Short term rentals
The City of Louisville lets homeowners rent out their homes during the Sundance Film Festival. This year's festival runs from January 11, 2027 to February 9, 2027. You can rent your home for up to 29 days during this time.
You can only rent your home during these dates. Renting outside this window is not allowed. It could lead to fines or other action. The City Council picks new dates each year. This usually happens early in the year before.
Most homes in Louisville can be used. This includes single-family homes, condos, apartments, townhomes, mobile homes, and ADUs. (An ADU is a small extra living space on a property.)
You need a Temporary Short-Term Rental License before you rent or list your home. This step cannot be skipped.
Get ready
Before you apply, gather these items:
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Proof you own the home. If you're renting and want to sublet, you'll need written permission from the owner instead. See the owner/renter affidavits below
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Proof of insurance. You need at least $1,000,000 in coverage. This can be property liability insurance, commercial liability insurance, or an add-on to your homeowner's policy
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A local contact person. This person must be able to arrive within 60 minutes if there's a problem
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A finished application
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A signed Life Safety Affidavit. An affidavit is a signed form that says something is true. This one confirms your home meets city safety rules. This includes occupancy limits (how many people can stay), smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and noise rules
Plan for fees:
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First-time application: $200
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Yearly renewal: $100
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You'll also pay sales and lodging tax (more on this below)
Parking: There's no special parking rule for short-term rentals. Just ask your guests to be respectful of neighbors.
Step one: Pick your affidavit documents
Turn in one of these:
- The Owner Licensee Affidavit, or
- Both the Owner Authorization for Agent Affidavit and the Agent Licensee Affidavit
Use the second option if someone else will run the rental for you. This could be a renter with owner permission, or a property manager.
Step two: Fill out your application using the Self Service Portal
Fill in your property details, insurance info, and local contact person.
Step three: Submit early
Apply at least 30–45 days before you want to start hosting. This gives the city time to review it. It also gives you time to fix anything if needed.
After you apply
- The city reviews applications within 14 days.
- If you need to fix or add anything, you'll have to resubmit it. This starts a new 14-day review period.
- Once approved, you'll get your license and a Sales Tax License at the same time.
- You must post your license number in two places:
- On every online listing and ad for your rental
- Inside the home, where guests can easily see it
- Your license only works during the Sundance dates set by the City Council each year.
- Breaking city rules could lead to fines, penalties, or losing your license.
Paying your taxes
You must pay sales and lodging tax on your rental income.
- If you rent through a site like Airbnb or VRBO, they often pay these taxes for you each month.
- Even so, you still must file a tax return. This shows what you owe and confirms the site paid on your behalf.
- The City will offer workshops to help you learn how to file. These are expected near the end of 2026.
Report a problem with a short term rental
Have a complaint about a short-term rental? Submit it through our Problem Reporter. The right City team will look into it.
If it's an emergency or you're reporting a crime, call the Louisville Police Department instead.
Questions about your application? Contact Economic Vitality at EconomicVitality@LouisvilleCO.gov.
Resources
Boulder Area – Festival Home Rental Pricing Guidelines — pricing tips to help you set a fair rental price