Confirm the Property
Verify the address, jurisdiction, property type, eligibility rules, and private restrictions.
Before you list
Boulder Short-Term Rental License
Get a Boulder STR license with principal-residence ID, eligible ownership, 50% interest, two local contacts, $215 filing, RHL number, annual affidavit, and tax.
- Property eligibility
- Official sources
- You control every submission
Approval path
One Property, One Ordered Path from Requirements to Renewal.
Prepare the Required Records
Bring the host, ownership, residence, tax, insurance, and supporting records into one file.
Follow 5 Ordered Stages
Work through the government sequence, then retain the submitted record and confirmation.
Verify and Maintain
Confirm the issued approval, publish required details, and track taxes, changes, and renewal.
Do this first
Outcome and first blocking condition
Boulder’s application is won or lost on three aligned records: the home must be the actual principal residence, title must show an eligible owner with at least 50%, and the applicant must supply two additional contacts within 60 minutes. The $215 payment comes after those gates, not before them.
Expected outcome: an issued, property-specific short-term rental license and a launch file that also closes the linked tax, listing, physical-property, and recurring duties.
First blocker: Confirm the property is inside Boulder city limits and is the applicant’s actual principal residence for more than half the year.
Principal-residence license required before advertising
The property may be advertised only after Boulder issues the RHL number; every advertisement must show that number and the maximum allowed unrelated occupancy.
Warning
Prerequisites to collect before the Boulder filing
Resolve the address and legal owner first, then make names, unit numbers, dates, and property facts identical across the packet.
Colorado driver’s license or ID showing the STR address
RequiredDeed and ownership evidence showing an eligible owner with at least 50% interest
RequiredConfirmation that the property is not permanently affordable and any ADU or multifamily condition is satisfied
RequiredTwo additional local contacts within 60 minutes of the property
RequiredUnrelated-occupancy limit and HOA review
RequiredSafety self-certification and Boulder tax-account plan
Required
How to complete the Boulder short-term rental license
Each step includes a visible success condition and a stop-or-correct path; a payment receipt is never used as a substitute for issuance.
Prove principal residence
Match the Colorado ID address to the dwelling and document that the owner resides there more than half the year. Success: The residency file supports the code definition and the exact application address. If blocked: If the property is an investment home or tenant-occupied, stop; landlord consent does not create eligibility.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Prove eligible ownership
Match the deed, owner type, applicant, and at least 50% interest. Success: The filing name is the same eligible natural person, trust, or nonprofit shown in title records. If blocked: If title is in an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership, resolve ownership eligibility before applying.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Clear property and contact gates
Review affordable status, ADU history, multifamily needs, HOA limits, occupancy, and two contacts within 60 minutes. Success: The packet has affirmative evidence for every property-specific question and both contacts. If blocked: If an ADU was not lawfully established with its STR license before January 3, 2019, do not include it as the rental.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Submit and respond to city email
File online, monitor the stated two-week notification window, and pay $190 plus the $25 new business-license fee when directed. Success: The customer portal shows payment and the city issues an active RHL number. If blocked: If the city requests more information, answer that request in the existing case and verify spam filtering for city email.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Activate advertising and recurring duties
Publish only after issuance, add the RHL and occupancy statement, and calendar tax, affidavit, and four-year renewal dates. Success: A live listing matches the license and the next $20 affidavit deadline has an owner. If blocked: If the RHL or unrelated occupancy is not visible, keep the advertisement offline.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot
What to maintain after Boulder approval
The issued record starts the operating period. Preserve the evidence that the property stayed eligible and that each recurring duty was completed.
Advertising without an issued RHL, losing principal-residence status, missing the annual affidavit, operating under an ineligible owner, or switching to an unapproved license type can invalidate or revoke the license. A sale also ends the existing STR license.
File the $20 annual affidavit by the issuance anniversary except in the license-renewal year
RequiredRenew the four-year license through the same application process and current $190 fee
RequiredUpdate local contacts and advertising together when information changes
RequiredReconcile Boulder accommodation tax, state tax, and platform statements on their distinct schedules
Required
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file the Boulder short-term rental license before checking the address?
No. For a Boulder filing, Confirm the property is inside Boulder city limits and is the applicant’s actual principal residence for more than half the year. A form, fee, or portal record cannot cure a jurisdiction, zoning, ownership, or property-eligibility problem.
What proves the Boulder filing succeeded?
A live listing matches the license and the next $20 affidavit deadline has an owner. Keep the issued government record rather than relying only on a payment confirmation or submitted status.
What should I do if the Boulder application is returned?
Correct the exact mismatch in the existing case and retain the agency note. The earliest known blocker is: If the property is an investment home or tenant-occupied, stop; landlord consent does not create eligibility.
When should I recheck the Boulder instructions?
Recheck the Boulder instructions before payment, advertising, the first stay, and renewal. These sources were verified August 11, 2026 and are scheduled for review by 2026-11-09.