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Westminster, CO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in Westminster, 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
W.M.C. 5-24-3
License term
2 years
Renewal fee
$200.00
Limit
One STR license per applicant citywide
Appeal deadline
20 days to SPLB

Summary

Any person offering a short-term rental in Westminster must first obtain a City license under W.M.C. 5-24-3. The license names the licensee and the licensed premises, runs two years from issuance, and terminates automatically when the property is sold, so a new owner cannot operate under the seller's license.

(A)Any person providing or offering to provide lodging in the form of a Short-Term Rental within a residential property located within the City must first obtain and maintain a License from the City.(B)Each License is separate and distinct, and no Person shall exercise any of the privileges granted under any License other than that which is expressed on the License.(C)Each License shall specify the date of issuance, the period during which it is valid, the name of the Licensee, the Licensed Premises, and the portions of the Licensed Premises, if so limited, that may be used as a Short-Term Rental.(D)All Licenses shall be valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance or renewal.(E)A License shall terminate upon transfer of ownership of the Licensed Premises.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).

Full Breakdown

C. Chapter 5-24, makes licensing mandatory before any residential property can be rented for stays under 30 days. Section 5-24-4 requires the fee owner (all owners if there is more than one) to sign the application, and bars any single applicant from holding more than one STR license in the city at a time. The applicant must designate a Responsible Agent reachable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, who can respond to a complaint about the property or a guest's conduct within one hour and who can grant City inspectors access.

Applicants must submit a copy of the recorded deed of trust, a signed affidavit certifying working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers, an acknowledgment that the City may inspect the premises under Title XI, proof of weekly residential trash service, and a certification under penalty of perjury. A license issued under 5-24-3 is valid for two years and lists the licensee, the licensed premises, and any portion of the dwelling limited for STR use; it automatically terminates the moment the property changes hands, so a buyer must apply fresh.

00 fee before the two-year term expires, and licensees must notify the Director in writing of any material change within 30 calendar days. The Director may deny a license under 5-24-6 for good cause, including code violations, a history of nuisance impacts on the neighborhood, or an address lacking a legal dwelling unit. , per Section 5-24-9.

Violations & Fines

Operating a short-term rental without a current, active license, or after a license expires or is revoked, is enforced administratively under W.M.C. Title XI and Title I, Chapter 23 (Section 5-24-9). The City may also revoke, suspend or deny renewal under 5-24-10 for fraud on the application, nuisance conditions, or noncompliance with license terms; notice is mailed and the suspension or revocation takes effect no sooner than 20 days later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Westminster?
Yes. W.M.C. 5-24-3 makes it unlawful to offer short-term lodging in a residential property in Westminster without first obtaining and maintaining a City license. The license must be renewed every two years, and it lists the licensee, the address, and which parts of the home may be rented, per Section 5-24-3(C).
How long is a Westminster STR license valid?
Under Section 5-24-3(D), a Short-Term Rental license is valid for two years from the date of issuance or renewal. Renewal requires a new application and a $200.00 fee submitted before the license expires, and operating past the expiration date without a completed renewal is unlawful under Section 5-24-5(B).
Can I keep operating my STR after I sell the house?
No. Section 5-24-3(E) states the license terminates upon transfer of ownership of the licensed premises. The new owner must apply for a fresh Short-Term Rental license before renting the property short term and cannot rely on the seller's existing license.
Can one person hold more than one STR license in Westminster?
No. Section 5-24-4(B) bars any applicant from operating more than one licensed premises as a Short-Term Rental within the City at the same time, and applicants must certify compliance with that limit on every application they submit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Westminster

All Westminster rules

How Westminster compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Westminster to another location·View the Colorado short-term rentals overview

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