How to get a short-term rental permit in Breckenridge, CO (2026)
Breckenridge requires Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') — the fee is $756, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') |
| Permit fee | $756 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. 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).
- 2
Apply for the Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT')
Submit the Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') application to Breckenridge and pay the $756 fee. 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.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Breckenridge. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Breckenridge changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Breckenridge for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Breckenridge before applying.