| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Restricted — rules apply |
| Permit / License Required | Yes |
| Tax Rate | City of Boulder accommodations tax: 7.5% (self-collected, filed via Boulder Online Tax System); separate state/county/RTD components collected by Colo |
| Night / Day Cap | No annual night cap; each individual stay must be 29 consecutive days or fewer |
| Minimum Stay | Not specified; maximum stay 29 consecutive days |
| Permit Fee | STR rental license fee ~$190; business license fee ~$25; license issued for a four-year term |
| Penalties | License void if annual affidavit not completed; license non-transferable on sale; enforcement through Boulder's Rental Licensing program |
| Primary Residence Required | Yes — property must be the owner's principal residence (defined as where the owner resides more than half the year, i.e., >183 days). Investment/non-o |
| Occupancy Limit | No STR-specific numeric cap; occupancy may not exceed limits under the city's Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 10-2, Boulder Revised Code 1981) |
Short-term rentals in Boulder, Colorado are allowed but subject to significant restrictions under local regulations as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes. The associated permit fees are STR rental license fee ~$190; business license fee ~$25; license issued for a four-year term.
Short-term rental operators in Boulder should be aware of these tax obligations: City of Boulder accommodations tax: 7.5% (self-collected, filed via Boulder Online Tax System); separate state/county/RTD components collected by Colorado Department of Revenue.
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Boulder include: Primary residence requirement: Yes — property must be the owner's principal residence (defined as where the owner resides more than half the year, i.e.. Rental day cap: No annual night cap; each individual stay must be 29 consecutive days or fewer. Occupancy limit: No STR-specific numeric cap; occupancy may not exceed limits under the city's Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 10-2, B. Minimum stay: Not specified; maximum stay 29 consecutive days.
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Boulder: STRs are permitted where owner-occupancy condition is met; Boulder does not use a separate STR zoning overlay. STRs are never permitted for owners of permanently affordable (covenant-restricted) homes. Density rules: No density cap or spacing requirement published for City of Boulder STRs. Insurance: Not mandated by city ordinance; self-certification of smoke/CO detectors required.
Hosts who fail to comply with Boulder's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. License void if annual affidavit not completed; license non-transferable on sale; enforcement through Boulder's Rental Licensing program.
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Boulder: Operators must register for and remit the 7.5% accommodations tax directly to the City of Boulder via the Boulder Online Tax System (salestax@bouldercolorado.gov); Boulder is a home-rule, self-collect.
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Boulder but subject to restrictions. Hosts must comply with local permit requirements and zoning rules. Application must include: Colorado driver's license or state ID showing property address as applicant's address; sworn statement of principal residency; certification of operational smoke detectors, c
Yes. Boulder requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes.
Short-term rental hosts in Boulder are subject to the following tax obligations: City of Boulder accommodations tax: 7.5% (self-collected, filed via Boulder Online Tax System); separate state/county/RTD components collected by Colorado Department of Revenue.
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Boulder may face enforcement. License void if annual affidavit not completed; license non-transferable on sale; enforcement through Boulder's Rental Licensing program.
City of Boulder STRs are strictly owner-occupied/principal-residence-only — no investor or non-hosted whole-home STRs. Permanently affordable (covenant) homes are categorically excluded from STR. Boulder County (unincorporated areas) operates under a separate licensing ordinance (Ord. 2023-02) that allows both Short-Term Rental Licenses (owner/tenant present, up to 45 nights away) and Vacation Ren
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