Short-term Rentals

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The City of Lafayette’s zoning regulations prohibits short-term rentals, though dozens operate throughout the City today. We are embarking on a public process to determine the conditions under which short-term rentals should be allowed in Lafayette.

Why is the City considering regulations for short-term rentals?

  • Short-term rentals are prohibited in the City’s zoning regulations, though there are over 100 rentals currently operating.
  • The City periodically receives complaints from neighbors near short-term rentals about parking, noise, and maintenance of the rentals, and from current rental operators and potential investors about the current prohibition.
  • Locations of short-term rentals are constantly changing and maintaining up-to-date information on this activity remains a challenge.
  • City sales tax and City lodging tax are not being remitted by short-term rentals in some cases.

What questions will this project answer?

  • Regulations: What rules are needed to ensure that short-term rentals don’t negatively impact Lafayette’s housing affordability and minimize impacts on surrounding residential properties?
  • Licenses and Taxes: How do we ensure that all rentals are permitted and paying taxes?
  • Administration and Enforcement: What systems are needed to implement the new rules?

How can I get involved?

Thanks to everyone who participated in the project questionnaire! We received over 90 responses with a wide variety of viewpoints! City staff are analyzing the questionnaire results and the input received through open house events. More information will be shared here in July.

Share your thoughts online

  • Share your thoughts and comments in the Discussion Tab below. Please note that your comments will be visible on the page for others to see.
  • Email City staff directly (see contact information on the right)

Visit with City staff

Book an individual or group meeting with City staff by selecting a date and time through our online scheduler.

The City of Lafayette’s zoning regulations prohibits short-term rentals, though dozens operate throughout the City today. We are embarking on a public process to determine the conditions under which short-term rentals should be allowed in Lafayette.

Why is the City considering regulations for short-term rentals?

  • Short-term rentals are prohibited in the City’s zoning regulations, though there are over 100 rentals currently operating.
  • The City periodically receives complaints from neighbors near short-term rentals about parking, noise, and maintenance of the rentals, and from current rental operators and potential investors about the current prohibition.
  • Locations of short-term rentals are constantly changing and maintaining up-to-date information on this activity remains a challenge.
  • City sales tax and City lodging tax are not being remitted by short-term rentals in some cases.

What questions will this project answer?

  • Regulations: What rules are needed to ensure that short-term rentals don’t negatively impact Lafayette’s housing affordability and minimize impacts on surrounding residential properties?
  • Licenses and Taxes: How do we ensure that all rentals are permitted and paying taxes?
  • Administration and Enforcement: What systems are needed to implement the new rules?

How can I get involved?

Thanks to everyone who participated in the project questionnaire! We received over 90 responses with a wide variety of viewpoints! City staff are analyzing the questionnaire results and the input received through open house events. More information will be shared here in July.

Share your thoughts online

  • Share your thoughts and comments in the Discussion Tab below. Please note that your comments will be visible on the page for others to see.
  • Email City staff directly (see contact information on the right)

Visit with City staff

Book an individual or group meeting with City staff by selecting a date and time through our online scheduler.

Stories & Ideas

After learning more about the project goals and proposed strategies, do you have any stories about your experiences with short-term rentals or ideas that should be considered? Please note that your comment will be posted on this page for others to read. 

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    Short Term Rentals in Condos and Townhomes present different challenges.

    by MarkJ, 13 days ago

    Short term rentaIs in a townhome or condo complex have challenges that free standing homes or ADUs do not have. For example, a free standing home can adjust trash capacity by procuring larger capacity bins to accomodate more people on the propery. Free standing homes are also water metered separtely so that they account for all additinal water used.

    However, in a condo or townhome complex that is not the case. The complex that I live and own in is a small complex and we have had short term rentals. We share a common trash system and the units do... Continue reading

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    Short Term rentals hit close to home for us.

    by JJMtjoy, about 2 months ago

    We are writing to share our input in regards to short term rentals here in Lafayette which hits very close to home for us!

    We are both Colorado natives and Self-Employed. When we married in 2004 we rented a tiny home in old town Louisville. After years of working and saving we were so excited when we were finally able to purchase our first home in Lafayette in 2013. It was a short sale and we put all our hearts into fixing up the home that was sadly neglected and miss treated. It is beautiful now!

    As a way of... Continue reading

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    Single Mom of Three: My STR *IS* My Affordable Housing

    by JennCiplet, about 2 months ago

    When I got divorced in 2018-19, I had 3 kids in elementary school in Louisville and NO IDEA how I could afford - as a single mama - to live anywhere near to their home school. Their school was the one stable thing for them at the time of my divorce. My kids and I moved twice (two different 1-2 bedroom apartments in Denver and then Louisville) between 2019 and the fall of 2020. In October 2020 I was finally able to buy my home in Lafayette (Yay, yippie, yahoo!).

    I knew the only way I could afford my Lafayette... Continue reading

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    Airbnb Hosting Success

    by dosborne, about 2 months ago

    As a long time resident of Lafayette and recently retired, having converted part of my home to an Airbnb (max 3 visitors at one time) that enables me to be financially stable and remain in my home, otherwise I’d have to sell and move. On 1/8/2020 the City of Lafayette provided me with a Sales Tax License #007874 for Accommodation/Lodging. Airbnb provides Hosts like myself $1 million damage protection and $1 million in Host liability insurance. This includes income loss protection, pet damage, deep cleaning. I have never had to file a claim with Airbnb and always had wonderful guests... Continue reading

Page last updated: 29 Jun 2022, 02:08 PM