The Clear Creek County Short-Term Rental (STR) Program is strengthening its administrative framework. Since the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance No. 19 on December 17th, 2024, the Planning and Building Services Department, acting as the Review Authority and enforcement agency, has made effective administrative rules to ensure the program operates smoothly, fairly, and accountably. These new rules were presented to the Board of County Commissioners in its regularly-scheduled meeting on October 21st, 2025 to inform and obtain feedback.
These newly adopted administrative rules are designed to support Ordinance No. 19 by establishing clear procedures for Residency Verification and setting standards for Prohibition, Denial, and Revocation.
New Procedures for Residency Verification
A key addition is the new procedure for verifying the residency of primary-residence STR license holders after a license has been issued. This process ensures a fair procedure once formal concerns challenging a property owner's stated residency have been submitted.
This procedure applies to all primary-residence STR license holders subject to residency requirements. Verification begins only with a formally submitted concern form. This form must include the property address, the basis for the concern, and the name/contact information of the person submitting it. Anonymous concerns will not be investigated. You can file a concern here: https://clearcreekcounty.govbuilt.com/report-a-concern
Notification: After a valid concern is received, the Review Authority will notify the responsible agent and property owner by phone and/or email. The owner must provide proof of local residency within 30 calendar days of the notification date.
Proof of Residency: To verify residency at the licensed property, the owner must submit a credit or debit card statement showing frequent purchases from the trailing three months at local businesses (grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc.). It is important to note that financial documents must include the owner’s name, merchant name, date, and location. Account numbers and other non-relevant transaction details must be redacted. All financial documents will be kept confidential.
Review and Decision: The Review Authority will decide within 10 business days of receiving the documents whether local residency is demonstrated. A written decision will be issued to both the owner and the reporting party.
Appeals: Appeals of decisions that result in revocation can be made within 10 business days, as outlined in Ordinance 19.
Limitations: To ensure fairness, a single property cannot be subject to multiple residency verifications as a result of a reported concern in a single 12-month period. Repeated, unfounded challenges may result in future concerns from the same individual being considered invalid.
Rules for Prohibition, Denial, and Revocation
The new rules also address areas where Ordinance No. 19 lacked specificity regarding disciplinary actions. Staff have established clear rules that set the duration and conditions for penalties, promoting consistency across the STR Program:
Denial and Revocation: Standard periods have been established for the denial or revocation of STR licenses or applications.
Prohibitions: Clear prohibitions are now in place for registered agents and non-licensed violators who are in non-compliance with the STR Ordinance.
These administrative rules and procedures are intended to promote clarity, fairness, and accountability in the administration of the STR Program, strengthening the community’s compliance with Ordinance 19. For more information visit the Short-Term Rental Page.
