Rental Rules by City / Colorado / Denver

    Denver short-term rental rules & tax calculator

    Denver County, Colorado · Verified against official sources Oct 24, 2026

    📋 The Basics

    Can I rent my place short-term here?
    Only in some areas
    Do I need a permit?
    Yes. You need a Denver STR license, and it must be your main home.
    What taxes do I pay?
    Total about 13.65%. Airbnb says it collects these for you; you still pay them on bookings outside Airbnb.

    Your 3 steps to be legal

    1. Make sure it's your primary residence.
    2. Apply for a Denver STR license.
    3. Confirm the taxes Airbnb collects.

    ⚠️ Biggest risk: Renting a home that isn't your primary residence.

    Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.

    Tax calculator

    Rates used: Colorado state sales tax 2.9% + Denver Lodger's Tax 10.75% = 13.65%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. Denver Lodger's Tax 10.75% (Denver Treasury); Colorado sales tax 2.9%. RTD/cultural district taxes may also apply: verify.

    What Airbnb collects: Airbnb collects Colorado sales tax (2.9%) and Denver's 10.75% Lodger's Tax.

    This is the general rule for Denver. Does your address qualify?

    The free info covers the city as a whole. Your property can still be different: zoning can change from one street to the next, and an HOA or condo ban can stop rentals even where the city allows them. The penalties Denver lists are on the Denver page.

    Your $49 Compliance Check looks at your exact property:

    🔎 How we check: official city, county and state sources, a last-verified date on every page, and nothing guessed. Learn more

    Check my address: $49

    🔔 Stay notified: $4.99/month

    Rules don't change every week, but they do change, and nobody emails you when they do. We'll alert you when city rules, tourist taxes, HOA-related laws, or Airbnb/Vrbo policies change in Denver. Cancel anytime.

    Stay notified

    Why use this instead of a web search?

    Instead of scattered, sometimes outdated pages, you get the city, county and state rules on one page, with official sources linked, a last-checked date, and unconfirmed items marked "verify" instead of guessed. How we verify →

    Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)

    Rules

    LicenseA Denver STR license is required for stays of 1–29 days.
    Primary residenceThe rental must be the host's primary residence (one per person).
    Fees & penaltiesVerify with the city (Denver Excise & Licenses).
    Other state/RTD taxesVerify with the city: special district taxes not included.

    Items marked "Verify with the city" could not be confirmed from an official source; call the office listed before relying on them.

    Sources

    Free tools

    Free "Is my rental legal?" checklist · Free tourist tax calculator

    Rules can change

    Denver's rules, its tax rates and platform policies can change through a council vote, a new state law or a court ruling, often with little notice to hosts. We re-check this page monthly; subscribers get notified. Stay Compliant for $4.99/mo.

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    Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.