Boulder to allow renters to sublease their properties during Sundance

On April 2, the Boulder City Council met to make a decision on extending its Festival Lodging Rental License to provide housing for the expected 85,000 visitors coming for the Sundance Film Festival in 2027.

In October, the council passed a rule allowing landlords to rent out their primary residence on a short-term basis for the festival, on Airbnb and similar platforms. Now, renters can do the same, pending approval from their landlords. It will also be between tenants and their landlords to decide how to split the profits. The new rule also allows property owners to rent out their secondary residences.

“Affordability continues to be one of the biggest challenges in our community,” said council member Taishya Adams. “Ensuring that we sustain and keep the families and community members that we have is the top priority for me, and I would argue the rest of our council. At the same time, we are also going to be doing something we’ve never done before as a community.”

The ordinance was adopted unanimously and applications for the license are currently open.

KGNU’s Kathleen Szott sat down with Adams and Jill Grano, the statewide director of housing for Sundance relocation, to discuss these changes.

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.