LicensedRental

Arapahoe County, Colorado

Littleton, CO vacation rental requirements

Littleton now licenses short-term rentals only in the owner’s primary residence, lived in nine months a year; licenses for non-primary homes ended October 28, 2026. Up to 8 guests, two off-street spaces, a self-inspection checklist, and a 5% city lodging tax on top of sales tax.

Checked against official sources November 8, 2026

Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.

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Market
About 190 Airbnb listings
Primary residence
Required, 9 months a year
Non-primary licenses ended October 28, 2026.Source
Guests
2 per bedroom, up to 8
Parking
2 off-street spaces
State the count in your listing.Source
Lodging tax
5% plus city sales tax

The city page doesn’t give the license fee; it’s on the city’s permit fee schedule.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of Colorado

  1. Get a state sales tax license

    If you rent rooms or a home for stays under 30 days, Colorado requires a sales tax license from the Department of Revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; you file for anything booked directly.Source

    MyBiz Colorado →

  2. Check for home-rule city taxes

    Many cities and mountain towns collect their own sales and lodging taxes. Platforms aren’t required by the state to collect these, so you may need a separate city tax license and returns.Source

  3. Get your county or city rental license

    Most Colorado mountain counties and towns, and Denver, require a short-term rental license or permit, often with an inspection, an occupancy limit, posted information, and a local responder. Pick your area for the rules.

Arapahoe County, Colorado

  1. Then your town or area

    Cities and towns make their own rental rules inside their limits; the county’s rules apply only outside them. Pick your area.

City of Littleton

  1. Check that you qualify

    The home must be your primary residence, where you live at least nine months a year, shown with two proofs. Detached ADUs, RVs, and temporary structures can’t be rentals. Check your HOA covenants too.Source

  2. Self-inspect and apply

    Complete and sign the STR Owner Inspection Checklist, post the Good Neighbor guidelines, and apply with your ID, $500,000 liability insurance, the owner handout, and the fee. The city may inspect; refusing means denial.Source

    Littleton STR license →

  3. Renew yearly

    Renew online with the Finance Department before the license expires.Source

  4. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state, Arapahoe County and RTD taxes, Littleton city sales tax, and the city’s 5% lodging tax. Airbnb and other platforms collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; for direct bookings, file with the Colorado Department of Revenue. Littleton is home-rule; platforms may not collect city taxes unless they hold a city license, so check your platform’s terms and confirm with Finance.Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from City of Littleton’s published checklist.

  • STR Owner Inspection ChecklistSigned by the owner; the city may inspect.Source

House rules for guests

Guests
2 per bedroom, up to 8; one party
Source
Stays
Under 28 consecutive days
Source

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.