Short-term rental permit rules in Adams County, CO — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Adams County does not currently have a county-specific short-term rental license or permit program. Both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied STRs are legal in unincorporated Adams County. Operators must still register a business with the Colorado Secretary of State, collect Adams County's 0.75% local sales tax plus 2.9% state sales tax, and may owe lodging tax on stays under 30 days. Colorado HB23-1287 authorizes - but does not require - counties to license STRs.
Unlike many Colorado mountain counties, Adams County in the Denver metro has not adopted a county short-term rental ordinance. Colorado HB23-1287 (signed in 2023, codified at C.R.S. 30-15-401(1)(j.7)) authorizes Boards of County Commissioners to license and regulate STRs in unincorporated areas, but Adams County has not enacted such an ordinance for unincorporated parcels. STRs in unincorporated Adams County are therefore not prohibited and do not require a county STR-specific permit, though incorporated cities within Adams County (Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster) each have their own STR rules that may require a city license. Operators must register their business entity with the Colorado Secretary of State, collect the Adams County local sales tax (0.75%) on top of the Colorado state sales tax (2.9%), and remit lodging tax for stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days. Hosts should consult the Adams County Treasurer and Colorado Department of Revenue for filing requirements. Building safety, fire code (2018 IFC), and zoning rules still apply.
Failure to collect or remit Colorado state sales tax (2.9%) or Adams County local sales tax (0.75%) can result in Department of Revenue assessments, penalties, and interest. Operating without a registered business entity with the Colorado Secretary of State exposes the host to civil liability. Cities within Adams County may impose separate license fines.
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See how Adams County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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