City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Denver, CO
How Denver regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Primary-residence-only: STR license denied if the dwelling is not the operator's primary residence (DRMC 33-53(a)); a person may have only one primary residence (33-46(4))
- Whole-home / absentee (non-primary) STR is not licensable — forecloses investor whole-home supply
- Mandatory operator license from Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection (33-47); unlicensed operation unlawful; platforms barred from booking unlicensed listings
- Two-document primary-residence proof + Colorado ID + proof of possession required at application (33-48)
- City lodger's tax account (Ch. 53) required; advertising must display license number (33-49(d)); liability insurance required (33-49(e)); license non-transferable (33-51)
Based on: Denver Revised Municipal Code Ch. 33, Art. III (Short-Term Rentals), esp. §33-53(a) (denial if not primary residence)
Summary of the rule
STR license SHALL be denied if the short-term rental is not the applicant's primary residence
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Denver · system last checked Oct 16, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.