Boulder, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Boulder STRs averaged $194/night at 64.5% occupancy in April 2026, in a primary-residence-only market closed to remote investors.
Quick Answer: Boulder, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Boulder market area is 78%. average monthly revenue in the Boulder market area is $4,986. average daily rate in the Boulder market area is $250. the top operator in the Boulder market area is Fox Property Management with 68 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the wider Boulder market, which covers 6 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Boulder.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Boulder, Colorado operates one of the strictest STR regulatory frameworks in the Mountain West. The city requires all STR operators to hold a primary residence license, effectively prohibiting investor-owned and non-resident-managed properties. Despite this constraint, the market maintains strong occupancy: as of April 2026, average daily rate is $194, occupancy is 64.5%, and RevPAR is $125. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 5.4 percentage points while ADR edged down 0.2%, producing a revenue decline of 5.4% versus April 2025 — unusual since higher occupancy typically drives revenue up, suggesting possible mix shifts or data timing effects.
Boulder’s population of approximately 106,802 and CU Boulder enrollment support a year-round demand base from academic visitors, conference attendees, and outdoor recreation tourists. The market is characterized by higher-occupancy, lower-ADR listings compared to resort markets, reflecting the urban university-town demand profile.
Listing supply is constrained by the primary-residence requirement: only natural persons (not LLCs or corporations) may hold licenses, and only one license per person is permitted.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 53% |
| Feb | 61% |
| Mar | 65% |
| Apr | 64% |
| May | 69% |
| Jun | 78% |
| Jul | 78% |
| Aug | 78% |
| Sep | 72% |
| Oct | 67% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 56% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Boulder are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Boulder market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Boulder market as a whole, which includes Boulder, so these counts are not Boulder-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fox Property Management | 68 | 562 | ★ 4.85 |
| 2 | Evolve | 33 | 1,105 | ★ 4.74 |
| 3 | Home Host Concierge | 28 | 443 | ★ 4.94 |
| 4 | Landing | 26 | 0 | ★ 2.50 |
| 5 | Housing Helpers | 17 | 9 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Boulder?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Boulder are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.1% |
| vrbo | 6.9% |
| both | 35% |
Home Value Trends (Boulder)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Boulder are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Boulder — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Boulder requires a Short-Term Rental License for any rental of 29 days or fewer. The license is a 4-year term. Initial application costs $190 for the rental license plus $25 for a business license ($215 total). An annual affidavit confirming continued primary residency must be filed each year with a $20 fee, or the license is revoked.
The primary residence requirement is absolute: applicants must live at the property for more than half the year, proved by a Colorado state-issued driver’s license or ID showing the property address. No LLC, corporation, or limited partnership may hold a license; only natural persons, trusts, or nonprofits qualify. Only one STR license is issued per person. ADUs built on or after February 1, 2019 are ineligible.
Investor-owned, non-primary-residence rentals are explicitly prohibited. The occupancy tax is 7.5%. Enforcement is rated strict.
Market Comparison
Boulder’s April 2026 ADR of $194 is below the US STR median of approximately $220, while occupancy at 64.5% is approximately 10 percentage points above the national median. The high occupancy reflects the constrained supply from the primary-residence requirement combined with strong university-driven demand.
Fox Property Management leads the market with 68 listings and 562 reviews (4.85 average rating). Evolve follows with 33 listings and 1,105 reviews (4.74 rating). Home Host Concierge holds 28 listings with a 4.94 rating. Landing manages 26 listings. Housing Helpers rounds out the top five with 17 listings (4.83 rating).
The small listing counts among top operators reflect the primary-residence constraint. No national chain dominates: the market is served by local and regional specialists who understand the licensing requirements and primary-residence verification process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boulder, Colorado
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What is the average nightly rate for Boulder short-term rentals?
What occupancy rate can I expect in Boulder?
What permits are required for a Boulder STR?
What taxes apply to Boulder short-term rentals?
Can a trust hold a Boulder STR license?
What drives demand for Boulder short-term rentals?
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