Jefferson County, CO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Jefferson County, 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 operating or advertising an STR
- Adopting instrument
- Resolution CC25-341
- Effective date
- February 2, 2026
- First violation fine
- $500
- Subsequent violation fine
- $1,000/day
- Listing removal window
- 7 days of county notice
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Jefferson County only
Summary
Unincorporated Jefferson County requires a county-issued Short-Term Rental License before anyone may operate or even advertise a property rented for under 30 days, under the Vacation Rental Services Ordinance adopted December 16, 2025, effective February 2, 2026.
1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate a STR and/or commence advertising a STR for rent without first obtaining a Short-Term Rental License. ... This Ordinance shall not apply to the furnishing of lodging services in hotels, motels, resort lodge cottages timeshares/fractional ownership units within a building operating akin to that of a hotel/motel with a central check-in located within such facility, or to properties with leases of thirty (30) days or longer. ... a) First Violation: Five-hundred dollars ($500). b) Subsequent Violations: One-thousand dollars ($1,000).
Full Breakdown
The Board of County Commissioners' Vacation Rental Services Ordinance (Resolution CC25-341) makes it unlawful to operate an STR or commence advertising one without first obtaining a Short-Term Rental License; the Planning and Zoning (PZ) Director or a designee approves, denies and revokes licenses through an administrative review process. It applies only to the unincorporated county and reaches Single-Family Detached, Single-Family Attached, Duplex or Accessory Dwelling Unit properties rented under 30 days; it does not cover hotels, motels, resort lodge cottages or timeshare/fractional units operating with a central check-in like a hotel, nor leases of 30 days or longer.
Owners with active listings must display the license number on any hosting platform, and platforms must pull a listing within seven days of county notice that a license is invalid, expired, revoked, or that the owner received a notice of violation for operating without one; a hotel owner listed through such a platform can seek a written exemption. Enforcement runs through a zoning inspector acting on a complaint (including anonymous complaints) or independent investigation, with fines prosecuted by the Jefferson County Attorney's Office. The County disclaims liability for STR operations, requiring owners to hold the County harmless, and the ordinance is severable if any part is struck down.
Violations & Fines
Operating or advertising an STR without a valid license triggers a graduated civil fine: $500 for a first violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation, with every additional day the violation continues counted as a separate offense at the same per-violation rate. Starting January 1, 2027, the County may raise these fines 5% annually for inflation, and anyone convicted under C.R.S. §30-15-402(2)(a) also owes a $10 court surcharge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in unincorporated Jefferson County?
Is a hotel or long-term lease covered by this license requirement?
What happens if I list my rental without a Jefferson County STR license?
Does this license requirement reach Golden, Lakewood or Arvada properties?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
How Jefferson County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Colorado short-term rentals overview
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