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Colorado · Short-Term Rental Compliance

Denver Short-Term Rental Permit Guide

Denver permits short-term rentals ONLY in the operator's primary residence — non-owner-occupied STRs remain prohibited. Every operator must hold both a Short-Term Rental Business License (issued by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, formerly Excise & Licenses) and a separate Lodger's Tax License (Department of Finance). Initial licensing cost is $150 ($50 application + $100 license); renewal is $100 annually on an April 30 deadline standardized starting 2026. Denver collects a 10.75% Lodger's Tax on stays under 30 days and requires $1M liability coverage.

Permit
Short-Term Rental Business License (primary residence only) + Lodger's Tax License
Annual fee
$150
Occupancy tax
10.75%
Fine range
$150–$999 per violation
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What the city requires

Requirements checklist

  • 1
    STR Business License
    $150 initial ($50 non-refundable application + $100 license fee). $100 annual renewal. Renewal deadline is April 30 (standardized 2026); Jan–Mar 2026 renewals prorated $33.33–$100.
  • 2
    Lodger's Tax License
    Separate registration with the Department of Finance, required by DMC §33-47. ~$25/yr per location (issued as a $50 two-year certificate). Hosts must file Lodger's Tax returns annually even when Airbnb/VRBO remit the 10.75% platform-side.
  • 3
    Primary-residence rule (strictly enforced)
    Operator must reside on-site as their primary residence (>50% of the year). Application requires CO driver's license or state ID at the address PLUS two of: voter registration, vehicle registration, lease, utility bill, tax return, or bank statement. False claims are a felony — 2–6 years and up to $500k.
  • 4
    Fire + life-safety inspection
    Mandatory pre-approval inspection. Smoke detectors in every bedroom/common area, CO detectors within 15 ft of sleeping areas on each level, accessible fire extinguisher, labeled egress routes, and a floor plan showing equipment locations.
  • 5
    Insurance + platform display
    $1,000,000 minimum liability coverage (standard homeowners policies excluded — STR endorsement or CGL required). License number must appear in the title or description of every Airbnb/VRBO listing; platforms remove listings without a valid license number.
  • 6
    Occupational Privilege Tax
    $48/year ($4/month) for self-employed single operators.

Verified April 2026 against denvergov.org (STR Business Licensing pages), Denver Tax Guide Topics 47/52/97, and Denver Municipal Code Ch. 33 Art. III §§ 33-46, 33-47, 33-49, 33-54. 2024 enforcement: 850+ citations, ~200 illegal STRs shut down. "Department of Excise and Licenses" was renamed "Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection" in 2026. Lodger's Tax License is issued as a $50 two-year certificate (~$25/yr amortized) per location.

Official filing portal: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Business-Licensing/Business-licenses/Short-term-rentals/New

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