Short-Term Rental Laws in Breckenridge, CO (2026)
Short-term rentals (any rental under 30 consecutive days) are legal in Breckenridge but require a town Accommodation Unit License plus a Business and Occupational License (BOLT), with an annual regulatory fee of $756 per studio/bedroom that the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld in March 2026. The biggest restriction is the town's hard license caps across four zones — new licenses are currently unavailable in the Downtown Core (Zone 2) and Residential (Zone 3) zones, licenses are non-transferable and die when a property sells, and there is no owner-occupancy requirement. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
⏳ Verification in progress — data compiled July 10, 2026, human review pending
Breckenridge STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') |
| Permit fee | $756 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~12.28% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | The town runs a 24/7 STR complaint hotline (970-423-5334) for secondary impacts such as noise, parking and trash; complaints are not accepted anonymously, and the town contacts the licensee's designated responsible agent, who per town guidance must be available 24/7 and respond within 60 minutes. Units must meet safety standards (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher), observe occupancy limits (2 persons per bedroom + 4; studios max 4), on-site parking rules, and advertising rules (license number and max occupancy displayed in every listing). Enforcement has declined as compliance rose: 3 violations issued in 2025 vs. 12 in 2024; unlicensed operators identified by the town get 14 days to stop advertising or obtain a license if available. |
| Current rules effective | 2022-09-27 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Breckenridge stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Breckenridge, CO — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Breckenridge occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Colorado state sales tax (2.9%)· collection varies | $13.05 |
| Summit County sales tax (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| Summit County mass transit tax (0.75%)· collection varies | $3.38 |
| Summit Combined Housing Authority (SCHA) tax (0.725%)· collection varies | $3.26 |
| Town of Breckenridge sales tax (2.5%)· collection varies | $11.25 |
| Town of Breckenridge public accommodation tax (3.4%)· collection varies | $15.30 |
| Total tax (12.28%) | $55.24 |
| Guest pays | $505.24 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Breckenridge requires Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $756, renewed annual.
Annual regulatory fee of $756 per studio and/or per bedroom (no cap on bedrooms; e.g., a 4-bedroom home pays $3,024/yr), set by Town Code 4-6-3 and fixed each year by council at up to $756. Payable in addition to the BOLT business license tax (approximately $75 for a studio up to $175 for 4+ bedrooms per town materials and industry guides). The regulatory fee is waived only if the unit is the applicant's primary residence and is rented no more than 21 days per year.
Zoning & location rules
The town is divided into four STR license zones (Town Code 4-6-5, Ord. 28 Series 2022): a Tourism Zone (Zone 1, max 1,680 licenses), Downtown Core (Zone 2, max 130), Residential areas (Zone 3, max 390), and a Resort Property Zone (capped at units existing at the ordinance's effective date plus administratively-added qualifying resort properties; roughly 1,816 per town reporting). Licenses issued before the ordinance are grandfathered (Zone 3 still had 1,058 licenses vs. its 390 cap in Dec. 2025) but licenses are non-transferable — they terminate when title transfers, shrinking over-cap zones by attrition. As of early 2026, licenses were available in Zone 1 and the Resort Zone, while Zones 2 and 3 were full with waitlists (20 and 205 respectively).
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado state sales taxState-administered; Airbnb collects and remits for its bookings, otherwise the host/vendor remits on a Colorado sales tax return. | 2.9% | varies |
| Summit County sales taxState-administered, remitted to the Colorado Department of Revenue on the state return; platforms collect on marketplace bookings. | 2% | varies |
| Summit County mass transit taxCounty transit component collected with state-administered taxes. | 0.75% | varies |
| Summit Combined Housing Authority (SCHA) taxSpecial-district housing tax remitted with the state return (funds the town's Housing Fund). | 0.725% | varies |
| Town of Breckenridge sales taxSelf-collected home-rule town tax; Airbnb collects and remits 2.5% on its bookings, and hosts taking direct bookings must remit to the town. | 2.5% | varies |
| Town of Breckenridge public accommodation taxExcise tax on lodging purchased for less than 30 consecutive days (Town Code 3-5-4, Ord. 30 Series 2021); Airbnb collects 3.4% on its bookings, direct-booking hosts remit to the town. Combined lodging tax load is 12.275%. | 3.4% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
The town runs a 24/7 STR complaint hotline (970-423-5334) for secondary impacts such as noise, parking and trash; complaints are not accepted anonymously, and the town contacts the licensee's designated responsible agent, who per town guidance must be available 24/7 and respond within 60 minutes. Units must meet safety standards (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher), observe occupancy limits (2 persons per bedroom + 4; studios max 4), on-site parking rules, and advertising rules (license number and max occupancy displayed in every listing). Enforcement has declined as compliance rose: 3 violations issued in 2025 vs. 12 in 2024; unlicensed operators identified by the town get 14 days to stop advertising or obtain a license if available.
