If you rent a residence in Denver for 30 days or more, you need a city license. The requirement has been fully in force since 2024, and it catches new owners by surprise.
Who Needs a License
Denver requires a license for anyone offering, providing, or operating a residential rental property for 30 days or more. That includes single-family homes, condos, duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and larger multifamily buildings. The owner or the manager can hold the license. Licensing applied to multiunit properties first, in 2023, and to all residential rentals in 2024.
How It Works
- A qualified third-party inspector checks the property against the city's minimum housing standards
- You submit the application with the passing inspection
- Each single-unit property needs its own license, while a multiunit property can be covered by one license listing every unit and address
- The license number has to appear in your rental advertising
- Landlords must give tenants the city's tenant rights and resources document
- The license is good for multiple years, then needs renewal
Fees
License fees scale with the number of units, and inspections are an additional cost paid to the inspector. Check the city's current fee schedule rather than relying on old figures.
Buying a Rental?
A license is tied to the owner and does not carry over when a property sells, so a buyer has to get an inspection and apply for their own. If you are buying a rental, build licensing time into your closing plan and your first-month rent.
What Happens If You Skip It
Denver has issued warning letters and fines to unlicensed landlords, and tenants can file complaints. An unlicensed rental is also harder to enforce and harder to defend.
How MorHaven Helps
We include licensing in onboarding for every multifamily property we manage: scheduling the inspection, preparing the application, and tracking renewals. See multifamily property management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a rental license for a furnished 30-day rental?
Yes. Denver's residential rental license applies to any residential rental of 30 days or more, furnished or not.
Is the rental license the same as the short-term rental license?
No. They are separate programs. The short-term rental license covers stays under 30 days at a primary residence, and the residential rental license covers rentals of 30 days or more.
Can a property manager hold the license?
Yes. The owner or the manager of the property can hold the residential rental license.
This article summarizes publicly available City and County of Denver information and is not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm current requirements with the city before acting.