Short-Term Rental Regulations
in San Juan County, CO

Airbnb listings are allowed in San Juan County, CO, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals are allowed only where specifically permitted by the San Juan County Zoning & Land Use Regulations (Section 4-110.21); approvals are processed as an annual Special Use Permit/endorsement in affected zones (the Mountain Zone has a stated permit capacity of 20). Required conditions include adequate emergency communications, off-street dedicated parking for guests, and year-round safe access for occupants and emergency services; county and town lodging taxes/fees apply. 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 allowed only where specifically permitted by the San Juan County Zoning & Land Use Regulations (Section 4-110.21); approvals are processed as an annual Special Use Permit/endorsement in affected zones (the Mountain Zone has a stated permit capacity of 20). Required conditions include adequate emergency communications, off-street dedicated parking for guests, and year-round safe access for occupants and emergency services; county and town lodging taxes/fees apply.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in San Juan County. 1) Submit a Land Use / Special Use Permit application via San Juan County Planning, demonstrating conformance with Section 4-110.21 conditions (parking, communications, access). 2) For properties inside the Town of Silverton, submit the Town’s Vacation Rental Application/license and pay applicable town lodging fees. 3) Remit County lodging tax (2% of gross receipts) quarterly as required.

1) Submit a Land Use / Special Use Permit application via San Juan County Planning, demonstrating conformance with Section 4-110.21 conditions (parking, communications, access). 2) For properties inside the Town of Silverton, submit the Town’s Vacation Rental Application/license and pay applicable town lodging fees. 3) Remit County lodging tax (2% of gross receipts) quarterly as required.

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