Short-Term Rental Regulations · Boulder County, CO
Is Boulder short-term-rental friendly?
Restrictive and parcel-specific. City of Boulder rentals must be the owner's principal residence. Unincorporated Boulder County has a primary-residence Short-Term Rental license and a geographically limited Vacation Rental license. A Boulder mailing address alone does not decide which rules apply.
Last updated: . Every fact links to its official source.
Town-by-town rules
| Town | Permit required? | Annual cost | Primary-residence / night-cap limits | Lodging tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | A short-term rental license must be issued before advertising, offering, or renting. Rentals are 29 days or fewer per stay. (City of Boulder STR licensing (opens in a new tab)) | The city lists $190 for the rental license plus a $25 business-license fee for a new application, $190 for renewal, and a $20 annual affidavit fee. The application page lists the new application total as $215. (City of Boulder STR application (opens in a new tab), City of Boulder STR licensing (opens in a new tab)) | The property must be the owner principal residence. The city states there is no annual limit when the entire principal residence is rented, while an eligible accessory unit may be rented up to 120 days per year. Accessory-unit STR operation is generally prohibited unless both the ADU and its STR license were legally established before January 3, 2019; do not interpret the 120-day rule as allowing new ADU STRs. (City of Boulder STR licensing (opens in a new tab)) | The City June 2026 revenue report states a 7.5% short-term rental tax on homeowner rentals of less than 30 days. This is the city STR tax, not a verified aggregate of every possible state or district tax. (City June 2026 revenue report tax definitions (opens in a new tab)) |
| Boulder County (unincorporated) | A Boulder County license is required for short-term or vacation rentals in unincorporated Boulder County. (Boulder County STR licensing (opens in a new tab)) | The county lists $350 initial and $250 renewal for a Short-Term Rental License, and $500 initial and $300 renewal for a Vacation Rental License. A $1,000 septic change-of-use fee may also apply to a Vacation Rental. (Boulder County STR licensing (opens in a new tab)) | The county Short-Term Rental License is for a primary residence and generally requires the owner or tenant to be present, with an exception of up to 45 nights per year for the entire dwelling while absent. Vacation Rental licenses are limited by geography: 194 Upper St. Vrain, 83 Bald Mountain, and none in Plains. Vacation Rentals are limited to Forestry and Mountain Institutional zones, with additional subdivision restrictions; these are distinct from the primary-residence Short-Term Rental license category. (Boulder County STR licensing (opens in a new tab)) | The cited county STR source does not state the lodging-tax rate. Confirm it with the county. (Boulder County STR licensing (opens in a new tab)) |
"Not found" means the restriction was not located in the linked official materials reviewed as of the update date. It does not prove that no later, uncodified, parcel-specific, or special-district rule applies.
Good to know
- Boulder: Advertisements must include the maximum allowed unrelated occupancy and the city rental housing license number. (City of Boulder STR licensing (opens in a new tab))
- Boulder County (unincorporated): Boulder County states its license applies only in unincorporated county areas. Incorporated Boulder and other municipalities use their own licensing rules. (Boulder County STR licensing (opens in a new tab))
FAQ
What should I verify before listing in the Boulder area?
Confirm the exact parcel jurisdiction, zoning or land-use eligibility, permit or registration status, tax registrations, and any HOA or deed restrictions for Boulder city limits and unincorporated Boulder County.
Does a Boulder mailing address establish city jurisdiction?
No. Confirm the parcel boundary. City of Boulder rules and unincorporated Boulder County rules are separate, and other incorporated municipalities have their own rules.
What does "not found" mean?
It means the rule was not found in the cited materials. It is not a guarantee that no rule applies.
Do platforms handle every tax or permit?
Platforms may not handle every tax or permit. Confirm collection, filing, and registration responsibility directly with the jurisdiction.
General information, not legal advice. Short-term rental rules change, so verify current requirements with the jurisdiction before listing.