The Metro Denver Guide to Airbnb Rentals in Colorado: Loopholes, Regulations, and Where Investors Can Still Operate STRs Legally

If you’ve ever tried to figure out Airbnb rules in Metro Denver, you already know it feels like trying to decode a foreign language. Every city, county, and suburb has its own definitions, its own permitting standards, and its own interpretation of what even counts as a “short-term rental.”

And if you plan to invest across multiple Denver-area markets?
Buckle up — because what’s legal in one zip code can be completely banned in the next.

This guide breaks down the essentials, but the truth is simple: Metro Denver STR regulations are nuanced, ever-changing, and easy to misunderstand… even for experienced investors.

If it's helpful to see this condensed I do have a Metro Denver Airbnb Rules Cheat Sheet — a quick-glance, investor-friendly PDF you can reference anytime.

Before you dive into the details below, grab your copy. You’re going to want it.

When people start researching Airbnb rentals in Colorado, they quickly run into one major roadblock: Denver Airbnb rules. Denver is strict, highly regulated, and aggressively enforces a primary residence requirement, eliminating most Airbnb investment opportunities within Denver County itself.

But the overlooked truth is this:

You can still tap into Denver’s tourism, event traffic, and year-round demand—without operating inside Denver County.

Metro Denver is full of cities and counties that allow short-term rental investment properties. The two biggest loopholes are Adams County and Arapahoe County, but another major opportunity lies just west of Denver:

Jefferson County — one of the most flexible areas for Airbnb investments in Colorado, IF you know which town's qualify and which do not.

Below is your complete, investor-focused breakdown of where Airbnb rentals are actually allowed across the Denver metro—and how these areas compare to Denver’s tough STR rules.

Why Investors Look Outside Denver County

(Denver Airbnb Rules: Primary Residence Only)

Before diving into the surrounding areas, it’s important to understand the baseline.

Denver Airbnb rules require:

• Your Airbnb must be your primary residence

• You must live in the home the majority of the year

• Proof of residency (tax returns, voter registration, driver’s license)

• Strict and consistent enforcement

But here’s the good news: most of the cities surrounding Denver DO allow non-primary STRs, which makes these metro areas some of the hottest opportunities for Airbnb rentals in Colorado in 2025.

Investor-Friendly Metro Denver Airbnb Markets (Keyword-Rich Breakdown)

Adams County – The #1 Loophole for Airbnb Rentals Near Denver

Adams County is a great market for investors wanting Denver access without Denver’s restrictions.

Adams County allows:

• Unlimited STRs per owner

• Unlimited rental nights

• No geographic caps

• No primary residence rule

A city planner even stated:
“We don’t want to over-regulate these uses.”

Adams County remains one of the best places for Airbnb rentals in Colorado if you want a Denver-adjacent location with minimal regulatory friction.

Arapahoe County – A Major Metro Denver STR Opportunity

Unincorporated Arapahoe County remains friendly to Airbnb investors with:

• No primary residence requirement

• Clear licensing

• Strong suburban demand

• Proximity to Denver Tech Center, Cherry Creek, and I-25 corridors

For investors who want strong year-round occupancy and easy access to Denver, Arapahoe County is a prime alternative to Denver’s strict rules.

Jefferson County – A Critical Market for Airbnb Rentals in Colorado

Jefferson County sits directly west of Denver and is becoming one of the most strategic places to invest in Airbnb rentals near Denver—especially as Denver Airbnb rules restrict investors inside city limits.

Jefferson County allows non-primary residence STRs, but with several important requirements:

✔️ Jefferson County STR Requirements

To legally operate a short-term rental in unincorporated Jefferson County:

• Property must be at least 1 acre

• Must meet all underlying building standards

• Must provide adequate parking

• Must meet defensible space requirements (important for wildfire zones)

• Must demonstrate valid water and sanitation systems

• Property may have no more than 5 bedrooms used for STR

Jefferson County offers investors:

• High-demand foothills locations

• Easier access to Red Rocks, Golden, Evergreen, and interstate corridors

For investors seeking cleaner rules than Denver—and bigger cabins or foothill homes with premium nightly rates—Jefferson County is a major win.

