Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Boulder?

**Yes**, Boulder requires a Short-Term Rental License for all stays under 30 days. You need to apply for this license, confirming the rental is your primary residence. Operating without this verified permit can result in fines. The license costs $130, and is valid for two years.

What is the TOT tax rate in Boulder, CO?

**7.5%** is the current Accommodation Tax rate for short-term rentals in Boulder. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the City of Boulder. Always confirm the tax rate with the city, as it can be subject to change. Airbnb and VRBO may automatically collect a portion of this tax.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Boulder?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in Boulder, but only within the host's primary residence. You need to obtain a license and adhere to all city regulations, including safety inspections. Submitting false information on the license application can lead to penalties. Always check local zoning laws.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Boulder?

**Yes**, Boulder requires that the short-term rental be located within the host's primary residence. This means you must live in the property for at least 275 days per year. You will need to provide proof of residency when applying for the required short-term rental license.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Boulder?

**No**, renters are not permitted to host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in Boulder. The city requires that the property be the owner's primary residence, which excludes renters from operating short-term rentals. Check with the city of Boulder for further clarification on hosting regulations.

Boulder, CO Short-Term Rental Laws... | Learn STR by GoStudioM

Baseline Verification

80%

Basic verification complete

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

3 Official Sources

Summary

Short-term rentals in the City of Boulder are strictly limited to an owner's primary residence. A biennial license and a safety inspection are required, and the city imposes a 7.5% Accommodation Tax on stays under 30 days.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 88 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in the City of Boulder, you must actually live in the home for most of the year—investment properties or second homes are generally not allowed for short-term rental. You will need to get a specific STR license which lasts for two years and pass a safety inspection (SmartRegs). Be sure to include your license number on your listing to avoid fines, and remember that even if Airbnb collects the 7.5% tax for you, you still have to file quarterly tax forms with the city.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$130

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.CRITICAL: Rules apply ONLY to City of Boulder. If you are in Unincorporated Boulder County (Gunbarrel, Niwot), different rules apply.
2.Primary Residence Rule: You must live in the property at least 183 days per year.
3.LLCs/Corporations: Usually cannot hold an STR license unless you are the sole owner of the entity.
4.Inspection: You must pass a 'SmartRegs' safety and energy efficiency inspection before licensing.
5.One License Limit: Owners are generally restricted to only one STR license in the city.
6.Affordable Housing: If your property is part of the city's affordable housing program, STRs are strictly prohibited.
7.Listing Display: You must display your valid license number on all advertising platforms.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(13)

•Boulder requires that the property be the host's primary residence. Primary residence is defined as: Natural person must reside at the dwelling for at least 183 days of the year.
•Boulder limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
•Boulder prohibits STRs in the following property types: Affordable housing units, ADUs (unless strictly qualified), Non-residential buildings.

Requirements(20)

•Boulder: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
•Boulder, CO: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application Process(12)

•Boulder, CO: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of primary residence (voter registration, driver's license), Affidavit of primary residence, Zoning verification, Housing inspection report.
•Boulder: CRITICAL: Rules apply ONLY to City of Boulder. If you are in Unincorporated Boulder County (Gunbarrel, Niwot), different rules apply.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Boulder charges a registration fee of $130 (biennial).

Taxes(2)

•Colorado has a state sales tax of 0.029% that applies to STR rentals.
•Boulder charges a Accommodation Tax of 0.075%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 7.5% Accommodation Tax directly; however, hosts must still file returns.

Limits & Restrictions(8)

•Boulder enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
•Boulder, CO: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Boulder, CO occupancy calculation: The limit is 2 adults OR the family occupying the unit; total occupancy of dwelling cannot exceed B.R.C. 9-8-5.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(2)

•Boulder requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Rental Housing Inspection performed by a city-licensed inspector, Egress windows in sleeping rooms.
•Boulder: Inspection: You must pass a 'SmartRegs' safety and energy efficiency inspection before licensing.

Penalties(3)

•Boulder: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Boulder, CO: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions(3)

•Boulder, CO: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Boulder: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Colorado

Moderate

Unincorporated Summit County has strictly regulated STRs via a two-tier overlay system: 'Resort' zones have unlimited permits, while 'Neighborhood' zones are subject to strict precinct caps and a 35-night annual rental limit. All hosts must obtain an annual permit and collect a 2% STR Excise Tax in addition to standard sales taxes.

Permit requiredNight limits

0.1% total tax

Eagle County

Colorado

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Eagle County require an annual license and are subject to a 2% County Lodging Tax. The regulations, established in 2022, focus on parking, life safety, and ensuring a local contact is available to respond to complaints within 60 minutes.

Permit required

0.0% total tax

La Plata County

Colorado

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated La Plata County require a Vacation Rental Permit and must comply with Chapter 90, Article IV of the Land Use Code. Permits are tied to specific occupancy limits based on septic capacity and require wildfire mitigation and bear-proof trash containment.

Permit required

0.0% total tax

Aspen

Colorado

Strict

The City of Aspen requires all short-term rentals to obtain an annual permit categorized into three types: Classic, Lodge, or Investment. Stricter regulations and a significant STR excise tax (5-10%) were implemented following Measure 2A in 2022.

Permit requiredNight limits

0.2% total tax

Boulder

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

Create a free account

Regulation Details

Eligibility(13)

Requirements(20)

Application Process(12)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(8)

Safety Requirements(2)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(3)

Create a free account

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen

Boulder

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Boulder?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Boulder, CO?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Boulder?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Boulder?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Boulder?

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen