Short-Term Dwelling and Vacation Rental Licensing

I received a notice that my neighbor has applied for a Short-Term or Vacation Rental License. Where can I find more information?

If you’d like to learn more about your neighbor’s application, you can enter the application number (e.g., STR-24-0123 or VR-24-0123) contained within the notice on the Boulder County Accela Citizen’s Access website to review the application materials. Once a license has been issued, you can use the license number (e.g., STR-24-0123 or VR-24-0123) to review the license at the Accela Citizen’s Access website.

Can I provide comments or otherwise participate in the review of a Short-Term or Vacation Rental in my neighborhood?

Community Planning & Permitting staff are available to answer questions about the licensing process and application but are unable to respond to concerns raised by immediately adjacent property owners regarding the use of the property as a Short Term or Vacation Rental. The recent Code updates permit Short-Term Rentals and Vacation Rentals as uses by right and the process for issuance of a license is an administrative review of the functional aspects of the property as spelled out in the licensing ordinance.

The Boulder County Land Use Code and Licensing Ordinance No. 2023-02 outline the requirements for Short-Term and Vacation Rentals. Once a completed application for a Short-Term or Vacation Rental is received, Community Planning & Permitting staff will provide a courtesy notice to immediately adjacent property owners. Staff will review the application and the proposed Licensed Premises for compliance with regulations related to zoning, parking, access (if applicable), septic, building safety, occupancy, etc. If an applicant meets the requirements in the Land Use Code and licensing ordinance, then a license may be issued.

What will building inspectors be looking for when they inspect the Short Term Rental or Vacation Rental?

Review the inspection checklist.

My property was approved for a Short-Term Rental before the new regulations were adopted. Do I need a license to stay in compliance?

Yes. All Short-Term or Vacation Rentals within unincorporated Boulder County must be licensed, regardless of a prior Limited Impact Special Use Review (LU), Limited Impact Special Use Review Waiver (LUW), or Special Use Review (SU).

Those who received a Primary Dwelling Short-Term Rental License prior to March 5, 2024, may continue to operate in accordance with that license and the requirements in Licensing Ordinance 2020-01 until that license expires or March 5, 2026, whichever comes first. Once a Primary Dwelling Short-Term Rental License expires, Licensees must convert to the new Short-Term Rental License to continue operation.

Those who received a land use approval for a Secondary Dwelling Short-Term Rental License or a Vacation Rental License may continue to operate in accordance with the conditions of approval listed in their Determination Letter (for LUWs) or Board of County Commissioner’s Resolution (for LU and SU). You must also abide by the life and safety requirements (e.g., requirements for fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, etc.) in Licensing Ordinance 2023-02. When applying to renew your license with a previous approval, the LUW, LU, or SU docket number (e.g., SU-24-0123, LU-24-0123) must be provided.

More information regarding previous approvals:

• Search Planning Records on the Assessor’s Property Search
• Search Planning Records on Accela Citizen Access (simply enter the docket number in the search field, no log-in required).
• Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Planning Division
  • Phone: 303-441-3930
  • Email: planner@bouldercounty.gov

What type of Wildfire Partners Mitigation is required for my property?

The requirements for Wildfire Partners Assessment or Certification were changed in Licensing Ordinance 2023-02 for those properties in West Boulder County (Wildfire Zone 1).

• The applicant must demonstrate that the Wildfire Mitigation Team has completed a Wildfire Partners Assessment for the proposed Licensed Premises within the past five (5) years.
• Upon the first licensing renewal (licenses are required to be renewed every two years), the Licensed Premises is Wildfire Partners Certified.
• The Licensed Premises must be re-assessed and re-certified by Wildfire Partners every six (6) years.

Any assessment or certificate within the past 5 years will be accepted. You will not be asked to provide a copy as County staff will verify.

How to Apply for Wildfire Partners:

Please fill out an application here. Applications are reviewed weekly.

What to expect at the initial assessment:

A Wildfire Partners Mitigation Specialist conducts an individual, on-site, wildfire home assessment. If you are accepted into Wildfire Partners, you will actively participate in your comprehensive assessment with the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. Together, you will examine areas on the exterior of your home vulnerable to wildfire risk as well as the trees and other vegetation in your defensible space zones. The Specialist will mark vegetation for removal according to Colorado State Forest Service guidelines and take notes and photos documenting your discussion and their analysis. You will also discuss emergency preparedness and planning specific to your needs. The assessment takes about 2 hours to complete. Assessments are conducted year-round weather permitting.

