Quick answer: Sundance short-term rental rules differ by community. Boulder offers a festival license capped at 29 days, Louisville a temporary license for January 11 to February 9, 2027, Superior a festival license, and Lafayette a $100 pilot license.
Several Boulder County communities created special rental licenses for the Sundance Film Festival, January 21–31, 2027. The rules differ from city to city, and renting without the right license can lead to fines. This comparison shows what each community has announced as of October 17, 2026.
Orchard Real Estate Boulder is a Boulder Chamber of Commerce member and a Friend of Sundance. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Always confirm requirements with your city or town before you apply.
Table of Contents
Sundance short-term rental rules side by side
| Community | Program | Dates | Cost and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | Festival Lodging Rental License | Festival dates plus up to 10 days before and 9 days after, 29 days maximum per year | $190 application plus $25 business license (four-year license). $75 plus $25 for properties with a long-term rental license (one-year term). Tenants need owner approval. |
| Louisville | Temporary Short-Term Rental License | January 11 – February 9, 2027 | $200 initial application. Owners, or renters with owner authorization, can apply. All residential property types are eligible, and applications are reviewed within 14 days. |
| Superior | Festival Short Term Rental License | January 11 – February 10, 2027, up to 29 days occupied | Issued per unit, per festival. Applications opened June 2, 2026. See the Town's page for fees. |
| Lafayette | Festival short-term rental license (pilot) | Pilot runs through June 1, 2027 unless extended | $100, half the standard license fee. Owners can self-certify instead of a city inspection. |
| Unincorporated Boulder County | Standard short-term or vacation rental license | No festival license | Licenses are valid for two years. The county advised applying early to have the best chance of approval in time for the festival. |
Boulder
Boulder's license is open to owners of any property type and, since the city's April 2, 2026 update, to tenants with owner approval and holders of long-term rental licenses. Read the details in our festival lodging rental license explainer.
Louisville
Louisville normally bans short-term rentals but made an exception for the festival. Licensed hosts must display their license number on every online listing and post it inside the property. Louisville issues a sales tax license with the temporary short-term rental license, and hosts must pay sales and lodging tax on rental income. There are no additional parking requirements for temporary rentals.
Superior
Superior expanded its festival license to non-residents as well, and each unit needs its own license for each declared festival. The Town notes that the festival license process is different from its standard short-term rental process.
Lafayette
Lafayette's regular short-term rental license covers year-round rentals of a primary residence or accessory dwelling unit and cannot be used for a second home. The new festival license is a pilot with a lower fee and self-certification.
Longmont and other communities
Local broker coverage reports that Longmont keeps stricter rules, generally limiting short-term rentals to owner-occupied homes. Boulder County also notes that requirements in Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, Ward, Nederland and Superior may differ from those in unincorporated areas. Check directly with your municipality, since we could not confirm current Longmont festival rules from an official source.
Before you apply
- Confirm which city or county your address is in, since the license depends on it.
- Check HOA rules, lease terms, insurance and your mortgage.
- Budget for application fees and for lodging or sales tax.
- Apply early, since processing times vary and unpaid fees or missing documents can delay approval.
Sundance short-term rental rules: common questions
Do Sundance short-term rental rules differ between cities?
Yes. Fees, dates and eligibility vary across Boulder, Louisville, Superior, Lafayette and unincorporated Boulder County, so confirm the rules for your exact address.
Which city lists the lowest fee under the Sundance short-term rental rules?
Of the fees listed here, Lafayette's $100 pilot license is the lowest. Louisville's initial application is $200, and Boulder's is $190 plus a $25 business license. Superior's fees are on the Town's page.
Do I need a license in unincorporated Boulder County?
There is no festival license there. The standard short-term or vacation rental license applies, it is valid for two years, and the county advised applying early.
What happens if I rent without the right license?
Renting without the right license can lead to fines, so confirm your city's current requirements before you list.
More on this topic: our Sundance Boulder lodging guide for visitors, and Boulder real estate and Sundance. Questions about your property? Contact Steve deGuzman at steve.deguzman@orchard.com or 720.330.8827.
Details were last verified October 17, 2026 and may have changed. Sources: City of Louisville, Town of Superior, Boulder County, Denver7 on Lafayette.
