Investment Property Loans in Lakewood, CO

Lakewood, Colorado licenses short-term rentals only in the owner's primary residence, shown by a driver's license or two items such as vehicle or voter registration, a recent tax return or a utility bill.

For investors: A Lakewood home bought purely as an investment cannot be licensed for stays under 30 days, so underwrite Lakewood purchases on 30-day-plus leases. Every owner on title signs notarized affidavits of ownership, primary residence and compliance with the application.

Source: City of Lakewood City Clerk's Office, Short-Term Rental License Applications, Oct 2026

A Lakewood short-term rental license costs a non-refundable $150 to apply and $75 to renew each year, and needs at least $500,000 of liability coverage with a short-term rental endorsement.

For investors: A screenshot showing a hosting platform collects sales tax for you can stand in for a city sales tax license. Each renewal needs fresh proof of residence and insurance plus a listing link or screenshot showing the license number, all filed through the city's eTRAKiT portal.

Source: City of Lakewood City Clerk's Office, Short-Term Rental License Applications, Oct 2026

Before a first Lakewood license, a certified inspector must check the home within 30 days of applying, and the applicant must send certified notice to every abutting property within ten days of filing.

For investors: Abutting includes lots touching at a corner and those directly across a street or alley, and licensees must mediate in good faith if a neighbor alleges harm. Renewals in good standing skip reinspection, but each floor needs a fire extinguisher and basement sleeping areas need egress.

Source: Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 5.55, Short-Term Rental Licensing (Municode, version September 14, 2026), Sep 2026

Lakewood's code allows a licensed short-term rental in any zone district but only one rental contract at a time, and renewal applications are due at least 45 days before the license expires.

For investors: Renting a basement suite and the upstairs to separate parties on the same night is not allowed, however many lodging rooms the home has. A license never transfers to a buyer, and an expired license cannot be used until a new one is issued.

Source: Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 5.55, Short-Term Rental Licensing (Municode, version September 14, 2026), Sep 2026

Stays under 30 consecutive days in Lakewood carry a 3% city accommodations tax on top of the 3% city and 4.5% state sales taxes, a combined 10.5% on the room charge.

For investors: A guest staying 30 or more consecutive days falls outside the accommodations tax, which suits midterm furnished leases. Government guests and organizations holding a Lakewood Certificate of Exemption may book free of both city sales and accommodations tax.

Source: City of Lakewood Finance, Other Lakewood Taxes, Oct 2026

Lakewood's base levy is 4.711 mills, cut to 4.496 for levy years 2023 and 2024 by temporary credit; for levy year 2025, billed in 2026, Jefferson County adds 26.978 mills and School District R-1 44.349.

For investors: Jefferson County collects the tax for the city, and metro, sanitation and park district levies swing widely by address, from well under one mill for some water and sanitation districts to more than 95 in two metro districts. Pull the county bill for the exact parcel before setting escrow.

Source: City of Lakewood, 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Schedule 9 Direct and Overlapping Property Tax Rates and Schedule 11 Property Tax Levies and Collections, Oct 2026

Water in Lakewood comes from nearly 20 providers that buy from Denver Water and serve more than 143,000 residents, and each provider may set stricter watering rules and fines than Denver Water's.

For investors: Look up the provider for each address in the city's My Neighborhood portal, since tap fees, rates and drought enforcement differ. Owners maintain the service line from the meter pit to the building, so a leak on that stretch is the owner's repair.

Source: City of Lakewood Public Works, Drinking Water Utility, Oct 2026

Lakewood bills single-family homes and duplexes a flat $89.88 stormwater charge for 2026, mailed January 15 and due June 15; other properties pay $7.49 a month per 2,250 square feet of hard surface.

For investors: Townhomes and larger buildings are billed on measured impervious area rather than the flat rate, so long driveways and big roofs raise the charge. The bill goes to the property owner, who has 150 days to pay, and autopay runs on the due date.

Source: City of Lakewood Utilities, Stormwater, Oct 2026

Past-due Lakewood sewer and stormwater accounts get a notice to lien in late August, and unpaid balances are filed as liens with Jefferson County on November 1 with a $50 charge added.

For investors: The lien rides on the property tax bill as a special assessment, so an unpaid charge follows the parcel; ask for a paid utility statement before closing. An early release costs $25 with a copy of the county's certified tax certificate.

Source: City of Lakewood Utility Billing, Notice of Lien, Oct 2026

More than 100 structures along Lakewood's North Dry Gulch sit in its 100-year floodplain; city and Mile High Flood District pipe work runs through 2027, followed by a FEMA map revision to remove it.

For investors: Owners in that floodplain along West Colfax Avenue are limited in improving their properties until FEMA approves the Letter of Map Revision, which takes about a year of review after construction. Phase 3 between Pierce and Teller streets is due by fall 2026.

Source: City of Lakewood Public Works, North Dry Gulch Improvements, Oct 2026

On FEMA's October 2026 list Lakewood holds Community Rating System Class 6, in effect since October 1, 2005, worth 20% off flood premiums, while unincorporated Jefferson County rates Class 5.

For investors: Here the county outranks the city: a home just outside Lakewood in unincorporated Jefferson County earns a 25% National Flood Insurance Program discount against 20% for one inside city limits, so the jurisdiction line matters when pricing cover.

Source: FEMA, CRS Eligible Communities list (effective October 1, 2026), Oct 2026

The Denver Federal Center is Lakewood's largest employer with 6,200 workers, 7.27% of city employment in 2025, ahead of Jefferson County R-1 schools at 3,700 and St. Anthony Medical Campus at 1,634.

For investors: The Federal Center count is down from 8,000 in 2016, while the school district rose from 1,135 and St. Anthony from 898. Red Rocks Community College and Colorado Christian University also make the city's list of principal employers.

Source: City of Lakewood, 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Principal Employers, Oct 2026