Thinking about offering short stays in Greenwood Village or buying a home with STR potential? The city’s lodging tax is simple once you know the rules, but a missed step can cost time and money. You want clarity on the 3% accommodations tax, the 30-day exemption, and what happens if you host through a platform like Airbnb. This guide walks you through what applies, who pays, and how to stay compliant in Greenwood Village. Let’s dive in.
Greenwood Village lodging tax at a glance
Greenwood Village imposes a 3% Accommodations Tax on short-term lodging inside city limits. This is charged in addition to the city’s 3% sales tax on lodging, for a combined 6% local city tax before any state or district taxes. You can review the basics on the city’s Lodging Tax page and Sales Tax page:
- See rate, exemptions, and filing notes on the City’s Lodging Tax page.
- Review the City’s Sales Tax overview for the separate 3% sales tax that also applies to lodging.
When the tax applies
Short-term stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days are subject to the 3% accommodations tax. Stays of 30 or more consecutive days are exempt from the city’s accommodations tax. The City also lists limited exemptions for certain governmental and charitable lodging. Confirm your specific situation on the Lodging Tax page.
The 30-day rule
If a guest occupies a unit for at least 30 consecutive days, the 3% accommodations tax does not apply. Keep solid documentation, such as a signed lease and payment records, to show continuous occupancy if you plan to claim the exemption.
What charges are taxed
In many Colorado jurisdictions, the taxable price for rooms and accommodations can include amounts tied to the stay, such as cleaning fees or pet fees. State guidance on rooms and accommodations is available from the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Rooms and Accommodations topic, and Airbnb’s Colorado help page notes that cleaning fees are included when it calculates occupancy or sales taxes. Always confirm what Greenwood Village treats as taxable on a booking. See Airbnb’s reference page for Colorado tax collection and remittance.
Short-term rental rules that affect you
Greenwood Village allows short-term rentals only as an accessory use to your principal residence. Renting out a non-principal residence as an STR is not permitted. Operators must follow local standards on occupancy, parking, and neighborhood impacts, and must obtain required lodging and sales and use tax licenses. Read the City’s rules in Municipal Code §16-22-160.
Who collects and remits
Every furnisher of lodging services must collect and remit the 3% accommodations tax and obtain the proper licenses. The City instructs lodging vendors to file monthly. Start with the City’s Business Tax Licensing page to set up your account and confirm filing details.
Using Airbnb or VRBO
Marketplace platforms often collect and remit state-administered taxes and, in many cases, local taxes. Colorado guidance explains marketplace obligations for rooms and accommodations in its Rooms and Accommodations topic. Airbnb also states it collects certain taxes in Colorado, and it lists Greenwood Village as covered on its Colorado tax page. Even if a platform collects taxes, you may still need a Greenwood Village license or account. Confirm what your platform remits for your listing and ask the City whether you must maintain a local license.
Registration, filing, and penalties
- Licensing. The City’s Sales and Use Tax License carries a one-time $10 application fee. The Lodging Tax License shows no application fee and no annual renewal requirement. Confirm which licenses you need based on your activity on the Sales Tax page and Lodging Tax page.
- Filing and payment. Greenwood Village uses Xpress Bill Pay for online filing and accepts mailed payments. Start on the City’s Business Tax Licensing page or the Taxes and Fees page to access the portal and contacts.
- Penalties and interest. City forms show a 10% penalty for late filing and interest charged monthly, with an example of 1% per month on older form templates. See an example reference on a City tax form here and verify current rates with the City’s Tax Department at 303-486-8299.
Quick checklist for hosts and buyers
- Verify location. Confirm the property is inside Greenwood Village city limits. The City provides boundary and tax details on the Sales Tax page.
- Decide your rental type. Short-term is fewer than 30 consecutive days and triggers the accommodations tax. Long-term is 30 or more consecutive days and is exempt from the accommodations tax.
- Register with the City. Set up required licenses and your filing account on the Business Tax Licensing page.
- Confirm platform remittance. If you list on a marketplace, get written confirmation of what taxes it collects for Greenwood Village and whether you still need a City license or returns.
- Keep records. Maintain booking calendars, invoices showing rent and fees, platform reports, and lease agreements for 30-plus-day stays.
- File monthly. Remit tax for direct bookings and any amounts not collected by a platform. File zero returns if the City requires them when you have no activity.
What about county and state taxes
Arapahoe County’s lodging tax does not apply inside Greenwood Village if the City imposes its own lodging tax. This limitation comes from Colorado law governing county lodging taxes, see CRS 30-11-107.5. State and state-administered local taxes may still apply, and marketplace facilitators often collect those taxes for you. Refer to the Department of Revenue’s Rooms and Accommodations topic for state-level details.
If you are weighing a purchase or sale and want to understand how Greenwood Village rules and lodging tax could affect your plans, we are here to help. Connect with Kylie Russell Real Estate for local guidance as you compare neighborhoods, property types, and revenue scenarios.
FAQs
Does Greenwood Village’s lodging tax apply to 30-plus-day rentals?
- No. Lodging provided for at least 30 consecutive days is exempt from the 3% accommodations tax, but keep documentation to prove continuous occupancy and review the City’s Lodging Tax page for details.
Do I still need a City license if Airbnb collects taxes on my booking?
- Possibly. Platforms often collect some taxes, but Greenwood Village may still require you to hold a local license or file returns, so confirm on the Business Tax Licensing page and with the platform’s Colorado tax page.
What is the total local tax rate on short stays in Greenwood Village?
- The City collects a 3% accommodations tax plus a 3% city sales tax on lodging for a combined 6% local city rate, before any state or district taxes; see the City’s Lodging Tax and Sales Tax pages.
How often do I file Greenwood Village lodging tax returns?
- The City instructs lodging vendors to file monthly; set up your account and confirm due dates on the Business Tax Licensing page.
Can I operate an STR in a second home in Greenwood Village?
- No. The City allows STRs only as an accessory use to your principal residence and prohibits short-term renting of a non-principal residence; see Municipal Code §16-22-160.
