LicensedRental

Boulder County, Colorado

Lyons, CO vacation rental requirements

Lyons licenses short-term rentals in homes the owner lives in at least nine months a year, or units in its commercial districts. The license is $125, then $50 a year. Up to eight guests, self-inspection, and a 5% town lodging tax filed monthly.

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 80 Airbnb listings
Owner residency
Nine months a year
Or a unit in the C, CEC, or CD districts with an open business.Source
License
$125, then $50 to renew
Guests
2 adults per bedroom, up to 8
Lodging tax
5%, filed monthly

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.

Boulder 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.

Town of Lyons

  1. Check that you qualify

    You must live in the home at least nine months a year, or the unit must be in the C, CEC, or CD district with a business open to the public on site at least nine months a year.Source

  2. Self-inspect and apply

    Complete the town’s self-inspection checklist (smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom and other rooms) and apply with the $125 fee. Accessible primary-residence rentals can get the fee waived.Source

    Lyons short-term rentals →

  3. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state plus county, RTD, and town sales taxes. Airbnb and other platforms collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; for direct bookings, file with the Colorado Department of Revenue. Lyons also charges a 5% lodging tax: file the Lodging Occupation Tax Report by the 20th of each month, even when you owe nothing.Source

Fees

$125, then $50 a year

New STR license$125
Renewal$50

Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Town of Lyons’s published checklist.

  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarmsIn all bedrooms and other rooms; self-certified.Source

House rules for guests

Guests
2 adults per bedroom, up to 8
Source
Street parking
No more than 2 cars overnight
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.