Westminster, CO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (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.
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?
How long is a Westminster STR license valid?
Can I keep operating my STR after I sell the house?
Can one person hold more than one STR license in Westminster?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
How Westminster compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Westminster to another location·View the Colorado short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.