Jefferson County Cities: Airbnb Rules Explained

Evergreen – Allowed (County-Regulated)

Evergreen itself does not regulate STRs.
Instead, the rules depend on:

• Jefferson County OR

• Clear Creek County

Both allow non-primary STRs, making Evergreen a highly desirable market for Airbnb rentals in Colorado.

Conifer – Allowed (Defaults to Jefferson County Rules)

Like Evergreen, Conifer does not regulate STRs at the city level and follows Jefferson County’s policies.

Arvada – Allowed (Up to 3 STR Properties Per Owner)

Arvada allows:

• Up to three STR properties per owner

• Only one reservation at a time per property

• Max 240 occupied days/year

• Requires an annual Short-Term Rental Log

Arvada offers suburban demand plus proximity to Olde Town, breweries, and the western metro corridor.

Wheat Ridge – Allowed (District Caps in Place)

Wheat Ridge allows STRs but has stricter controls:

• Licenses capped by district (2% of total units in each district)

• As of 9/25/25 → 4 licenses available in D4, 11 in D3

• Max 240 nights per year

• Max 3 STR properties per owner

This is a strong metro option with limited competition due to caps.

Town of Mountain View – Allowed (Very STR-Friendly)

Mountain View has two STR types:

• Type 1: STR with an on-site permanent resident

• Type 2: STR without an on-site resident (true investment STR)

• They allow 1–3 year licenses and collect taxes. Very friendly for investors looking for turnkey STR legality near Denver.

Town of Golden – Not Allowed for Investment STRs

Golden only allows STRs depending on zoning:

• Primary STR License

• Tourist Home Rental License

But investment-style short-term rentals are effectively not allowed.

Morrison – Not Allowed

Morrison does not allow STRs.

Littleton – Primary Residence Only

Littleton only allows STRs if the property is your primary residence.

Edgewater – STR Days Severely Limited

Edgewater limits short-term rentals to:

• 10 days per month OR

• 60 days per year

• Too restrictive for investors.

Lakewood – Currently Illegal for Non-Primary STRs

Lakewood does not allow non-primary STRs.
While enforcement is currently light, it is “illegal,” and pending ordinances lean toward strict primary-residence rules with potential day caps.

Final Takeaway: Metro Denver Still Has Huge Opportunity for Airbnb Rentals—Just Not Inside The City Of Denver

Denver’s strict primary residence requirement keeps most STR investments out—but the counties and cities surrounding Denver are still wide open.

The strongest opportunities for Airbnb rentals in Colorado in the metro area are:

Adams County

(Unlimited STRs, closest to true “loophole” for Denver)

Arapahoe County

(No primary residence requirement in unincorporated areas)

(Parts of) Jefferson County

(Non-primary STRs allowed with acreage + safety requirements)

This Is Confusing—Because It Is Confusing

(And Why You Shouldn’t Navigate Metro Denver STR Rules Alone)

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. The rules for Airbnb rentals in Colorado—especially around Denver Airbnb rules—are incredibly nuanced, constantly changing, and wildly different from one city or county to the next. You might be able to operate a full investment STR on one street… and be completely prohibited just a mile away.

This is exactly why working with a real estate agent who specializes in Colorado short-term rentals is the single best strategy for success. I spend every week studying local ordinances, calling planning departments, and tracking which counties are quietly becoming investor-friendly—and which ones are tightening regulations. My clients avoid costly mistakes, discover hidden-opportunity pockets, and buy properties that are legal, high-ROI, and future-proofed.

If you’re considering purchasing an STR in the Denver metro area, I’d love to help you:

• Identify investor-friendly loopholes

• Compare city and county regulations

• Find high-performing STR properties

• Run revenue projections

• Set up, furnish, and launch your Colorado Airbnb

Whether you’re ready to buy now or just gathering information, you don’t have to do this alone.

📥 Download Your Metro Denver Airbnb Rules Cheat Sheet

A free, one-page breakdown of every city and county’s STR regulations—updated for 2026.

This cheat sheet includes:

• Where investment properties are allowed

• Where primary residence is required

• Night caps, license requirements & zoning notes

• Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe & Denver County comparison

• Quick-glance legality chart for 20+ metro areas

👉 Download it now and keep it handy as you research metro Denver Airbnb opportunities.

And when you’re ready to buy your first (or next) Colorado STR, I’d be honored to guide you every step of the way.