Short-Term Rental Laws in Summit County, CO (2026)
Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) are legal in unincorporated Summit County but require an annual STR license before advertising or operating, with fees of $240-$360/year depending on license type ($295 in the Resort Overlay Zone). The biggest restriction applies in the Neighborhood Overlay Zone, where non-resort STRs are limited to 35 bookings per year and the number of standard Type II licenses is capped per basin (550 Lower Blue, 590 Upper Blue, 130 Snake River, 20 Ten Mile), so new applicants in three basins must join a waitlist; only workforce primary-residence Type I licenses and Resort Zone licenses are exempt from the caps. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Summit County STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental (STR) License (Resort License; Type I License; Type II License) |
| Permit fee | $360 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~8.38% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | Enforcement is by the Planning Department (Review Authority) and the Sheriff's Office. The county contracts an outside monitoring company to scan listing sites for compliance, requires the STR license number on all advertising, and runs an online complaint system. Each STR must have a Responsible Agent available 24/7 who must affirmatively respond to complaints within 60 minutes (failure is itself a violation). Ordinance 22 (adopted Sept. 24, 2024) additionally requires listing platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to display a valid license number on every listing and to remove non-compliant/unlicensed listings when notified by the county. A federal constitutional challenge to the regulations was dismissed in June 2024; a follow-on state-court case (Summit Resort Homeowners Inc. v. BOCC, filed Sept. 20, 2024) remained pending as of 2025-2026, and the county continues to enforce the rules. |
| Current rules effective | 2023-02-15 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Summit County stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Summit County, CO — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Summit County occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Combined Colorado state + Summit County sales tax (unincorporated areas) (6.375%)· collection varies | $28.69 |
| Summit County short-term lodging tax (unincorporated areas) (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| Total tax (8.38%) | $37.69 |
| Guest pays | $487.69 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Summit County requires Short-Term Rental (STR) License (Resort License; Type I License; Type II License) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $360, renewed annual.
Annual fees per county fee schedule (reviewed each March): Neighborhood Overlay Zone Type II $360/year; Type I $240/year; Resort Overlay Zone Resort License $295/year. Fees cannot be prorated and are non-refundable. A separate non-refundable $75 fee applies to join a Type II basin waitlist.
Zoning & location rules
Two county-created STR overlay zones govern all of unincorporated Summit County. The Resort Overlay Zone (Copper Mountain, Tiger Run Resort, portions of Keystone, and base areas of Peaks 7/8 in Breckenridge) has no cap on licenses, no annual booking limit, and higher occupancy allowances (2 persons/bedroom + 4, or 1 person per 200 sq ft; occupancy over 19 requires a Class 2 Conditional Use Permit). Everything else is the Neighborhood Overlay Zone, where Type I licenses (property must be the primary residence of a local-workforce 'Qualified Occupant' living there 9+ months/year and working 30+ hrs/week in the county) are uncapped in number but limited to 35 bookings/year, and Type II licenses (no residency requirement) are limited to 35 bookings/year (Oct 1-Sep 30) AND capped in number per basin: Lower Blue 550, Upper Blue 590, Snake River 130, Ten Mile 20. Waitlists are open for the Lower Blue, Upper Blue, and Snake River basins. Occupancy in the NOZ is capped at 2 renters/bedroom + 2. Note: incorporated towns (Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, Blue River) have their own separate STR rules.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Colorado state + Summit County sales tax (unincorporated areas)Paid to the Colorado Department of Revenue, which forwards the 2% county portion to Summit County (rate includes the 2.9% state sales tax plus county/special-district levies). Airbnb/Vrbo/HomeAway collect and remit as marketplace facilitators; hosts who book exclusively through those platforms (or use a remitting property manager) do not need their own sales tax license, otherwise the host must obtain a license and remit. | 6.375% | varies |
| Summit County short-term lodging tax (unincorporated areas)Effective January 1, 2023; state-administered and remitted to the Colorado Department of Revenue. Marketplace platforms collect on bookings made through them; hosts taking direct bookings must collect and remit. | 2% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
Enforcement is by the Planning Department (Review Authority) and the Sheriff's Office. The county contracts an outside monitoring company to scan listing sites for compliance, requires the STR license number on all advertising, and runs an online complaint system. Each STR must have a Responsible Agent available 24/7 who must affirmatively respond to complaints within 60 minutes (failure is itself a violation). Ordinance 22 (adopted Sept. 24, 2024) additionally requires listing platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to display a valid license number on every listing and to remove non-compliant/unlicensed listings when notified by the county. A federal constitutional challenge to the regulations was dismissed in June 2024; a follow-on state-court case (Summit Resort Homeowners Inc. v. BOCC, filed Sept. 20, 2024) remained pending as of 2025-2026, and the county continues to enforce the rules.
