Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Pitkin County, CO

Airbnb listings are allowed in Pitkin County, CO, but with restrictions. STRs in unincorporated Pitkin County are regulated by a county Short Term Rental Code (Title 6, §6.50). The code defines STRs as residential units rented for <30 days and requires an applicant to use the licensed property as their principal residence; the program implements a 4-night minimum and 120-night maximum (tiering for seasonal limits), requires a documented history of STR activity for the property for May 11, 2017–May 11, 2022, and excludes hotels/motels and similar lodging types. 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.

STRs in unincorporated Pitkin County are regulated by a county Short Term Rental Code (Title 6, §6.50). The code defines STRs as residential units rented for <30 days and requires an applicant to use the licensed property as their principal residence; the program implements a 4-night minimum and 120-night maximum (tiering for seasonal limits), requires a documented history of STR activity for the property for May 11, 2017–May 11, 2022, and excludes hotels/motels and similar lodging types.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Pitkin County. 1) Apply online through the County STR license portal (SageGov link) and submit required application materials (including documentation of STR history and proof of principal residence where required); 2) Pay the tiered license fee (explicit fee formulas: Assessor Home Market Value × 0.07% for 61–120 nights; 0.06% for 21–60 nights; 0.05% for ≤20 nights) and any stated processing fees; 3) County processes application per the adopted STR Code and issues/denies license.

1) Apply online through the County STR license portal (SageGov link) and submit required application materials (including documentation of STR history and proof of principal residence where required); 2) Pay the tiered license fee (explicit fee formulas: Assessor Home Market Value × 0.07% for 61–120 nights; 0.06% for 21–60 nights; 0.05% for ≤20 nights) and any stated processing fees; 3) County processes application per the adopted STR Code and issues/denies license.

Vrbo is permitted in Pitkin 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 Pitkin 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 Pitkin County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.