What is in the assessment report:

Wildfire Partners provides a customized report that identifies the weak links in your home’s defenses. A report detailing specific actions you should take to reduce your home’s vulnerability to wildfire will be emailed to you within ten days of your assessment. This report will include your comprehensive mitigation checklist, photos documenting action items, and additional information on wildfire mitigation and preparedness.

Financial award:

Homeowners that are in the Wildfire Partners Program may be eligible for a financial award for forestry mitigation.

More Information:

• Wildfire Partners
• Fire Zone Map

Contact Wildfire Partners directly for more information about mitigation requirements.

• Phone: 303-441-1420
• Email: info@wildfirepartners.org

What are the Parking Requirements?

• Short-Term Rentals:
  Two spaces, which must be on-site.
• Vacation Rentals:
  Two spaces, or one space per every four approved occupants, whichever is fewer. All parking must be on-site.

What information am I required to post in my Short-Term or Vacation Rental Advertisement?

Section 6 of Licensing Ordinance 2023-02 requires individuals advertising Short-Term or Vacation Rentals to post the following information in their advertisement:

• The local License number (e.g., STR-24-0123, VR-24-0123);
• Whether the whole home or a private room in the home is being offered for rent;
• The approved occupancy limit; and
• The number of parking spaces available on-site.

Failure to post this information in the online application may result in enforcement action, which can include fines, requests to the Vacation Rental Service (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) to remove the advertisement from the listing website, and suspension or revocation of the license.

My property is in a subdivision. Can I have a Short-Term or Vacation Rental?

It depends on the type of the rental and the parcel’s location in the unincorporated County.

• Short-Term Rentals are allowed in subdivisions.
• Vacation Rentals are allowed in subdivisions in the Upper St. Vrain CCD.
• Vacation Rentals are not allowed in subdivisions in the Bald Mountain CCD.

If you are unsure about whether your property is eligible for a Vacation Rental, you can enter your address to determine your parcel’s eligibility. Townsites, such as Eldora, Allenspark, Raymond, or Riverside are not considered subdivided land for the purposes of these regulations and Vacation Rentals may be allowed in these areas. If you have any questions about subdivided land or your property’s eligibility, please contact planner@bouldercounty.gov or 303-441-3930.

How do I modify my license?

For modifications to existing licenses, including changes in property ownership, relevant application information regarding the proposed changes must be submitted for review to the Community Planning & Permitting Department. The proposal may be subject to the requirements under Section 4: Licensing Procedure of the Licensing Ordinance, up to and including re-application. To submit a modification request, or for questions, please contact Boulder County Licensing at strlicensing@bouldercounty.org or 303-441-3930.

Can a Short-Term or Vacation Rental License be transferred?

No, Short-Term or Vacation Rental Licenses cannot be transferred.

What is the limit on the number of Short-Term or Vacation Rental Licenses that I can have?

Individuals or legal entities associated with individuals (i.e., trusts) are limited to only one Short-Term Rental License and only one Vacation Rental License.

How long is my Short-Term or Vacation Rental License valid?

Once issued, Short-Term and Vacation Rental License are valid for two years.

How many people can stay overnight at a Short-Term or Vacation Rental?

Properties are limited to a maximum of eight individuals OR the occupancy limit of the permitted and approved on-site wastewater treatment system, whichever is fewer. Occupancy as permitted in the License is the total number of persons who may remain overnight at the Licensed Premises while the unit is offered for rental.

If you have questions about your Onsite Wastewater Treatment System you can review your property’s record at Boulder County Public Health’s SepticSmart website. If you have questions about your septic system, you can call 303-441-1564 or submit a question via the Ask a Planner form.

How do the Licensing Caps work?

There are no licensing caps for Short-Term Rental Licenses.

The number of Vacation Rental Licenses available varies depending on the area of the county. The county has been divided into three areas: Upper St. Vrain Census County Division (CCD), Bald Mountain CCD, and Plains CCD.

Vacation Rentals are not allowed in the Plains CCD.

There are 83 total licenses available in the Bald Mountain CCD.

There are 194 total licenses available in the Upper St. Vrain CCD.

When the total number of issued Vacation Rental licenses reaches the caps established in Section 7.B of Licensing Ordinance No. 2023-02 (referenced above), the Director of Community Planning & Permitting will create a waitlist for new licenses. Prospective applicants will be placed on the waitlist on a first come, first served basis.

When a license becomes available, the County will notify the first applicant on the waiting list. Upon notification, the applicant shall have thirty (30) days to begin the application submittal process. If the applicant does not respond or fails to begin the application submittal process by the deadline, the next person on the waitlist will be contacted and the original applicant will be removed from the waiting list.