Violations are civil infractions (C.R.S. 16-2-201 and 30-15-402) under a graduated fine schedule: $250 first offense, $750 second, $1,000 third or more. Revocation proceedings are mandatory after 2+ citations or 3+ documented violations within 3 months, for fraud in an application, for dangerous violations, or for failure to pay sales/property taxes; sanctions include suspension up to 6 months or revocation, with re-application barred for 1-3 years. The county can also recover enforcement costs including attorney fees.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Getting legal in Summit County: the playbook
Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.
- 1
Verify your zoning
Location rules apply: Two county-created STR overlay zones govern all of unincorporated Summit County. The Resort Overlay Zone (Copper Mountain, Tiger Run Resort, portions of Keystone, and base areas of Peaks 7/8 in Breckenridge) has no cap on licenses, no annual booking limit, and higher occupancy allowances (2 persons/bedroom + 4, or 1 person per 200 sq ft; occupancy over 19 requires a Class 2 Conditional Use Permit). Everything else is the Neighborhood Overlay Zone, where Type I licenses (property must be the primary residence of a local-workforce 'Qualified Occupant' living there 9+ months/year and working 30+ hrs/week in the county) are uncapped in number but limited to 35 bookings/year, and Type II licenses (no residency requirement) are limited to 35 bookings/year (Oct 1-Sep 30) AND capped in number per basin: Lower Blue 550, Upper Blue 590, Snake River 130, Ten Mile 20. Waitlists are open for the Lower Blue, Upper Blue, and Snake River basins. Occupancy in the NOZ is capped at 2 renters/bedroom + 2. Note: incorporated towns (Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, Blue River) have their own separate STR rules. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the county before applying.
- 2
Check the covenant layer
HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
- 3
Apply for the Short-Term Rental (STR) License (Resort License; Type I License; Type II License)
Budget $360 (annual renewal). Annual fees per county fee schedule (reviewed each March): Neighborhood Overlay Zone Type II $360/year; Type I $240/year; Resort Overlay Zone Resort License $295/year. Fees cannot be prorated and are non-refundable. A separate non-refundable $75 fee applies to join a Type II basin waitlist. Apply through the county — the official application page is linked in the sources below.
- 4
Set up tax collection & remittance
Platforms don't collect everything here: Combined Colorado state + Summit County sales tax (unincorporated areas) (6.375%), Summit County short-term lodging tax (unincorporated areas) (2%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.
- 5
Calendar the renewal before you forget it
This permit renews annual (budget $360 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.
- 6
Know the cost of getting it wrong
Violations are civil infractions (C.R.S. 16-2-201 and 30-15-402) under a graduated fine schedule: $250 first offense, $750 second, $1,000 third or more. Revocation proceedings are mandatory after 2+ citations or 3+ documented violations within 3 months, for fraud in an application, for dangerous violations, or for failure to pay sales/property taxes; sanctions include suspension up to 6 months or revocation, with re-application barred for 1-3 years. The county can also recover enforcement costs including attorney fees. Enforcement is by the Planning Department (Review Authority) and the Sheriff's Office. The county contracts an outside monitoring company to scan listing sites for compliance, requires the STR license number on all advertising, and runs an online complaint system. Each STR must have a Responsible Agent available 24/7 who must affirmatively respond to complaints within 60 minutes (failure is itself a violation). Ordinance 22 (adopted Sept. 24, 2024) additionally requires listing platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to display a valid license number on every listing and to remove non-compliant/unlicensed listings when notified by the county. A federal constitutional challenge to the regulations was dismissed in June 2024; a follow-on state-court case (Summit Resort Homeowners Inc. v. BOCC, filed Sept. 20, 2024) remained pending as of 2025-2026, and the county continues to enforce the rules.
Recent rule changes in Summit County
January 20, 2026
Snake River Basin Type II license waitlist opens
The county opened waitlist registration for Type II STR licenses in the Snake River Basin on Jan. 20, 2026 (non-refundable $75 application fee; owners only), making three basins (Lower Blue, Upper Blue, Snake River) available for waitlist registration.
Official source →July 22, 2025material
Type II license waitlists open for Lower Blue and Upper Blue basins
After basin license counts fell within 10% of the caps, the county opened its first Type II STR license waitlists (Lower Blue and Upper Blue basins) on July 22, 2025, allowing new applicants to queue for licenses as attrition brings counts below the caps.
Official source →September 24, 2024material
Ordinance 22 adopted: platform accountability
The Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 22 requiring listing platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) to display a valid, active STR license number on all listings for unincorporated Summit County and to remove non-compliant/unlicensed listings when notified by the county.
