Denver short-term rental laws (2026)
Denver draws one line for short-term rentals: the home has to be your primary residence, and running one anywhere else is unlawful. You can host while you are on vacation, as long as a local responsible party stays in Denver with access to the home, and there is no cap on nights. A license covers stays of fewer than 29 nights at a time and lasts one year, with at least $1 million in liability insurance behind it. Fines reach $999 per incident, and a platform that takes payment for an unlicensed Denver rental owes $1,000 per violation per day.[5]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified September 14, 2026.
Is Airbnb legal in Denver?
Legal, in your primary residence
Only in your primary residence, with a Denver license. You can be away during stays, with a local responsible party in Denver.
7 official sources · verified September 14, 2026
Photo: Bill Griepenstroh on Unsplash
- PermitRequired · $50 application, $100 license
- Primary residenceRequired
- Number on listingRequired
- Night capNone published
Every Denver rule, sorted by what it asks
Filter by topic. Each line carries the number of its official source, listed at the bottom of the page.
You must
- Hold a Denver short-term rental license[5]
- Use a residential rental property license for stays of 30 days or more[1]
- Get the owner's written permission if you do not own the home[5]
- Show the license number clearly on every ad[5]
- Renew every year, with a 20% or 50% penalty if you renew late[5][3]
- To rent an ADU, live in the main house as owner or long-term renter[4]
- Follow HOA covenants, which can prohibit short-term rentals[4]
- Keep a local responsible party in Denver, with access, for the whole stay[5]
- Give guests a brochure on parking, noise, trash, water rules and evacuation[5]
- Have a working smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher[5]
- Carry at least $1 million in liability cover for short-term rental use[2]
- Have a Denver lodger's tax account number when you apply[5]
- Collect the 10.75% lodger's tax on platforms that do not[6]
You must not
- Operate anywhere that is not your primary residence[5]
- Have more than one primary residence[5]
- Transfer the license to another person or location[5]
- Let the license lapse more than 90 days, or you must apply again[3]
- Have more than one rental contract in place at a time[4]
- Rent for commercial events such as parties or weddings[4]
What a new permit costs
Fees for a new short-term rental license, valid one year
$150new license
- Application$50
- License$100
The lodger's tax account has its own fee, which the city does not publish. License holders also pay $48 a year in occupational privilege tax.[4]
How to apply in Denver
Official name: Short-term rental license
- 1
Gather a Colorado driver's license or state ID plus two proofs of residence, such as voter registration, a tax return or a utility bill.[2]
- 2
Register for a Denver lodger's tax account.[2]
- 3
Get at least $1 million in liability insurance that covers short-term rental use.[2]
- 4
Apply in Denver's online permitting and licensing center and pay the $50 application fee and $100 license fee.[2]
- 5
Expect a specialist review that can take up to 90 days after the city receives a complete application.[2]
- 6
Once licensed, show the license number clearly on every advertisement.[5]
Four jurisdictions, same questions
The Denver column comes from the official sources on this page. The other columns show the headline rule from each WonderGuest page. Open a page for the full detail.
| Question | Denver | New York City | Los Angeles | Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit | Required$50 application, $100 license | Required$145 registration, up to 4 years | Required$441 base fee, adjusted each year | RequiredCity license, $500 a year |
| Primary residence | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Night cap | None published | None published | 120 days a year unless Extended | None published |
| Number on listing | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Where allowed | Your primary residence only | Your home only, with you present | Your primary residence only | Owner-occupied, 660 feet apart |
| Occupancy tax | 10.75% lodger's tax, Airbnb collects | 7 to 8.875% sales tax via Airbnb | 14% city TOT, Airbnb collects | 13 to 13.38% TOT, Airbnb collects |
| Fine without permit | Up to $999 per incident | Up to $5,000 per transaction | $500 a day, or 2x nightly if higher | $1,000 to $10,000 per violation |
| New York City rules | Los Angeles rules | Las Vegas rules |
Coming up
What's changing
No change with an effective date appears in the official sources on this page as of September 14, 2026.
FAQ
Denver short-term rental questions
Do I have to be home while guests stay at my Denver rental?
Can I list a second home or investment property in Denver?
Can I rent out my accessory dwelling unit in Denver?
If Airbnb collects Denver lodger's tax, do I still file a return?
Sources
- Short-term rentals, City and County of Denver, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, read on September 14, 2026
- New short-term rental application, City and County of Denver, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, read on September 14, 2026
- Renewal short-term rental application, City and County of Denver, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, read on September 14, 2026
- Short-term rental frequently asked questions, City and County of Denver, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, read on September 14, 2026
- Denver Revised Municipal Code chapter 33, article III, short-term rentals, City and County of Denver, read on September 14, 2026
- Short-term rental taxation information (2026), City and County of Denver Department of Finance, read on September 14, 2026
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance in Colorado, Airbnb Help Center, read on September 14, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on September 14, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.
Before you list
Free tools for new hosts
Short-term rental agreement generator
Parties, dates, rent, deposit checked against your state's cap, and the house rules clauses you enforce. A signed-ready PDF for direct and Vrbo bookings.
Airbnb house rules
Generate a complete PDF house rules document for your property: rules, schedule, amenities, emergency contacts.
Rental arbitrage calculator
Rent, deposit, furnishing, nightly rate and occupancy. You get monthly cash flow, the occupancy you break even at, and how long the setup takes to pay back.
Check-in instructions
The message a guest reads before getting in: access, keys, WiFi, parking, contact. English or bilingual output.