Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Denver, CO (2026)

Denver, CO allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-term rental license) before listing their property. Denver regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Denver.

Statewide Preemption

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-term rental license. Registration fee: varies. Annual renewal: annually. Register through the local building department or local planning department. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Registration Type

Short-term rental license · Verified May 20, 2026 · Source

Registration Fee

$100

Annual Renewal

$100

Operational Rules

No specific operational rules listed for short-term rentals in Denver beyond standard property codes.

• •All STRs (fewer than 30 consecutive nights) require a Denver Short-Term Rental License
• •Property must be the host's primary residence — only one STR license per person
• •Host must maintain primary residence at the property — cannot be used as investment STR if not primary residence
• •Annual license renewal required
• •Must display Denver STR license number on all listing platforms
• •Platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) must verify Denver license numbers
• •Must maintain liability insurance of at least $1,000,000
• •Maximum 2 guests per bedroom per Denver occupancy standards
• •Must collect and remit Denver lodging tax (if not collected by platform)

Penalties for Violations

Specific penalty amounts for STR violations in Denver are not listed. Contact the local planning department for enforcement information.

• ⚠$999 fine per violation for operating without a license
• ⚠License revocation for repeated violations
• ⚠Platforms fined for listing unlicensed STRs
• ⚠Code violations trigger neighborhood complaint-driven enforcement

Frequently Asked Questions