Rental Rules by City / Free checklist / Denver

Is my Denver rental legal? Checklist

Denver County, Colorado · Based on our Denver page, last verified Oct 24, 2026 · Print

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📋 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

Make sure it's your primary residence.
Apply for a Denver STR license.
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.

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:

Whether your exact address and zone allow short-term rentals
A check of HOA / condo rental restrictions to look for
Which permits and tax accounts you personally need
What you're missing right now
A personal report with clear next steps and official sources, by email
A refund if we report a rule in error (refund policy)

🔎 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.

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Permit / license / registration

License: A Denver STR license is required for stays of 1–29 days.
Other state/RTD taxes: Verify with the city: special district taxes not included.

Zoning, where allowed & definitions

Primary residence: The rental must be the host's primary residence (one per person).

Night limits, minimum stays & occupancy

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Fees, penalties & pending changes

Fees & penalties: Verify with the city (Denver Excise & Licenses).

Taxes & who collects them

Register / account for Colorado state sales tax (2.9%)
Register / account for Denver Lodger's Tax (10.75%)
What Airbnb collects: Airbnb collects Colorado sales tax (2.9%) and Denver's 10.75% Lodger's Tax.
Vrbo and direct bookings: check which taxes Vrbo collects in your area; for direct bookings you collect and remit all of them yourself.

Total rate: 13.65%. Denver Lodger's Tax 10.75% (Denver Treasury); Colorado sales tax 2.9%. RTD/cultural district taxes may also apply: verify. Calculate.

HOA / condo check

Read your declaration, bylaws and rules for rental bans, minimum terms, caps and approval requirements.
Get any association sign-off or approval letter your city or association requires.
See our HOA & condo guide.

Insurance

Confirm your homeowner/condo policy covers short-term rental use, or add a short-term rental policy. Platform host protection is not a substitute for insurance.
Ask your association whether it requires specific liability coverage.

Deadlines

Renew city/county permits or registrations on their schedule (often annually): confirm the date with the office that issued it.
File state and local lodging tax returns on the schedule your tax office assigns.

Official sources

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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.