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Planning

Short-Term Rentals

Short-Term Rental Properties are dwellings that are available to lease for less than 30 consecutive days.  Douglas County requires that Short-Term Rental Properties in its unincorporated areas have a Short-Term Rental License.  These requirements apply to dwellings in all zone districts.  A dwelling within a Planned Development (PD) zone district shall not be licensed as a Short-Term Rental Property unless such PD specifically allows such use.  Short-Term Rental Licenses are valid for one year.  Use the Zoning Lookup application to find out what your property is zoned.

You can also contact Zoning Compliance staff at 303-660-7460 or STRLicense@douglas.co.us for additional information or assistance.

License Applications

The application requirements are established in Section IV of the County’s Ordinance Regulating Short-Term Rentals –  O-023-003.

  • Short-Term Rental License applications can be submitted to the County’s Zoning Compliance team. Incomplete applications will not be accepted, and an application shall not be deemed complete until all required forms and information are submitted.  A license is valid for one year, and the Licensee must submit a renewal application each year.
  • An application may be submitted by the residence’s Owner or by a non-owner applicant. Applications submitted by a non-owner must also include a letter, signed and notarized by the Owner, granting consent for the application to be processed.
  • The following shall be submitted to the Zoning Compliance team:
    • A completed Short-Term Rental License Application is available here.
    • A written, notarized declaration that the Local Responsible Agent is entitled to act, in the Owner’s absence, as the representative of the Owner on issues related to the Lodging Unit, the Short-Term Rental, and the Short-Term Rental Property and agrees that the Owner and Local Responsible Agent shall comply with the requirements and limitations of the Ordinance.
    • The Application Review Fee of $500.
    • A copy of the Renter Information Interior Signage that complies with the requirements of Section V.M. of the Ordinance. This signage is to be posted on or within the residence.
    • A copy of the Renter Written Instructions that comply with the requirements of Section V.N. of the Ordinance. These instructions are to be made available to renters inside the residence.
    • A parking plan that complies with the requirements of Section V.H of the Ordinance.
    • An affidavit signed by the Owner, under penalty of perjury, certifying that the Short-Term Rental Property complies with the life safety standards set forth in Section V.E. of the Ordinance, and that signage required by Sections V.M. and V.N. of the Ordinance will be posted and placed at a conspicuous location on or in the Short-Term Rental Property and will remain there in good condition for the duration of the license term.
    • For residences served by On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (“OWTS”), the application for the first licensing year, shall also include a copy of the Use Permit issued by the Douglas County Health Department for the OWTS specifying a change in use to a Short-Term Rental.
    • Copies of inspection reports and determinations from the Douglas County Building Division that use of the residence as a Short-Term Rental Property is acceptable.
    • Copies of inspection reports and determinations from the Douglas County Health Department that such use of the Lodging Unit is acceptable.

If an application is approved, County staff will notify the Owner or applicant that the License is approved pending receipt of the Short-Term License Fee of $130.  County staff will issue the license upon receipt of the fee.

License Renewal Applications

The renewal application requirements are established in Section IV of the County’s Ordinance Regulating Short-Term Rentals –  O-023-003.

  • Short-Term Rental License renewal applications can be submitted to the County’s Zoning Compliance team. Incomplete applications will not be accepted, and an application shall not be deemed complete until all required forms and information are submitted.  A license is valid for one year, and the Licensee must submit a renewal application each year.
  • A renewal application may be submitted by the residence’s Owner or by a non-owner applicant. Applications submitted by a non-owner must also include a letter, signed and notarized by the Owner, granting consent for the application to be processed.
  • The following shall be submitted to the Zoning Compliance team:
    • A completed Short-Term Rental License Application is available here.
    • A written, notarized declaration that the Local Responsible Agent is entitled to act, in the Owner’s absence, as the representative of the Owner on issues related to the Lodging Unit, the Short-Term Rental, and the Short-Term Rental Property and agrees that the Owner and Local Responsible Agent shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this Ordinance.
    • The Application Review Fee for a renewal of $270.
    • A copy of the Renter Information Interior Signage that complies with the requirements of Section V.M. of the Ordinance. This signage is to be posted on or within the residence.
    • A copy of the Renter Written Instructions that comply with the requirements of Section V.N. of the Ordinance. These instructions are to be made available to renters inside the residence.
    • A parking plan that complies with the requirements of Section V.H of the Ordinance.
    • An affidavit signed by the Owner, under penalty of perjury, certifying that the Short-Term Rental Property complies with the life safety standards set forth in Section V.E. of the Ordinance, and that the signage required by Sections V.M. and V.N. of the Ordinance will be posted and placed at a conspicuous location on or in the Short-Term Rental Property and will remain there in good condition for the duration of the license term.
  • As part of its review of a renewal application, the Zoning Compliance team may request that the Owner provide confirmation from the Douglas County Building Division, the Douglas County Health Department, or both that the residence remains acceptable for use as a Short-Term Rental Property.

If a renewal application is approved, County staff will notify the Owner or applicant that the license is renewed pending receipt of the Short-Term License fee of $130.  County staff will issue the renewed license upon receipt of the fee.

Fees

The following fees have been established for licensing Short-Term Rental Properties:

  • Application Review Fee for First Licensing Year: $500
  • Application Review Fee for Subsequent Licensing Years: $270
  • License Fee: $130

Exemptions

Short-Term Rental Licenses are not required for:

  • Lodging services in hotels, motels, or campgrounds.
  • Hotel Units.
  • Bed and breakfast establishments.
  • Properties with long-term leases of more than thirty (30) consecutive days.
  • Lodging Units that are not leased more than 14 days in a calendar year and not advertised as a short-term rental on a regular basis.
  • Dwellings owned by a Country Club for use by its members or their guests to utilize the Country Club’s facilities and adjacent amenities. This shall not be construed in a way that permits the advertising and leasing of said Dwellings to the public.