Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Jefferson County, CO

Airbnb listings are allowed in Jefferson County, CO, but with restrictions. STRs are allowed in single-family detached/attached, duplex, and ADU units with a 750-foot separation requirement and a 1% cap per fire district (primary residences are exempt from both). Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom (max 10; max 3 for ADUs), and specific safety requirements include bear-proof trash in mountain areas and a 30-minute local representative response time. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are allowed in single-family detached/attached, duplex, and ADU units with a 750-foot separation requirement and a 1% cap per fire district (primary residences are exempt from both). Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom (max 10; max 3 for ADUs), and specific safety requirements include bear-proof trash in mountain areas and a 30-minute local representative response time.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Jefferson County. 1) Submit a completed application via the Jefferson County Citizen Portal including a floor plan, parking plan, trash plan, proof of water/sewer, and proof of $500,000 liability insurance. 2) Pay the non-refundable application fee and provide proof of primary residence if applicable. 3) Upon approval, post the license and 24-hour contact info in the unit; licenses must be renewed annually at least 30 days before expiration.

1) Submit a completed application via the Jefferson County Citizen Portal including a floor plan, parking plan, trash plan, proof of water/sewer, and proof of $500,000 liability insurance. 2) Pay the non-refundable application fee and provide proof of primary residence if applicable. 3) Upon approval, post the license and 24-hour contact info in the unit; licenses must be renewed annually at least 30 days before expiration.

Vrbo is permitted in Jefferson County, CO under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Jefferson County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Jefferson County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.