Denver & Boulder Rental Licensing – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you’re a landlord navigating the Denver & Boulder rental licensing requirements, this FAQ is designed to make the inspection and licensing process simple, fast, and stress-free. As an ICC R5 Combination Building Inspector, InterNACHI Certified Home Inspector, and active landlord, I provide clear guidance on what the cities of Denver and Boulder look for during rental license inspections—along with practical tips to help you pass on the first attempt. Whether you need help understanding safety requirements, preparing your property, avoiding common inspection failures, or completing Denver’s challenging online rental license application, you’ll find straightforward answers and expert insight below.
What does a rental license inspection involve?
Each inspection follows the official City of Denver (or Boulder) checklist. The focus is on core safety requirements, not cosmetic or buyer-level issues. Common items checked include:
- Smoke alarms inside every bedroom and in living/living-room areas
- Carbon monoxide alarms on each level, within 15 feet of all bedrooms
- GFCI-protected outlets in each bathroom (Denver only)
- A functional fire extinguisher, (less than 6 yrs old) in the kitchen or nearby
- No signs of insect or vermin infestation
- Connected to municipal water supply
- Capable of being heated to support habitation in winter
What are the most common reasons a property “fails” inspection?
The most frequent non-compliances are:
- Missing smoke alarms or CO alarms
- Missing fire extinguishers
- Lack of GFI outlets in bathrooms (Denver only)
- Furnaces located in basement sleeping rooms without proper fire-rated separation
Most of these are inexpensive and easy to correct.
I don’t see this as a pass-fail system, I’m more of a safety tutor to get you across the finish line meeting rental safety regulations.
I’m here to consult you to keep your rentals safe, so you can sleep well at night, knowing that you’re more protected from liability by having these safety devices in place than you would be if you didn’t.
I personally have had 2 tenants start fires in my units through devastating acts of incredible negligence, we don’t want lawyers pretending that negligence was actually the landlord’s in failing to have the requisite smoke alarms and extinguishers in place. Especially, now in Colorado, where new regulations require that if a tenant torches your unit, the landlord may be required to pay the tenant’s accommodation in a hotel or other accommodation with a kitchen and the same number of bedrooms as the rental they destroyed.
Do you charge for reinspections?
No. There are no reinspection fees for items that can be verified through photos or videos, which covers nearly everything.
Just email photos of the corrections (before/after) showing the unit number, and your report can be closed out as “passing.”
What credentials do you hold?
- ICC R5 Combination Building Inspector
(Electrical, Mechanical/HVAC, Plumbing, and Residential Building) - InterNACHI Certified Home Inspector
- Former General Contractor
- Fully insured: $1M / $2M coverage
- Licensed to perform rental inspections in both Denver and Boulder
- Over 7,000 inspections since 2022
Are you also a landlord?
Yes — I’m one of the few licensed inspectors who is also a landlord.
That means I understand the process from the property owner’s perspective and aim to make it cost-effective and fair rather than adversarial.
How long does an inspection take?
A typical single-unit inspection takes about 15–20 minutes.
For large portfolios, I can perform 25–30 inspections per day when properties are grouped efficiently.
How do I prepare for my inspection?
Before the inspection, it’s worth confirming that:
- Each bedroom and living space has a working smoke alarm
- There’s a CO alarm on each floor
- Each Bathroom has at least one outlet that is GFCI protected (Denver only)
- A fire extinguisher is present and accessible
What happens after I pass my inspection?
You’ll receive a passing inspection report and a copy of my credentials.
You’ll then apply for your Rental License through Boulder or Denver’s portal:
Denver: https://aca-prod.accela.com/DENVER/CommunityView/account/new
Boulder: Rental Housing Licensing: Long-Term | City of Boulder
You have 90 days from the inspection date to apply. After that, the report is no longer accepted by the City anda re-inspection is required.
Can you help with the Denver rental license application, since many people report it takes 4+ hours to complete?
Yes. For $125 per license, I will:
- Complete the entire online license application
- Upload your inspection report, credentials, and required IDs
Pay the city’s licensing fee on your behalf
City licensing fees are $100 for single units or $150 for 2-10 unit properties.
Why is the City of Denver Permitting Portal login sometimes a problem?
Denver’s licensing system now uses a third-party portal (Accela).
Many landlords’ denvergov.org credentials did not migrate properly when Denver switched hosting to Accela.
If you can’t log in, the best fix is to create a new Accela account using a different email address.
Even Denver’s IT support can’t restore locked accounts easily.
Do you work with property managers or large portfolios?
Yes. I offer volume pricing and can inspect multiple units in one day.
For Denver Properties, I also offer the filing bulk license applications either:
- Under the management company’s name, or
- Individually for each property owner.
Option 1 helps property managers manage renewals and city notifications, being more of a full-service property manager, and being less of a burden on owners needing to provide various personal details to be made public under the Colorado Open Records Act.
How can I pay for inspection or licensing services?
You can pay by:
- Venmo
- CashApp
- Zelle
- Credit Card
- Checks
How can I contact you?
Hasso “Fleming” Schutrumpf
📞 303-717-8549
🏢 Denver Rental Inspections LLC
🌐 ICC R5 Combination Building Inspector | InterNACHI Certified Home Inspector
📧 LINK TO CONTACT FORM