Update on Denver's STR/Airbnb ordinance

[James Carlson]

Hey Colorado Airbnb and VRBO enthusiasts!

I went to Denver's Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee meeting and thought I'd share this update on the Airbnb ordinance, enforcement efforts, and -- maybe most importantly -- the stirrings of some efforts to further restrict short-term rentals in Denver in the future. 

**A quick reminder that the key to Denver's Airbnb law is that you can only operate a short-term rental in your primary residence.

Big picture: The primary residency provision is generating a lot of complaints to the city. (As always, we point those interested in Airbnb and short-term rental investment properties to Colorado Springs. While the Springs is proposing an Airbnb ordinance, it is much more favorable to investors.)

Enforcement #s from Jan. 1-July 31, 2018

• 53 reports completed by Denver's excise and license division, all related to questions of someone's primary residence status
  • 47 provided necessary documents to prove primary residency
  • 6 cases referred to City Attorney's office
• 112 complaints of non-primary residency
• 70 open STR investigations

New requirements for new and renewing licenses

• Unlike before, you now have to prove your primary residence by providing at least two of the following documents: vehicle registration, driver's license, voter registration, tax documents or utility bill

Future options the committee is considering

** Note: any changes to the ordinance would have to go through the Denver city council process and therefore is months if not a year off. The below ideas are just being floated right now. Nothing is actually moving forward yet.

• Limit the number of days per month or year that you can rent your entire residence
• Require that a license holder reside in the primary residence XX number of days. (Currently, there is no minimum number of days you have to live there for it to be considered your primary residence.)
• Require evidence of neighbor support or at least proof of notification of neighbors. (Yikes!)

Thoughts????