For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

Director. "Director" shall mean the director of the city's community and economic development department, or such other department as is designated by the city manager to administer title 18 of the Golden Municipal Code.

Primary residence. "Primary residence" means a dwelling unit that is the usual place of return for housing of a person as documented by at least two of the following: Motor vehicle registration, driver's license, Colorado state identification card, voter registration, or tax documents. A person can only have one primary residence. For purposes of this chapter, "person or persons" shall not include any corporation, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, or other similar legal entity.

Short-term rental. "Short-term rental" means any dwelling, dwelling unit or portion of any dwelling unit rented or leased for valuable consideration to a particular person or persons for periods of time less than 30 days, but excludes commercial boarding and rooming houses, hotels, motels, or tourist homes. A short-term rental is a use that is accessory to such dwelling or dwelling unit.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018; Ord. No. 2271, § 4(Exh. C), 8-12-2025)

(a)

Short-term rentals and tourist homes are prohibited within the city unless a license has been duly issued therefore pursuant to this chapter and in compliance with any and all applicable city laws.

(b)

It shall be unlawful to operate any short-term rental or tourist home in the city unless a license has been duly issued therefore pursuant to this chapter and in compliance with any and all applicable city laws.

(c)

It shall be unlawful to allow, or offer to allow through advertisement or otherwise, any person to occupy any property as a tenant or lessee of a short-term rental or tourist home unless such property unit has been licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(d)

No person shall advertise a short-term-rental or tourist home, unless the advertisement includes the license number and the maximum unrelated occupancy permitted in the unit. For the purpose of this section, the terms "advertise," "advertising" or "advertisement" mean the act of drawing the public's attention to a short-term rental or tourist home in order to promote the availability of the licensed premises.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018)

(a)

An application for a license shall be submitted to the director and shall be signed by the fee owner of record of the property to be licensed or an individual authorized by the fee owner of record.

(b)

All license applications shall be submitted on a form supplied by the director, which shall include such information as is reasonably necessary for the director to act on such application.

(c)

The applicant must specify which portions of the dwelling or dwelling unit will constitute the licensed premises available for use by renters.

(d)

The director, or his or her designee, may require additional information and documentation as may be necessary to determine whether an application meets the requirements of this chapter.

(e)

The applicant shall self-certify that the information on the application is accurate and truthful under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Colorado.

(f)

All license applications, including applications for renewal of existing licenses, shall be accompanied by the payment in full of all fees as required by city council by adoption of a fee resolution.

(g)

Applicants and licensees shall inform the director in writing of any material change to the information submitted on an application for a license within 30 calendar days of a change.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018)

Licenses issued under this chapter are not transferable.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018)

(a)

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall be valid for a period of two calendar years from the date of issuance. Licenses must be renewed bi-annually.

(b)

Applications for renewals of a short-term rental or tourist home license are subject to all application and licensing and operation requirements set forth in this chapter that apply to new licenses.

(c)

Any formally established violation of the provisions of this chapter may be considered during the license renewal review and may result in non-renewal.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018)

The license number shall be prominently displayed in all listings or advertising of the licensed premises.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018)

(a)

The director may refuse to grant an initial license, or suspend, revoke, or not renew any license requested or issued pursuant to this chapter if the director determines, after conducting a hearing pursuant to chapter 2.35 of the Code, that any of the following have occurred:

(1)

Fraud, material misrepresentation or false statement in the initial application for the license or any renewal application; or

(2)

Failure to comply with the terms or conditions of the license, the provisions of this chapter, or any other application provision of federal, state, or local law including, but not limited to, the Golden Municipal Code.

(b)

An applicant or licensee may appeal any decision of the director under this chapter to the planning commission in accordance with section 18.12.040. Planning commission's decision shall be final.

(c)

If the director finds that a violation of any provision of this chapter exists, the director, after notice to the licensee, may take any one or more of the following actions to remedy the violation:

(1)

Impose a civil penalty according to the following schedule:

(i)

For the first violation of the provision, $150.00;

(ii)

For the second violation of the same provision, $300.00; and

(iii)

For the third violation of the same provision, $1,000.00.

(2)

Revoke the license;

(3)

Issue any order reasonably calculated to ensure compliance with this chapter.

(d)

The director's authority under this section is in addition to any other authority the director has to enforce this chapter, and election of one remedy by the director shall not preclude resorting to any other remedy as well.

