud party?
Does a noise citation ever block a new STR application?
Must STR hosts warn guests about Lakewood's noise rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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