Boulder Approves Festival Lodging Rental License: What Homeowners Need to Know

Big news for Boulder homeowners: as of the Oct. 9 city council meeting, Boulder has officially passed Ordinance 8715, authorizing a Festival Lodging Rental License. This is a landmark step in preparing the city for major events like the upcoming Sundance Film Festival — and it opens a new, legal pathway for homeowners to host visitors during these peak times.

Below is a guide to what this new license is, how it works, and how you can get ready — with help from SkyRun.

What Is the Festival Lodging Rental License?

The City of Boulder’s new Festival Lodging Rental License allows homeowners to rent their properties for up to 29 days per year during “Special Festival Events” that the city formally approves.

Key features:

• Time-limited use — Only usable when the city issues a “Special Festival Event License,” and then for a window of 10 days before + 9 days after the event (in addition to the festival duration).
  
• Open to all property types — Unlike Boulder’s standard Short-Term Rental license (which often has owner-occupancy or usage constraints), the festival license allows non-primary residences and different ownership structures to qualify.
  
• Single-license rule — A property cannot hold both a Short-Term Rental License and a Festival Lodging Rental License concurrently.
  
• Four-year validity — Once issued, the license is valid for four years; there is no requirement for annual recertification.
  
• Safety & occupancy compliance — Applicants must submit a safety affidavit, adhere to occupancy limits under Boulder’s building/maintenance codes, and provide contact info.
  
• Application fee — $190, plus a business license fee.
  

Applications for the new license are slated to open December 1, 2025. 

Why Boulder Did This

In the city’s announcement, Boulder outlines three main goals behind the new license:

1. Provide lodging during major festivals — Enabling more housing supply right in the city rather than forcing visitors to stay outside and commute.
   
2. Protect residential character — Since the license is limited in days and bound to specific event windows, it helps ensure homes remain primarily for residents.
   
3. Reduce traffic and emissions — By encouraging lodging within city limits instead of farther out, fewer cars will need to travel in for events.

What This Means for Homeowners

If you’ve been waiting for a legal pathway to rent your home to festival visitors, this opens a promising door. Here’s how to move forward:

1. Mark your calendar for Dec. 1, 2025, when applications open.
   
2. Evaluate whether your property is eligible — Does it comply with occupancy and life-safety codes?
   
3. Decide whether to pursue a short-term rental license or the festival license — If you already hold a STR license, you won’t need the festival license.
   
4. Prepare your property — Though this license has lighter obligations than a full STR license, you’ll still want your home in excellent condition for guests.
   
5. Get expert help — A property management partner like SkyRun can handle compliance, listing, guest communications, cleaning, and more.
   

We’ll be keeping an eye on Boulder’s updates, and we can help you get ready so that when the application window opens, you’ve got all your documents, property prep, and strategy in place.

Why SkyRun Is Your Partner of Choice

Passing an ordinance is one thing — executing it well is another. SkyRun is here to bridge that gap. We can:

• Help you prepare your application package (proof of ownership, safety affidavit, etc.)
  
• Guide you through compliance checks (occupancy, safety equipment, standards)
  
• Manage guest logistics, cleaning, and maintenance during festival windows
  
• Protect your property’s integrity and your peace of mind
  

We believe this new license is a golden opportunity for Boulder homeowners. It allows you to participate meaningfully in the surge of festival visitors — generating income — while remaining in line with city policy.

If you’d like to be among the first on the ground when applications open, drop us a line and we’ll keep you in the loop with timelines, training, and readiness checklists.

Get in touch with SkyRun to receive early updates and get a jump on your festival lodging strategy.