Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Los Alamos County, NM

Airbnb listings are allowed in Los Alamos County, NM, but with restrictions. "Short term rental" is defined as a residential dwelling rented for transient lodging for no more than 30 consecutive days. Lodging-related uses (e.g., Bed and Breakfast) are subject to zone-based controls in Table 26 (Bed and Breakfast is a Conditional use in many residential zones) and bed-and-breakfast standards require owner-occupancy or resident manager, a maximum of five guestrooms, and lodging limited to 30 consecutive days (Sec.16-16(b)). General development code requirements, zoning district rules, and Use-Specific Standards apply. 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.

"Short term rental" is defined as a residential dwelling rented for transient lodging for no more than 30 consecutive days. Lodging-related uses (e.g., Bed and Breakfast) are subject to zone-based controls in Table 26 (Bed and Breakfast is a Conditional use in many residential zones) and bed-and-breakfast standards require owner-occupancy or resident manager, a maximum of five guestrooms, and lodging limited to 30 consecutive days (Sec.16-16(b)). General development code requirements, zoning district rules, and Use-Specific Standards apply.

Vrbo is permitted in Los Alamos County, NM under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.