Boulder Unlocks New Rental Opportunities During Sundance Festival

Boulder has taken a significant step in enhancing its housing options for the upcoming Sundance film festival next January. The city council recently approved an ordinance allowing tenants to rent out their spaces while the festival is in town, a move aimed at accommodating the large influx of visitors.

Expanding Housing Options for Residents

This new ordinance builds upon a previously established festival lodging license introduced in September. With the approval of this new measure, numerous second homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and corporate rental properties can now be utilized, potentially providing much-needed housing for the festival's expected 90,000 attendees, a significant portion of whom will travel from out of state.

Potential Economic Benefits

The ordinance serves multiple purposes, not only addressing the scarcity of hotel rooms in Boulder, which number around 2,900, but also allowing both renters and property owners to profit during the festival period. Jill Grano, the statewide director of housing for Sundance, expressed the intention behind the initiative: "We really want the economic benefits of Sundance to apply to everyone in our city."

Streamlined Licensing Process

The festival lodging license is designed for specific use during the ten-day festival, plus several days surrounding it, and comes with a $75 fee for tenants, valid for a year. Property owners face a higher fee and a longer license duration of four years. While the ordinance does not clarify how profits will be shared between landlords and tenants, it acknowledges concerns related to profit-sharing management.

As Boulder prepares for this upcoming event, the city aims to ensure that the benefits of hosting a large event like Sundance are felt broadly across the community, providing a unique opportunity for financial gain while simultaneously addressing housing shortages during peak times.