Investment Property Loans in Denver, CO

Denver licenses short-term rentals only at the host's primary residence, meaning the usual place of return, and a person can have just one primary residence.

For investors: A home that is not your residence can rent nightly only under a lodging facility license in zones that allow lodging, which can force sprinklers, fire alarms, exit signs and accessibility upgrades. For a second home in Denver, underwrite long-term rent instead.

Source: City and County of Denver, Short-Term Rental FAQ, Oct 2026

A Denver short-term rental license carries a $50 application fee and $100 a year, and hosts owe the 10.75% lodger's tax plus a $48 yearly occupational privilege tax.

For investors: Renewal opens 60 days before expiration and must be on time to avoid fines, and the separate lodger's tax account renews every odd-numbered year. Every listing must show the business file number; on Airbnb it goes in the registration field so the listing is not blocked.

Source: City and County of Denver, Short-Term Rental FAQ, Oct 2026

Each side of a Denver duplex counts as its own primary dwelling, and an ADU can take short-term guests only when the licensee lives in the main house on the lot.

For investors: Living in one half of a duplex does not let you list the other half nightly; that side needs a long-term tenant. The house-hack Denver does allow is living in the main home and licensing the backyard unit, never the reverse.

Source: City and County of Denver, Short-Term Rental FAQ, Oct 2026

Any Denver unit rented for 30 days or more needs a residential rental property license shown in ads; one license can cover several units or buildings on contiguous parcels under the same owner.

For investors: A duplex or fourplex on one parcel needs a single license, but every extra address must be listed on the application or it cannot be rented under that license. A tenant who pays no rent but helps with the mortgage, taxes or HOA fees still counts as renting.

Source: City and County of Denver, Residential Rental Property License: property owners and managers, Oct 2026

Denver's rental license costs a $50 application fee plus $50 for a single unit or $100 for two to ten units, lasts four years, and does not transfer when ownership changes.

For investors: Every purchase restarts the clock, so a buyer must pass a fresh inspection and relicense before collecting rent. Unlicensed units cited for housing code problems face a $250 first fine, and citations can range from $150 to $5,000.

Source: City and County of Denver, Residential Rental Property License general FAQ, Oct 2026

Denver rental licenses need a passed inspection by a private inspector holding both a home inspector certification and an ICC combination certification; multiunit properties inspect a random 10% of units, at least one.

For investors: The inspector sets the price, not the city, so get quotes. The license application must follow within 90 days of the completed inspection, and failed structural, electrical or plumbing items need city permits and a qualified contractor before reinspection.

Source: City and County of Denver, Rental license inspections and inspector information, Oct 2026

Denver owners must hand tenants the city's Tenant Rights and Resources summary when the lease is signed and again whenever a rent demand is served.

For investors: Keep a dated copy in each tenant file. The duty attaches to two separate moments, lease signing and every rent demand, so add the handout to your demand notice template and use the Spanish version the city posts where it fits the household.

Source: City and County of Denver, Residential Rental Property License: property owners and managers, Oct 2026

Since December 16, 2024, Denver allows ADUs in all residential areas, about 70% of city land versus 36% before, and an ADU may stay in use if the owner later moves off the property.

For investors: A house bought with a permitted ADU no longer loses the second rent when an owner-occupant moves out, which matters for buy-and-hold math. Each zone district still sets its own setbacks, height and bulk plane limits for the backyard unit.

Source: Denver Community Planning and Development, ADUs in Denver (Citywide ADUs and House Bill 24-1152), Dec 2024

Since August 11, 2025, Denver no longer requires minimum car parking for new buildings or changes to existing ones, though accessible spaces for people with disabilities are still required.

For investors: Adding apartments to a small Denver building no longer means finding one off-street space per unit, the old apartment ratio. Within a quarter mile of rail stations the code now caps how much parking you may build.

Source: Denver Community Planning and Development, Modernizing Parking Requirements, Oct 2026

Denver's Unlocking Housing Choices proposal would allow extra units on single- and two-unit lots within a quarter mile of rail stations and Transit Priority Streets when the house is kept or affordable units are added.

For investors: City Council is expected to weigh Phase 1 in late 2026. If adopted, keeping an older house near transit could unlock added units on the same lot, so check Blueprint Denver transit maps when choosing which bungalow to buy and hold.

Source: Denver Community Planning and Development, Unlocking Housing Choices, Oct 2026

For 2025 taxes paid in 2026, Denver residential property is assessed at 6.25% of value against 27.328 local mills and 7.05% against 52.274 school mills, 79.602 mills combined.

For investors: The assessor's own example, a $625,000 home, owes about $3,371 before any metro or special district levy. Denver reappraises every odd year from sales in the 24 months ending June 30 of the prior year, so 2027 notices will reset values.

Source: City and County of Denver, Assessor's Office, Oct 2026

Denver sets each residential sewer charge, including duplexes and fourplexes, from metered February water use, then bills that rate all year on the Denver Water bill; storm drainage is billed separately by impervious area.

For investors: A leaking toilet in February sets a high sewer charge for the whole year; the city may credit later months once it is fixed, but never the leak month. New owners can ask Wastewater Management to review a charge that exceeds their use.

Source: City and County of Denver, Wastewater Customer Service and Support, Oct 2026