With Sundance Film Festival set to make its Boulder debut in the coming months, the city is preparing for a surge of visitors by allowing residents to rent out their homes during major events. As of Oct. 13, Visit Boulder said 1,848 applications for the festival lodging licenses were pending. The organization said applications were arriving at a rate of 30 to 40 a week. The City Council passed the Festival Lodging Rental Ordinance earlier this year after Visit Boulder worked with the city to create a way for residents to offer short-term accommodations during large festivals. Visit Boulder CEO Charlene Hoffman said the city’s hotels do not have enough capacity for the number of people expected during Sundance. Hoffman said the program could also help residents feel involved in the festival, not just accommodate its visitors. Boulder homeowner Richard Schuh, who said he has hosted more than 2,000 bookings from one unit over 20 years, cautioned prospective hosts against assuming a spare room or couch will bring in large sums. He also noted that listings compete for visibility on rental platforms, where travelers commonly filter results. Visit Boulder’s pricing guide, based on past booking data, suggests nightly rates of $250 to $300 for an entire one-bedroom condominium and $1,100 to $1,400 for a four-bedroom house. Those are suggested ranges, not guaranteed earnings or booking prices. The pending application total signals substantial interest in the temporary licensing option, but the city still faces the practical task of processing applications and connecting visitors with available places to stay before the festival.