🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco Hits Reset on Outdated STR Rules
A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates — Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.
Jeffco Hits Reset on Outdated STR Rules
Jefferson County is making moves—and this time, it’s all about bringing short-term rentals (STRs) out of the shadows and into compliance. With over 700 STRs operating in the county’s unincorporated areas and fewer than 50 properly permitted, officials are owning up: the problem isn’t bad actors—it’s bad regulations.
Jefferson County’s STR rules date back to the early days of the trend, when the only legal path to operate was rezoning. Needless to say, times have changed—and the county is racing to catch up. Planning Supervisor Russell Clark put it plainly:
“If you’ve got a regulation with a 5% compliance rate, it’s not just a compliance issue—it’s a regulations issue.”
This year, officials are proposing a complete overhaul. The new draft regulations are designed to be simpler, faster, and cheaper. The changes would remove the public hearing requirement for permits, reduce fees, and cut down the typical 3-month approval timeline. More property types would be eligible—including ADUs, duplexes, and townhomes—and STRs would be categorized into two types: Primary Residence STRs and Investment Property STRs, each with their own rules and spacing requirements.
High costs and red tape have kept many STR owners in the shadows. As it stands, it can cost thousands just to get permitted—and the first permit is only valid for six months. No wonder people have been skipping the process.
But the new draft doesn’t stop at making things easier—it also tightens enforcement. A new county ordinance would boost local authority, increase fines, and bring in Host Compliance, a third-party company to help identify illegal rentals and run a 24/7 complaint hotline.
Community feedback has been strong, especially in fire-prone areas like Conifer and Evergreen. Residents worry about guests unaware of local fire hazards, septic systems, and water limitations. Conifer Area Council’s Shirley Johnson emphasized, “People are very, very concerned.”
Local leaders are hopeful the new rules will strike the right balance. Evergreen Chamber President Nancy Judge supports common-sense measures that protect both neighbors and visitors. “Having these regulations and encouraging STR owners to follow them benefits everyone,” she said.
STRisker Document Analysis
Finding the right compliance documents shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack - STRisker’s Documents Analysis is built to simplify your life, offering instant access to hundreds of thousands of documents from thousands of cities across the US.
The public comment is open until July 20, and while public hearings haven’t been scheduled yet, officials hope to bring the final proposal before decision-makers later this year.
Stay Updated with STRisker
STRisker offers tools and features to keep you updated with the Short-Term Rental movement across the U.S.
👍 We’d love your feedback.
We're always looking for ways to improve Bulletins.
Was this one useful to you? Other topics you'd like to see get covered?
✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!
-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading this Bulletin? Feel free to forward this along. We want to make sure operators and stakeholders are aware of regulatory changes in their area.