Boulder Creates Special Rental Licenses for Sundance Film Festival

The Government of Boulder, Colorado established a new Festival Lodging Rental License in April 2026 to mitigate an expected housing shortage when the Sundance Film Festival relocates to the city on January 21, 2027. The policy temporarily relaxes restrictive short-term rental regulations, permitting second homes and tenant-occupied properties to enter the market.

These rentals are capped at 29 total days per year and are restricted to a specific window spanning 10 days before and nine days after the festival. City officials estimate the measure could add more than 1,000 rental options to the local market, a move intended to support the local economy and reduce traffic congestion.

To attract the global event, the Government of Colorado passed a law providing incentives including up to $34 million in refundable tax credits from 2027 to 2036. Governor Jared Polis stated that festival officials evaluated hotel capacity in Boulder during the city selection process.