(e)

The director shall not accept a new application from the same licensee for the same dwelling, dwelling unit or units after revocation of a license:

(1)

For at least six months following the revocation; and

(2)

Unless the applicant demonstrates compliance with all licensing requirements.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018)

Short-term rentals, as defined in section 18.22.010 and where allowed per chapter 18.28, shall comply with the following regulations:

(a)

Ownership. The licensee must be the fee owner of record of the licensed property.

(b)

Primary residence. It shall be unlawful to operate a short-term rental in any location that is not the licensee's primary residence.

(c)

Permitted structures. Primary and accessory structures are allowed. All structures shall comply with the regulations for primary and accessory structures, including maximum size, height, lot coverage, and setbacks, for the property's zone district.

(d)

Number of short-term rentals per lot. If a lot contains more than one legal dwelling unit, including accessory dwelling units, only one dwelling unit on such lot is eligible for licensure as a short-term rental under this chapter.

(e)

Owner occupancy requirement. The licensee must occupy or reside in the licensed premises, or on the lot upon which the licensed premises is located, for at least ten months in any given calendar year throughout the term of the license.

(f)

Sales and use tax license required. It shall be unlawful to operate a short-term rental without having first obtained a valid City of Golden sales and use tax license for the property or dwelling unit to be utilized as a short-term rental.

(g)

Occupancy. The occupancy of a short-term rental shall not exceed four adults and their dependents, if any.

(h)

Parking requirements. Parking requirements for the property shall meet the number of off-street parking spaces as would otherwise be required to serve residential uses for the specific area of the city in which the licensed premises is located, as set forth in sections 18.36.025 and 18.36.030. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 18.36.010 or 18.44.510, properties with nonconforming parking shall be required to come into compliance with applicable parking requirements (a variance from the parking requirements may also be used to demonstrate compliance). The location of required parking shall be identified in the license application.

(i)

Safety requirements. Each short-term rental shall be equipped with an operational smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher on the licensed premises during each short-term rental occupancy. It shall be unlawful to operate a short-term rental without a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector or fire extinguisher. The director or his/her designee may inspect the dwelling unit proposed to be licensed for the purpose of verifying compliance with such requirements. Refusal by the applicant to allow such inspection shall be grounds for denial, non-renewal or revocation of a license.

(j)

Insurance. The licensee must provide and maintain fire, hazard and liability insurance within the liability coverage limits set by the director.

(k)

Compliance with other laws. The dwelling or dwelling unit to be licensed must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the Golden Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 2228, § 3, 2-13-2024; Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018; Ord. No. 2271, § 4(Exh. C), 8-12-2025)

Tourist homes, as defined in section 18.04.020 and where allowed per chapter 18.28, shall comply with the following regulations:

(a)

Ownership. The licensee must be the fee owner of record of the property to be licensed.

(b)

[Reserved].

(c)

Permitted structures. If a lot contains more than one building, the director shall issue separate licenses for individual buildings. Such license shall cover all dwelling units or guest rooms within such buildings. All structures shall comply with the regulations for the property's underlying zone district.

(d)

Sales and use tax license required. It shall be unlawful to operate a tourist home without having first obtained a valid City of Golden sales and use tax license for the structure or building to be utilized as a tourist home.

(e)

Occupancy. The occupancy of a tourist home shall not exceed four adults and their dependents, if any.

(f)

Parking requirements. Parking requirements for the property shall meet the number of off-street parking spaces as would otherwise be required to serve commercial uses for the specific area of the city in which the licensed premises is located, as set forth in sections 18.36.025 and 18.36.030. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 18.36.010 or 18.44.510, properties with nonconforming parking shall be required to come into compliance with applicable parking requirements (a variance from the parking requirements may also be used to demonstrate compliance). The location of required parking shall be identified in the license application.

(g)

Safety requirements. Each dwelling unit or guest room within the building or structure to be licensed shall be equipped with an operational smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher during each short-term rental occupancy. It shall be unlawful to operate a tourist home without a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector or fire extinguisher. The director or his/her designee may inspect the building proposed to be licensed for the purpose of verifying compliance with such requirements. Refusal by the applicant to allow such inspection shall be grounds for denial, non-renewal or revocation of a license.

(h)

Insurance. The licensee must provide and maintain fire, hazard and liability insurance within the liability coverage limits set by the director.

(i)

Compliance with other laws. The building or structure to be licensed must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the Golden Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 2228, § 4, 2-13-2024; Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018; Ord. No. 2271, § 4(Exh. C), 8-12-2025)

The director, or his or her designee, shall administer the provisions of this chapter and is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for its administration and implementation.

(Ord. No. 2078, § 8, 5-24-2018)