Denver requires a Residential Rental Property license for rental properties, required since January 1, 2024 for a single rental unit on a parcel and January 1, 2023 for two or more units on a parcel.
Denver's rental license is a local cost an investor buying a 1-4 unit rental should budget for, because it requires a passed inspection before the license issues. For the Colorado rules that apply statewide, see DSCR loans in Colorado.
What does a Denver rental license cost?
Denver charges a $50 application fee plus a license fee of $50 for a single dwelling unit or $100 for 2 to 10 units, and the Residential Rental Property license lasts four years.
| Property | License fee (plus $50 application) |
|---|---|
| Single dwelling unit | $50 |
| 2 to 10 units | $100 |
Exception: Each single-unit property needs its own license; one license can cover a multi-unit property on a single or contiguous parcel under the same ownership.
According to Denver Business Licensing, Residential rental property: new license and Healthy Residential Rentals for All, as of October 2026.
What inspection does a Denver rental license require?
Each Denver rental license needs a passing inspection by a private, city-qualified inspector on the city checklist, and the application must be filed within 90 days of the inspection, under Denver Revised Municipal Code 27-192.
- A single-unit property needs an inspection of the unit or property.
- A multi-unit property needs 10% of units inspected, chosen at random, with at least one.
- The private inspector sets the inspection price.
Exception: Renewal fees and penalties were not confirmed here. Check Denver's renewal page before your license expires.
According to Denver Business Licensing, Inspections and inspector information, as of October 2026.
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Disclaimer
This page is general education about business-purpose real estate financing and state law as published by official sources on the date shown. It is not legal, tax or lending advice, not an offer to lend and not a rate quote. Laws and lender guidelines change; confirm current rules with the lender, the title company and your own attorney or tax adviser.