What Changed
Arvada updated its short-term rental rules with Ordinance 4917 and new program rules, in effect since May 1, 2026 (City of Arvada, Ordinance 4917; STR program rules). A short-term rental in Arvada is a stay of 2 to 29 nights. Rentals of 30 days or more are outside these rules.
Who Can Hold a Permit
- A permit is issued only in the name of one person aged 18 or older with at least 20% ownership of the property, or the named beneficiary of a trust that owns it.
- An LLC can own the property but cannot hold the permit.
- No one may hold more than three permits at a time. A proposal to cut this to one permit per person was dropped before adoption.
- One permit per lot: the main house or an ADU, not both.
- Permits run one year, are tied to the person and the property, and do not transfer on sale.
Arvada does not require the rental to be the owner's primary residence. That is a key difference from Denver, where only a host's primary residence can be licensed.
Limits on Use
- 240 nights in any 365-day period, with an annual log of occupied days.
- Guests: two per bedroom plus two more (a 2-bedroom unit allows 6); studios allow 3.
- Local contact: an adult who can reach the property within 1 hour, available 24/7.
- Insurance: at least $1 million in liability cover, or proof the platform provides it.
- The permit number must appear in every listing.
Fees and Taxes
The permit fee rose from $175 to $350 a year. Hosts also need a free City business license, renewed yearly (Operating a short-term rental).
Arvada collects its own taxes: city sales tax of 3.46% and lodging tax of 2%, filed with the City through MUNIRevs (City lodging tax). With state, RTD, cultural district and county taxes, the total on a short stay is 9.96% in the Jefferson County part of the city and 10.21% in the Adams County part (Colorado Department of Revenue rates).
Penalties
- $2,000 minimum municipal court fine per violation for renting, offering or using an unpermitted short-term rental, or for failing to post or altering the permit.
- Other violations: at least $500 on a first conviction and $1,000 on a second within 365 days. Minimum fines cannot be suspended.
- Under the program rules: suspension of up to 90 days for a first substantiated violation, up to 180 days for a second within a year, and revocation on a third.
The City also added a monitoring contractor with a 24/7 complaint line.
What Hosts Should Do
- Check whose name is on the permit. It must be a person with at least 20% ownership, not an LLC.
- Count your permits. Three per person is the limit.
- Budget the $350 fee and file City sales and lodging tax every month.
- Keep the night log. The 240-night cap is checked against it.
Check the Rules on LawfulStay
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental rules place by place. Each place page shows where each rule comes from and when it was last checked.