Unincorporated Jefferson County requires a Short-Term Rental permit through Planning & Zoning following Special Exception approval by the Board of Adjustment. Reported first-year cost is near $3,000 (Special Exception, hearing, review and STR permit fees), with annual renewal around $1,150. Operators also collect 2.9% state sales, 0.5% county sales, and 3% county lodging tax.
Section 46 of the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution (adopted Dec 16, 2025) governs STRs in unincorporated areas only. Approval requires a Special Exception from the Board of Adjustment plus an STR permit from Planning & Zoning. Industry reporting cites a first-year cost near $3,000 (about $800 Special Exception, $200 hearing, $200 review and $750 permit) and an annual renewal of roughly $1,150 - confirm current fees with Planning & Zoning at 303-271-8700 before applying. Operators must register with the Colorado Department of Revenue and collect 2.9% state sales tax, 0.5% Jefferson County sales tax, and the county's 3% lodging (accommodations) tax on stays under 30 consecutive days. Colorado HB23-1287 (2023) requires the state DOR sales-tax license number to appear on Airbnb, Vrbo and similar listings. Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Golden, Edgewater and other incorporated cities run their own STR programs.
Operating without an approved Special Exception and STR permit is a zoning violation enforceable by Jefferson County Planning & Zoning, with fines, permit revocation and possible court action. Failure to collect or remit state and county sales/lodging tax exposes operators to Colorado DOR assessments, penalties and interest.
Jefferson County, CO
Unincorporated Jefferson County enforces a Noise Abatement Regulation (Policy Manual Part 3, Chapter 1, Section 1; adopted by Resolution CC07-202) that mirro...
Jefferson County, CO
Unincorporated Jefferson County does not require a fence permit, but the Zoning Resolution caps fence height in Residential Districts at 6 feet (Section 30.F...
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County's Animal Control Regulation (Resolution CC24-042, effective March 10, 2024) requires every dog in unincorporated Jefferson County to be on a...
Jefferson County, CO
Only 'permissible fireworks' under Colorado C.R.S. 12-28-101(8) - sparklers, ground spinners, fountains, and snakes - are legal in Colorado. All aerials, fir...
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under FIS 08059CV001D and administers Section 30 (Floodplain Overlay Distri...
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County enforces residential pool barrier rules through the 2018 IRC (effective until June 30, 2026) and the 2024 IRC (effective July 1, 2026), as m...
See how Jefferson County's taxes & fees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.