Official source →June 25, 2024material
Federal court dismisses homeowners' challenge to STR regulations
U.S. District Judge Gordon Gallagher dismissed the lawsuit brought by roughly 100 homeowners against the county's 35-booking limit and basin license caps, ruling owners have no fundamental right to a short-term rental license; plaintiffs (Summit Resort Homeowners Inc.) refiled state-law claims in Summit County District Court on Sept. 20, 2024, where the case remained pending.
Official source →October 1, 2023material
35-booking limit and license conversions take full effect
At the 2023 license renewal (licenses run Oct. 1-Sep. 30), pre-existing and Type III licenses in the Neighborhood Overlay Zone converted to Type II and all NOZ licenses became subject to the 35-bookings-per-year limit and new occupancy standards.
Official source →February 15, 2023critical
Ordinance 20-C: revised STR regulations with basin caps
The county adopted revised and restated STR regulations effective Feb. 15, 2023: Resort vs. Neighborhood overlay zones; Type I (workforce primary-residence, uncapped count) and Type II (capped per basin: Lower Blue 550, Upper Blue 590, Snake River 130, Ten Mile 20) licenses; 35 bookings/year limit in the Neighborhood zone; 2-renters-per-bedroom-plus-2 occupancy; graduated fines; responsible-agent rules. Ended the moratorium that had been in place.
Official source →January 1, 2023material
2% short-term lodging tax takes effect in unincorporated Summit County
A voter-approved 2% lodging tax on short-term stays in unincorporated Summit County took effect Jan. 1, 2023, on top of the 6.375% combined sales tax.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Summit County?
Airbnb is legal in Summit County, 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 Summit County?
Yes. Summit County requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) License (Resort License; Type I License; Type II License) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $360 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Summit County short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Rental (STR) License (Resort License; Type I License; Type II License) costs $360 (annual renewal). Annual fees per county fee schedule (reviewed each March): Neighborhood Overlay Zone Type II $360/year; Type I $240/year; Resort Overlay Zone Resort License $295/year. Fees cannot be prorated and are non-refundable. A separate non-refundable $75 fee applies to join a Type II basin waitlist.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Summit County?
Yes — Summit County 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 Summit County?
Hosts in Summit County are subject to: Combined Colorado state + Summit County sales tax (unincorporated areas) (6.375%), Summit County short-term lodging tax (unincorporated areas) (2%) — roughly 8.38% 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 Summit County?
Violations are civil infractions (C.R.S. 16-2-201 and 30-15-402) under a graduated fine schedule: $250 first offense, $750 second, $1,000 third or more. Revocation proceedings are mandatory after 2+ citations or 3+ documented violations within 3 months, for fraud in an application, for dangerous violations, or for failure to pay sales/property taxes; sanctions include suspension up to 6 months or revocation, with re-application barred for 1-3 years. The county can also recover enforcement costs including attorney fees. Enforcement is by the Planning Department (Review Authority) and the Sheriff's Office. The county contracts an outside monitoring company to scan listing sites for compliance, requires the STR license number on all advertising, and runs an online complaint system. Each STR must have a Responsible Agent available 24/7 who must affirmatively respond to complaints within 60 minutes (failure is itself a violation). Ordinance 22 (adopted Sept. 24, 2024) additionally requires listing platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to display a valid license number on every listing and to remove non-compliant/unlicensed listings when notified by the county. A federal constitutional challenge to the regulations was dismissed in June 2024; a follow-on state-court case (Summit Resort Homeowners Inc. v. BOCC, filed Sept. 20, 2024) remained pending as of 2025-2026, and the county continues to enforce the rules.
Summit County's STR rules changed 3 times recently.
Get an email the moment Summit County changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Summit County for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
Related
Nearby covered markets
- Breckenridge, CORestricted
- Denver, COPrimary residence only
- Steamboat Springs, CORestricted
- Moab, UTRestricted
- Park City, UTPermit required
Sources
- Summit County, CO - Short-Term Rentals (official STR home page)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Summit County, CO - STR License Application (license types and fees)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Summit County, CO - STR Regulations (Ordinance 20-C, Ordinance 22, basin caps)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Summit County, CO - Short-Term Rental Tax Informationretrieved July 10, 2026
- Ordinance No. 20-C, Board of County Commissioners of the County of Summit (full text, official county copy, adopted/effective Feb. 2023)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Summit County, CO - News: Snake River Basin STR License Waitlist Opens January 20, 2026retrieved July 10, 2026
- Colorado Sun - Lawsuits challenging Summit County regulation of short-term rentals dismissed by federal courts (July 22, 2024)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Avalara MyLodgeTax - New law empowers Summit County, Colorado, to force STR marketplaces to take down unlicensed listings (Oct. 2024)retrieved 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 Summit County and a qualified professional before operating.