Case Study: City and County of Denver achieves 62% short-term rental compliance with Accela

Denver Boosts Short-Term Rental Regulation Compliance with First Online Registration Process

The City and County of Denver faced a surge in short-term rental listings as tourism grew, and in 2016 enacted an ordinance requiring hosts to obtain a license. With typical compliance rates low—hosts were unaware of rules or deterred by complex government processes—Denver needed a simple, fully online registration to promote safety, control nuisances, and ensure tax collection.

Working with Accela, Denver launched a user-friendly online registration portal integrated with its Accela Licensing and Case Management system and backed it with a “Stay Legit Denver” outreach campaign. The quick implementation drove an estimated 62% compliance within six months of the registration deadline—significantly higher than other large cities.

City and County of Denver

Nathan Batchelder

Legislative Analyst