When you need a license:
Long-Term Rentals (30+ days): Required for all, with very limited owner-occupancy exceptions.
- Short-Term Rentals (under 30 days): Specific licenses are required, generally tied to the owner's principal residence.
- Before advertising: You must have a license or exemption before you can list a property for rent.
- New Construction: Can advertise for pre-leasing after application submission, but license must be issued before occupancy. Key requirements for licensing:
- Inspections: All rentals need a safety and SmartRegs (energy efficiency) inspection.
- Compliance: Must meet city codes for health, safety, and energy efficiency.
- Advertisement: License number must be in all ads.
Exemptions can be approved for the following reasons:
- Any dwelling unit occupied by the owner or members of the owner's family who are at least 21 years of age and housing roomers who are unrelated to the owner or the owner's family. An owner includes an occupant who certifies that the occupant owns an interest in a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, or any other group acting as a unit that owns the rental property.
- A dwelling unit meeting all of the following conditions:
- The dwelling unit constitutes the owner's principal residence;
- The dwelling unit is temporarily rented by the owner for one period of time no greater than twelve consecutive months in any twenty-four-month period;
- The dwelling unit was occupied by the owner immediately before its rental;
- The owner of the dwelling unit is temporarily living outside of Boulder County; and
- The owner intends to re-occupy the dwelling unit upon termination of the temporary rental period