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Aurora, CO Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Rule
STR must be operator's primary residence
ADU exception
Owner-occupied primary structure only
Whole-dwelling cap
180 days per 365-day period
Penalty
$1,000 per violation per day
Verification
Records inspected on city request

Summary

Aurora, Colorado limits short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence, and booking platforms can't be paid for listings that aren't.

It shall be unlawful for any person to advertise a short-term rental without: ... (3) Utilizing the residence as the person's primary residence. ... (f) It shall be unlawful for any booking service provider to receive payment, directly or indirectly, for any short-term rental when it knows or should reasonably know that it is not being utilized as the short-term rental operator's primary residence.

Source: Aurora STR LicensingView official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Under Aurora City Code, it's unlawful to advertise a short-term rental without utilizing the residence as the operator's primary residence (§ 26-219(a)(3)). Booking service providers likewise can't accept payment for a listing they know or should know isn't the operator's primary residence (§ 26-219(f)), and operators must let city enforcement inspect records proving primary residency on request (§ 26-220(b)). An exception exists for accessory dwelling units when the owner lives in the primary structure on the same property (§ 26-219(d)(1)). Aurora also caps rentals of an entire dwelling at 180 days per 365-day period and requires a business license plus lodger's license.

Violations & Fines

Unlawful advertising or booking-service payment violations; civil penalty of $1,000 per violation per day applies to subsection (d) whole-dwelling-cap and (e) unlicensed-rental violations, plus the general penalty under § 1-13.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent out a second home in Aurora as a short-term rental?
No. Aurora City Code § 26-219(a)(3) requires the short-term rental to be the operator's primary residence, not a secondary or investment property.
Does the primary-residence rule apply to accessory dwelling units?
No, § 26-219(d)(1) exempts an ADU from the whole-dwelling cap when the owner lives in the primary structure on the same property.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Aurora

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All Aurora rules

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