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Boulder council adopts ordinance allowing tenants to apply for festival lodging licenses for Sundance
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Summary
After a public hearing with mixed testimony, the Boulder City Council on April 2 adopted Ordinance 87‑43 to expand short‑term festival lodging licenses, allowing tenants (with owner consent) and vacant long‑term units to be offered for Sundance; council approved the ordinance 8–0.
The Boulder City Council on April 2 adopted Ordinance 87‑43 on second reading to expand the city's short‑term festival lodging program and allow tenants, with owner consent, to apply for a one‑year festival lodging license. Council voted unanimously, 8–0, to approve the ordinance.
The ordinance creates a new festival lodging tier with a $75 one‑year fee and allows owners to list vacant units without surrendering their long‑term rental license. Tanya Pringle, senior project manager for Planning and Development Services, told the council the change is intended to increase lodging options for festival attendees and workers while preserving the city's long‑term rental stock and existing protections such as safety inspections and eviction‑prevention services. If approved, staff said licenses could be accepted starting the next day and issued beginning May 4.
Public testimony was mixed. Lynn Siegel opposed expanding short‑term rentals for Sundance, arguing it would worsen housing pressure. Cody Ramo, president of BARHA, asked staff to add a vacant‑unit‑only option for owners who do not want tenant subleasing, saying some owners would otherwise opt out. Jill Grano, statewide director of housing for the Sundance relocation effort with the governor's office, urged adoption and said tenant subleasing is an equity measure used in other cities; she said platforms such as Airbnb often standardize revenue splits and provide tax remittance and insurance, and that typical landlord splits nationwide range from about 10–25%.
Council members debated BARHA's request and the tension between expanding supply and protecting renters. Several council members urged strong tenant protections and city guidance to help renters and landlords negotiate revenue splits and security deposits. Council member Taisha (first reference) asked staff to consider reporting or aggregate data collection in future iterations to monitor tenant outcomes; staff said there was no legal prohibition on collecting split information but it was not part of the ordinance as drafted.
Following discussion, Council Member Mark moved adoption on second reading; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call 8–0. The ordinance was recorded as Ordinance 87‑43.
Next steps: staff said they would begin accepting applications and issue licenses beginning May 4, and will coordinate outreach and guidance for tenants and owners about mediation and eviction‑prevention services.
