Serving the community since 1866
WEEK OF JUNE 26, 2025
VOLUME 159 | ISSUE 26
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A THING IN MIDAIR
County proposes new shortterm rental regulations
Aerialists soar for ARTSWEEK-GOLDEN P4
Changes would ease process, lower fees for operators BY JANE REUTER JANE@COTLN.ORG
For construction noise, Golden currently allows it between 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. However, city staff is recommending changing it to 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Construction noise would not be allowed on Sundays or federal holidays. Code Enforcement Supervisor Jamie Segal clarified that this would apply to single-day projects and maintenance projects. Segal described how he frequently receives complaints about construction noise, mostly regarding crews starting loud work too early in the morning.
Jefferson County estimates that its unincorporated areas include more than 700 short-term rentals, fewer than 50 of which have the needed permits to legally operate. It’s a compliance rate so out of whack that county officials don’t blame property owners, but their own regulations. This year, they’re trying to fix that. “If you’ve got a regulation in place that has a complicated rate of 5% or under, I don’t think it’s fair to say it’s a problem of compliance,” said Russell Clark, Jefferson County planning supervisor. “There’s probably a problem with the regulations as well.” Clark said that’s in part because Jefferson County adopted its regulations on short-term rentals early, when they weren’t a permitted use and before their popularity became widespread. “We were probably one of the earlier counties to have rules on short-term rentals, when the only way you could do it was to rezone your property,” he said. “There was never a thought then that people down in the plains and suburban areas would have short-term rentals. But clearly if you see a map of where they’re advertised in Jefferson County, you see a large number on the plains.” With an aim toward making compliance easier, faster and less expensive for short-term rental owners, the county is proposing a new set of regulations. It recently issued a draft of them, and wants the public’s feedback. The proposed regulations would remove the requirement for a public hearing before obtaining new and renewal STR permits and eliminate limitations on lot size and zone districts, replacing them with clear, objective criteria for administrative approvals. It would also lower the fee schedule to reflect the reduced demand on staff time.
SEE CONSTRUCTION, P2
SEE RENTALS, P27
Golden seeks to lessen construction impacts Noise, parking, lighting among top complaints city seeks to tackle BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CORINNE@COTLN.ORG
Even with all the construction projects going on across the city, Golden might be a little quieter in the evenings and on Sundays and holidays. Officials are planning to change the city code regarding construction noise, lighting, fencing, parking and similar items. Nothing has been finalized yet, but proposed changes include shortening the time construction noise is allowed and requiring construction lighting to be shielded so it’s not shining on neighboring properties. Noise and lighting language changes
would go into effect immediately and impact any ongoing projects, staff confirmed. Other changes, like those around parking, would be based on when a project submitted its applications and permits. Ongoing projects that had already received their permits likely wouldn’t be impacted, but any future projects would be. Staff members discussed the proposed changes with City Councilors at a June 17 work session, and Public Works Director Anne Beierle said the next step is to get input from construction companies that frequently work in Golden. Beierle and her colleagues are planning to bring the official ordinance language to the City Council for approval later this year, possibly in August and/or September. Approval would require two readings, with a public hearing at the second reading. Beierle said Golden staff members researched other Colorado municipalities
to see what their restrictions were for construction noise, lighting, etc., and referenced those when drafting the proposed changes. Expanding quiet times
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