Denver Rental License Requirements for Landlords & Property Owners
If you own a rental property in the City and County of Denver, your property is generally required to have a Residential Rental Property License.
Denver City Council passed the residential rental licensing ordinance in 2021 to help maintain minimum housing standards and provide safe and sanitary rental housing throughout Denver.
The licensing requirements are now fully in effect. Multi-unit rental properties were required to apply for a license beginning January 1, 2023, and single-unit rental properties, including single-family rental homes, beginning January 1, 2024.
Which Denver Rental Properties Need a License?
Denver's Residential Rental Property Licensing Program generally applies to residential properties that are rented or offered for rent for 30 days or more at a time.
This includes:
- Single-family rental homes
- Condominiums and townhomes
- Duplexes, triplexes, and other multi-unit properties
- Apartments
- Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
- Mobile and manufactured homes
Denver's Residential Rental Property Licensing Program does not apply to short-term rentals rented for less than 30 days at a time. Short-term rentals are covered under separate licensing requirements.
How Long Is a Denver Rental License Valid?
A standard Denver Residential Rental Property License is generally valid for four years.
Before obtaining a license, the rental property must meet Denver's inspection requirements. The inspection must be completed by a qualified inspector and verifies that the property meets the city's minimum residential housing standards.
What Is Checked During a Denver Rental Property Inspection?
The inspection looks at health, safety, and housing requirements throughout the rental property.
Some of the items that may be reviewed include:
- Proper egress
- Plumbing fixtures and systems
- Electrical systems
- Working smoke alarms
- Working carbon monoxide alarms
- Heating and furnace safety
- Other health and safety requirements included in Denver's residential rental inspection standards
Property owners should review Denver's current inspection requirements before scheduling an inspection because requirements may change.
How Much Does a Denver Rental License Cost?
Rental licensing costs include Denver's applicable application and licensing fees, along with the cost of the required property inspection.
Inspection costs may vary depending on the inspector and property. Property owners should verify current fees with the City and County of Denver before applying.
How Colorado Realty and Property Management Helps Denver Landlords & Property Owners
Denver rental licensing adds another responsibility for rental property owners, but our clients don't have to navigate the process completely on their own.
Colorado Realty and Property Management offers an optional service to help our clients coordinate the required rental property inspection.
Property owners may also choose to coordinate the inspection themselves.
The City and County of Denver requires the property owner to complete the rental license application, so Colorado Realty and Property Management cannot complete the application on the owner's behalf.
Our goal is to help make the inspection and licensing process as straightforward as possible while keeping our Denver rental property owners informed of their responsibilities.
