Denver, CO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Denver, CO, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License required
- Before offering any short-term rental
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Excise and Licenses
- Primary residence rule
- STR must be applicant's primary residence
- License term
- One year, non-transferable
- Booking-provider penalty
- $1,000 per violation per day
Summary
Denver requires anyone offering a short-term rental to first obtain a license from the Department of Excise and Licenses before operating, and unlicensed booking transactions are unlawful too.
It shall be unlawful to offer, provide, or operate a short-term rental in the City and County of Denver without first obtaining a license as provided in this article III and in compliance with any and all applicable laws and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
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 offer, provide, or operate a short-term rental without a license issued by the Department of Excise and Licenses under DRMC Chapter 33, Article III. Applicants must prove the property is their primary residence, submit a valid Colorado ID, two additional residency documents, proof of possession, and a valid lodger's tax account number. Licenses run one year, are non-transferable, and a booking service provider that accepts payment for an unlicensed rental faces strict liability regardless of intent.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or a booking service collecting payment for an unlicensed rental, brings civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation per day plus license denial or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Denver?
Can I short-term rent a Denver property that isn't my primary residence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
How Denver compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado short-term rentals overview
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