Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Mesa County, CO

Airbnb listings are allowed in Mesa County, CO, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals are restricted to permitted single-family dwellings, townhomes, ADUs, and owner-occupied duplexes; temporary shelters like tents or RVs are prohibited. Occupancy is determined by site plan review based on bedrooms and parking (1 space per bedroom plus 1), and stays must be under 30 days. Operators must maintain a 24/7 local manager and comply with life-safety codes; permits can be revoked after three verified complaints in a year. 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.

Vacation rentals are restricted to permitted single-family dwellings, townhomes, ADUs, and owner-occupied duplexes; temporary shelters like tents or RVs are prohibited. Occupancy is determined by site plan review based on bedrooms and parking (1 space per bedroom plus 1), and stays must be under 30 days. Operators must maintain a 24/7 local manager and comply with life-safety codes; permits can be revoked after three verified complaints in a year.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Mesa County. 1) Submit a Site Plan review application to the Mesa County Planning Department to determine occupancy and parking compliance. 2) Complete a life-safety inspection with the Building Division using the Short Term Rental Worksheet to verify smoke/CO detectors and egress. 3) Pay required fees and designate a 24/7 local property manager to receive final approval.

1) Submit a Site Plan review application to the Mesa County Planning Department to determine occupancy and parking compliance. 2) Complete a life-safety inspection with the Building Division using the Short Term Rental Worksheet to verify smoke/CO detectors and egress. 3) Pay required fees and designate a 24/7 local property manager to receive final approval.

Vrbo is permitted in Mesa County, 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 Mesa County 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.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Mesa County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.