STR stands for Short-Term Rental (stays that last less than 30 days). Popular companies that connect renters to potential living locations include AirBnb or VRBO.
With higher interest rates, it’s more difficult to find investments that create income from real estate. Short-term rentals are a great option to help subsidize your monthly mortgage payment at your primary residence. In some areas, you can use short term rentals as an investment property. There are lots of regulations but they vary between cities, towns, and counties. It’s important to beware of the regulations and stay up to date. Below is a list of what you should know about starting a short-term-rental opportunity depending on what communities you’d like to operate in around Denver County.
Typical Rules for STRs in Denver Metro
- Owners must obtain for short-term rental license
- Requires business license
- Display license for renters to see
- No parties
- Pay lodging taxes
- Only one renter at a time
- HOA typically don’t allow STR
Arvada
- One owner can operate up to THREE short term rental properties with the city
- STR can only be occupied for up to 240 days per calendar year
- Must submit a short-term rental log to the city for verification
- Property owners or long term renters (with owner’s written approval) can operate a STR
Aurora
- Must be primary residence
Centennial
- No gathering can have attendees greater in number than two times the relevant occupancy limit
- STR’s are not allowed in accessory dwelling units
- STR properties are required to provide (2) off-street parking spaces for renters.
- Centennial has an occupancy limit of 2 STR renters per bedroom, with 8 renters per property maximum.
- $150 annual fee, $50 one time fee
Denver
- Must be primary residence
- You are allowed to STR an ADU
- You cannot STR the main residence and live in the ADU
Edgewater
- Only rent 10 days or less per month and only 60 days or less per year
- Must be primary residence
Englewood
- Must be primary residence
- Maximum 2 adults per bedroom and 8 people with full occupancy
- minimum one off-street parking spot per bedroom – if unavailable may be allowed to utilize two on-street parking spaces.
- $500 annual fee
Golden
- $200 annual license fee
- Must be primary residence
- 1 off-street parking for single family residence
- 1 off-street parking for multi-family home less than 800 ft with 1 bedroom
- 1.5 off-street parking for multi-family home greater than 800 ft with 1 or 2 bedrooms, 2 spaces for each unit with 3 or more bedrooms
- An Accessory Dwelling Unit or one side of a duplex that is not a primary residence can be a short term rental if it is located on a lot containing a primary residence
Lakewood
- Must be primary residence
- Property owners or long term renters (with owner’s written approval)can operate a STR
- Requires at least one off-street parking space
Mountain View
- One or three year STR permit available
- Does not have to be your primary residence
Unincorporated Adams County
- Unregulated
- Haven’t passed any rules yet
Wheat Ridge
- Maximum number per STR host = 2 (one non-owner occupied and one owner-occupied STR)
- Notify neighbors within 100 yards of residence about short-term rental operation
- Must be 21 years of age
- Must include at least 1 parking spot