Lodging Facilities in Residential Dwellings

Lodging Facilities in residential dwellings include but are not limited to:

Application Information for Lodging Facilities

All applications for lodging facilities, regardless of type, must be initiated through the Planning Division. Before beginning any development review process in unincorporated Larimer County, talk with our staff to determine which process is needed and to complete a pre-application meeting.

Email the Planner on Call at planning@larimer.org or leave a detailed voicemail at (970) 498-7679.

Visit the Planning Division's Handouts and Guides webpage for information including Process Guides, Handouts, Submittal Packets, and Current Fees.

How the Process Works

The application process for a lodging facility can be complex, as there are many things that need to be considered before it can be approved.  Planning, Building, Code Compliance and other interior and exterior agencies review and approve different parts of the application. Depending on the type of lodging facility you are applying for and which planning process applies (see process guides below), the Planning and Building processes will run either consecutively (meaning the Planning process must have final approval prior to the Building process starting)  or concurrently (Planning and Building processes may occur at the same time).  Planning will be able to tell you which planning process you will be going through at your pre-application meeting.

Process Guides

Life Safety Inspection

All dwellings used as short-term rentals (rented for 30 days or less), owner- or operator-occupied lodging houses (hosted short term rentals/B&Bs), pre-existing lodging facilities (PELFs) or resort lodge cottages in unincorporated Larimer County must obtain a county building permit for conversion to the new use, pass a life safety survey inspection and receive a Certificate of Occupancy for the new use. With 10 or fewer occupants (five or fewer guestrooms), these uses can be reviewed under the International Residential Code. With 11 or more occupants, they are reviewed under the International Building Code as R (residential) occupancies. Large STRs and Large Hosted STR/B&Bs require fire suppression sprinklers, accessibility and other features.

The life safety inspection cannot be scheduled until you have an issued conversion permit, and the County approved plans and permit card are on site at the location of the rental. You can schedule your life safety inspection via the online customer portal (preferred) or the automated phone system (the information for both will be on your permit card). An adult must be at the rental unit at the time of inspection to give access to the inspector.

Here is detailed information about what is included in the Life Safety Inspection. 

When Can I Rent?

All lodging facilities must be issued a Conversion to Short-Term Rental building permit. This permit will not be finaled until you pass the life safety inspection, complete any applicable as built permits for existing code violations on the parcel, and have received final approval from Planning. Once these steps are completed and your Conversion to Short Term Rental permit is finaled, a certificate of occupancy (CO) will be generated. Once the CO has been generated, Planning will be notified to process your license to operate as a lodging facility.  You may not rent until you have received your license from Planning.

The only exception to this are properties that have met the requirements and have been approved as Pre-Existing Lodging Facilities (PELF) by Planning.  A PELF is a legally constructed dwelling, including condominium units, cabins, or hotels, constructed prior to April 1, 2020 for transient lodging uses and located in the EV A or EV A-1 zoning districts. These properties may continue to rent while going through the Planning and Building processes.  

Additional Resources