Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Colorado Springs, CO

Airbnb listings are allowed in Colorado Springs, CO, but with restrictions. Owner-occupied units must be the operator's primary residence (occupied 185+ days/year). Non-owner-occupied units are prohibited in single-family zones (R-E, R-1 6, R-1 9, PDZs) and must be 500 feet apart in other zones. Occupancy is capped at 2 per bedroom plus 2 per dwelling (max 15 total), and properties with ADUs built after 6/30/2025 are generally ineligible for STR permits. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Owner-occupied units must be the operator's primary residence (occupied 185+ days/year). Non-owner-occupied units are prohibited in single-family zones (R-E, R-1 6, R-1 9, PDZs) and must be 500 feet apart in other zones. Occupancy is capped at 2 per bedroom plus 2 per dwelling (max 15 total), and properties with ADUs built after 6/30/2025 are generally ineligible for STR permits.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Colorado Springs. 1) Submit an application via the Accela portal including a completed STR checklist and owner/non-owner affidavit. 2) Upload proof of primary residence (for owner-occupied), proof of $500,000 liability insurance, and proof of listing on a hosting platform. 3) Pay the $124.95 annual fee; permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

1) Submit an application via the Accela portal including a completed STR checklist and owner/non-owner affidavit. 2) Upload proof of primary residence (for owner-occupied), proof of $500,000 liability insurance, and proof of listing on a hosting platform. 3) Pay the $124.95 annual fee; permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Vrbo is permitted in Colorado Springs, CO under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Colorado Springs are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

The most recent tracked change in Colorado Springs is "Primary Residency Audit Program Launched" (2025-02-01, status: passed). Colorado Springs began auditing existing STR permits to verify operators meet the primary residence requirement, sending letters to suspected non-compliant operators and revoking permits where violations were confirmed. See the regulatory updates section on this page for the full history.

No. Colorado Springs requires that STR operators use the property as their primary residence. Non-owner-occupied investment properties are not eligible for an STR permit, and the city actively audits for compliance.

If you no longer occupy the property as your primary residence, your STR permit becomes invalid. The city's audit program cross-references permit addresses with utility records and tax filings, and violations result in permit revocation.

There is no hard citywide cap, but the primary residence requirement naturally limits supply. The City Council has discussed neighborhood-level density caps as complaints increase in certain residential areas.