City of Boulder shifts focus from education to enforcement of short-term rental regulations

BOULDER, Colo. -- The City of Boulder is now shifting its focus from educating the public about its short-term rental regulations to enforcing them, and in doing so, wants to remind citizens "about the importance of compliance."

The city has issued a total of 336 short-term rental licenses since the program began in January of this year after the Boulder City Council legalized short-term rentals under a specific set of circumstances and requirements. 

"The city’s enforcement officer began working with the city on June 6 and has been working to gain compliance based on complaints since then," said Sarah Huntley, spokeswoman for the City of Boulder. 

The program includes a licensing fee of $105, plus a $25 business license. The license is good for four years.

The funds are being used to support enforcement, including the hiring of an enforcement officer, Huntley said. 

The ordinance allows the city to work with residents before penalizing them at first.

"A first notice requires property owners to pay $400, which includes an investigative fee and civil penalty. A second notice, permitted after 14 to 30 days, is an additional $550. A third notice, permitted after another 14 to 30 days, calls for $1250, and the city can issue this type of notice up to 12 times before issuing a summons for a property owner to appear in court," Huntley said in a prepared statement sent to Denver7. 

For more information about short-term rental licensing and requirements, click here.