Denver and North to Boulder Colorado STR - 2nd home

[Joseph Dain]

It seems that most cities in and around Denver have banned STR on 2nd homes. We would like to purchase a vacation condo and do STR.

Anyone know some cities around the area that allow STR for 2nd homes?

[James Carlson]

@Joseph Dain

You're basically right, that most Denver-area cities Airbnb laws prohibit short-term rentals in anything other than your primary residence. But ... there are a few that do allow them. 

Arvada, northwest of Denver, allows investment STRs with certain restrictions. Basically you can only do STRs for up to 240 nights a year, but you can buy more than one. (Read more about Arvada here.) 

Wheat Ridge, just west of Denver, also allows vacation rentals in non-owner-occupied properties. They have no cap on the nights you can short-term rent, but they do cap the number of Airbnb investments you can buy to one per owner. (Read more about Wheat Ridge here.) 

Centennial also just passed something, though I don't love that area south of Denver as much as I do the west and northwest areas like Arvada and Wheat Ridge. 

And then Adams County is likely (though not certainly) going to pass something this year to allow STRs in investment properties. (Read more about Adams County and Centennial here.)

You can always look in the unincorporated counties as well. Most of the mountain counties -- like Jefferson County, Park County outside of Denver and Teller County outside of Colorado Springs -- allow for vacation rentals.

Good luck!