The finance director may impose administrative fines of up to $1,000 per day until a violation is cured (Town Code 4-6-13), in addition to infraction citations and general penalties; licenses can be denied, suspended or revoked after disciplinary proceedings. Advertising violations get a 15-day written notice to comply.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Breckenridge
March 26, 2026material
Colorado Court of Appeals upholds Breckenridge's $756-per-bedroom STR regulatory fee
In Dorotik v. Town of Breckenridge, 2026 COA 20 (No. 25CA0030), Division III unanimously affirmed dismissal of a TABOR challenge, holding the annual per-bedroom charge is a regulatory fee, not a tax requiring voter approval, even though STRs also generate tax revenue for the town. The plaintiff has said he plans to petition the Colorado Supreme Court.
Official source →July 9, 2024material
Federal court dismisses constitutional challenge to Breckenridge's STR license caps
U.S. District Judge Nina Y. Wang dismissed Colorado Property Owners for Property Rights v. Town of Breckenridge, finding the 2021-2022 ordinances capping licenses at 2,200 across four zones rationally related to legitimate goals of controlling noise, parking and waste, leaving the cap-and-zone system in force.
Official source →January 1, 2023material
STR regulatory fee rises from $400 to $756 per studio/bedroom
The fee started at $400 per studio/bedroom for the 2022 license year; per Town Code 4-6-3 the council sets it annually up to a $756 maximum beginning with the 2023 fiscal year, and the town has charged $756 per studio/bedroom per year since.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Breckenridge?
Airbnb is legal in Breckenridge, CO, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Breckenridge?
Yes. Breckenridge requires a Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') to operate a short-term rental, which costs $756 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Breckenridge short-term rental permit cost?
The Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') costs $756 (annual renewal). Annual regulatory fee of $756 per studio and/or per bedroom (no cap on bedrooms; e.g., a 4-bedroom home pays $3,024/yr), set by Town Code 4-6-3 and fixed each year by council at up to $756. Payable in addition to the BOLT business license tax (approximately $75 for a studio up to $175 for 4+ bedrooms per town materials and industry guides). The regulatory fee is waived only if the unit is the applicant's primary residence and is rented no more than 21 days per year.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Breckenridge?
Yes — Breckenridge does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Breckenridge?
Hosts in Breckenridge are subject to: Colorado state sales tax (2.9%), Summit County sales tax (2%), Summit County mass transit tax (0.75%), Summit Combined Housing Authority (SCHA) tax (0.725%), Town of Breckenridge sales tax (2.5%), Town of Breckenridge public accommodation tax (3.4%) — roughly 12.28% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Breckenridge?
The finance director may impose administrative fines of up to $1,000 per day until a violation is cured (Town Code 4-6-13), in addition to infraction citations and general penalties; licenses can be denied, suspended or revoked after disciplinary proceedings. Advertising violations get a 15-day written notice to comply. The town runs a 24/7 STR complaint hotline (970-423-5334) for secondary impacts such as noise, parking and trash; complaints are not accepted anonymously, and the town contacts the licensee's designated responsible agent, who per town guidance must be available 24/7 and respond within 60 minutes. Units must meet safety standards (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher), observe occupancy limits (2 persons per bedroom + 4; studios max 4), on-site parking rules, and advertising rules (license number and max occupancy displayed in every listing). Enforcement has declined as compliance rose: 3 violations issued in 2025 vs. 12 in 2024; unlicensed operators identified by the town get 14 days to stop advertising or obtain a license if available.
Breckenridge's STR rules changed 1 time recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Denver, COPrimary residence only
- Moab, UTRestricted
- Park City, UTPermit required
- Sedona, AZPermit required
- Scottsdale, AZPermit required
Sources
- Breckenridge Town Code 4-6-5: Creation of mapped areas; Limitation on concentration of licensesretrieved July 10, 2026
- Breckenridge Town Code 4-6-3: Annual accommodation unit regulatory feeretrieved July 10, 2026
- Breckenridge Town Code 3-5-4: Public Accommodation Tax — Imposition of taxretrieved July 10, 2026
- Breckenridge Administrative Rules and Regulations, Finance Art. IV: Accommodation Unit Licensingretrieved July 10, 2026
- Town of Breckenridge — Accommodation Unit (Short Term Rentals) Licensesretrieved July 10, 2026
- Colorado Court of Appeals, Dorotik v. Town of Breckenridge, 2026 COA 20 (No. 25CA0030, Mar. 26, 2026)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center — Breckenridge, CO (taxes collected and licensing)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Summit Daily — Here's what happened with Breckenridge's short-term rentals in 2025retrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Breckenridge and a qualified professional before operating.