MILE HIGH HOSTS

DENVER METRO AREA

The Mile High Hosts is the collective voice of the Denver Metro short-term rental community. We are residents, hosts, local businesses, and other advocates who understand and protect the rights of homeowners to responsibly rent their properties, who believe in fair and reasonable regulations of short-term rentals, and who depend on the value that private hosting brings to our local economy.

DENVER EVENTS

QUICK REFERENCE LINKS

• Denver City Website
• Check the status of a license application
• Do I need a short-term rental license?
• Do I qualify for a short-term rental license? What is a primary residence?
• Short-term rental FAQs and application video guides

Before applying for a Short-Term Rental Business License, you must:

• Obtain a Colorado driver’s license or Colorado state ID showing your name and address (if your current Colorado driver’s license has a different address, you can update online here)
• A Lodger’s Tax License 
• Inform your insurance company that your property will be used as a short-term rental
• Obtain liability insurance to cover the use of short-term rental in an amount determined appropriate by your insurance company, with a minimum of $1,000,000
• Inform the Homeowners Association if applicable
• Have a functioning fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm and liability insurance to cover bodily and properly damage. Inspection could be required if the department believes the licensed premises compliant with fire, building, or zoning requirements.

To Apply for a Short-Term Rental Business License, you must have these documents:

• A Colorado driver’s license or Colorado state ID showing your name and address 
• Two of the following: proof of valid motor vehicle registration, proof of voter registration, a utility bill, or federal or state tax returns or other financial documentation with your name and address.
• A Possession of Property Form signed by the landlord if you do not own the property.
• A Lodger’s Tax License 
• The contact information of a general manager or local responsible party to be available to address issues when the licensee is out of town.

After obtaining your license, you must:

• Post the license number in your advertised listing. If you list on Airbnb, you must put it under the “Registration/License Number” field.
• Collect and remit Lodger’s Tax for all short-term stays.
• Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway are licensed vendor platforms who will remit the Lodger’s Tax portion of your sales to the city, but you are still required to file your taxes, even if it a $0.
• The frequency in which you file tax returns depends on the monthly tax liability, and you could be required to file monthly, quarterly or annually. More info can be found here.
• Post a copy of your license within the unit.
• Provide a brochure in the unit with information containing contact information and instructions on city services. The one provided by the city can be found here, but if you choose to make your own, you must include all the fields on this form

As an ongoing operator of a short-term rental in Denver, you must continue to:

• Maintain functioning safety equipment and liability insurance as described.
• Collect and remit taxes as required.
• Renew your Lodger’s Tax License biannually and your short-term rental business license annually.

Prohibited Uses of Short-Term Rentals:

• Commercial events, large parties, weddings, etc.
• Commercial events, large parties, weddings, etc.

Tax Obligations:

• Lodger’s Tax: STR hosts in Denver must collect a 10.75% tax from guests for stays shorter than 30 days.
• Sales Tax: In addition to the lodger’s tax, hosts must also collect Colorado sales tax (4.0%) and Denver sales tax (4.81%).
• Filing Requirements: Hosts must obtain the necessary licenses and file tax returns, usually quarterly, to report and pay taxes to the City of Denver and the State of Colorado.