Short-term rental permit rules in Jefferson County, CO β also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration β list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners adopted Section 46 of the Zoning Resolution on December 16, 2025, creating an administrative STR licensing program for unincorporated areas. Licenses are valid up to one year and require a local representative who can reach the property within 30 minutes, a parking plan, defensible-space proof where required, and proof of insurance. Investor-owned STRs are limited to one per owner with a 750-foot separation buffer. Authority comes from Colorado HB23-1287 (C.R.S. 30-15-401(1)(j.7)).
Jefferson County adopted Section 46 - Short-Term Rentals of the Zoning Resolution on December 16, 2025, creating an administrative STR license program for unincorporated areas. The program is authorized by Colorado HB23-1287 (codified at C.R.S. 30-15-401(1)(j.7)), which lets county commissioners license and regulate STRs of fewer than 30 consecutive days. Required submittals include a completed application, a scaled floor plan showing sleeping areas, a parking plan, a trash storage and removal plan, proof of water and sanitation (well permit or Form 1001 from a sanitation district), proof of defensible space where in a wildfire hazard area, proof of liability insurance, proof of ownership, and an affidavit certifying compliance. A local on-call representative must be able to reach the property within 30 minutes. Investor-owned STRs (where the host does not occupy the property) are capped at one licensed STR per owner in unincorporated Jefferson County and must observe a 750-foot separation buffer from other investor STRs. Licenses are valid up to one year and must be renewed annually. Operators must also register with the Colorado Secretary of State, collect Colorado state sales tax (2.9%), Jefferson County sales tax (0.5%), and remit lodging tax on stays under 30 days. Cities within Jefferson County (Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Golden) maintain separate STR rules.
Operating an unlicensed STR in unincorporated Jefferson County after Section 46 took effect on December 16, 2025 is a zoning violation subject to Sheriff's Office enforcement, daily fines, and license denial or revocation. Violation of the 30-minute local contact rule, the investor cap, or the 750-foot separation buffer can result in license revocation. Failure to remit Colorado state (2.9%) or county (0.5%) sales taxes exposes the host to Department of Revenue assessments and penalties.
Jefferson County, CO
Unincorporated Jefferson County enforces a Noise Abatement Regulation (Policy Manual Part 3, Chapter 1, Section 1; adopted by Resolution CC07-202) that mirro...
Jefferson County, CO
Unincorporated Jefferson County does not require a fence permit, but the Zoning Resolution caps fence height in Residential Districts at 6 feet (Section 30.F...
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County's Animal Control Regulation (Resolution CC24-042, effective March 10, 2024) requires every dog in unincorporated Jefferson County to be on a...
Jefferson County, CO
Only 'permissible fireworks' under Colorado C.R.S. 12-28-101(8) - sparklers, ground spinners, fountains, and snakes - are legal in Colorado. All aerials, fir...
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under FIS 08059CV001D and administers Section 30 (Floodplain Overlay Distri...
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County enforces residential pool barrier rules through the 2018 IRC (effective until June 30, 2026) and the 2024 IRC (effective July 1, 2026), as m...
See how Jefferson County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.