Longmont, CO Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Longmont Municipal Code § 15.02.080.D.14.a
- Eligibility rule
- Must be applicant's primary residence or resident's 2nd dwelling
- One-per-resident cap
- Only one 2nd/investment STR per city resident
- Residency proof
- Colorado ID, affidavit, 2 of 5 more documents
- License term
- One year, renewable annually
- Ownership threshold
- City resident needs 50%+ ownership of 2nd dwelling
Summary
Longmont only licenses a short-term rental if it is the applicant's primary residence or a single second/investment dwelling owned by a city resident, under Longmont Municipal Code section 15.02.080.D.14.a. Anything else, including out-of-town investors or a second rental beyond the one allowed per resident, must be denied.
14.Short-term rental license term. A short-term rental license shall be valid for one year from the date of approval, subject to compliance with the conditions of approval. A short-term rental license shall be denied under this section if:a.The short-term rental is not the applicant's primary residence, or a second or investment dwelling of a resident of the city.b.The applicant fails to provide a complete application and all documentation required by this section.c.The applicant fails to comply with any federal, state or local laws, or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
Full Breakdown
" That single sentence does two things at once: it bars non-primary, non-resident-owned properties from being licensed at all, and it ties the "second or investment dwelling" path to city residency, not just Colorado or out-of-state ownership. 4 requires the applicant to document that residency before any license issues: a valid Colorado driver's license or state ID showing the Longmont address, a signed annual affidavit, disclosure of any LLC members who own the primary or second dwelling, and at least two of five additional proofs, including vehicle registration, voter registration, tax returns, or a utility bill.
1 separately defines "primary dwelling" as the person's usual place of return, of which a person can have only one, so an applicant cannot claim two properties as primary to license both. 16.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental that is not the applicant's primary residence or a documented second/investment dwelling of a city resident is grounds for denial under section 15.02.080.D.14.a, and, if discovered later, for non-renewal under D.15.b or revocation under D.16. Operating at all without a valid license is unlawful under section D.3 and a development code violation under section 15.09.030, punishable under the general penalty in section 1.12.010, up to $500.00 and 90 days in jail, plus administrative civil penalties under chapter 2.97.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an out-of-state investor get a short-term rental license in Longmont?
How many short-term rental licenses can one Longmont resident hold?
What proof does Longmont require to show a property is my primary residence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Longmont
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