Taxes & Fees: Fort Collins vs Loveland
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Fort Collins, CO and Loveland, CO?
Fort Collins has fewer restrictions than Loveland.
Fort Collins, CO
Larimer County
Colorado state sales tax of 3.9% applies to lodging. Fort Collins levies additional local lodging tax. Platforms auto-collect. Total rates typically 7 to 12%.
View full Fort Collins rules →Loveland, CO
Larimer County
Short-term rentals in Loveland collect a stack of state, county, and city taxes plus a separate 3% City of Loveland Lodging Tax under Loveland Municipal Code Chapter 3.24. The base combined effective rate on a Loveland STR stay is approximately 9.95%: 2.90% Colorado state sales tax + 1.05% Larimer County sales tax + 3.00% City of Loveland sales tax (LMC Ch. 3.16) + 3.00% City of Loveland Lodging Tax (LMC Ch. 3.24). Some Loveland ZIP codes carry additional special-district overlays (the Centerra-area Regional Transportation Authority and other improvement districts), which can push the total to roughly 11.95% on stays in those locations. The lodging tax applies to rentals of less than 30 consecutive days. Operators must obtain a City of Loveland Sales and Use Tax license to collect and remit. Airbnb collects both the 3% city sales tax and 3% city Lodging Tax on platform-booked stays under its Colorado collection agreement.
View full Loveland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fort Collins | Loveland |
|---|---|---|
| State Tax | 3.9% sales | - |
| Local Tax | Varies by city/county | - |
| Platforms | Auto-collect | - |
| Total | 7 to 12% typical | - |
| Colorado State Sales Tax | - | 2.90% |
| Larimer County Sales Tax | - | 1.05% |
| City of Loveland Sales Tax | - | 3.00% (LMC Ch. 3.16) |
| City of Loveland Lodging Tax | - | 3.00% (LMC Ch. 3.24) |
| Base Combined Stack | - | ~9.95% |
| Special-District Overlays | - | Centerra RTA and others add ~2% in specific ZIP codes (total up to ~11.95%) |
| Taxable Stays | - | Less than 30 consecutive days |
| Required Operator License | - | City of Loveland Sales and Use Tax license |
| Airbnb Platform Collection | - | Collects 3% city sales + 3% city Lodging Tax on platform-booked stays |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fort Collins FAQ
What tax do I owe?
3.9% state + local taxes. Total varies by city. Platforms collect automatically.
Does Airbnb handle it?
Yes, platforms collect and remit state and most local taxes automatically.
Loveland FAQ
What is the total lodging tax rate for a Loveland Airbnb or VRBO?
An STR stay in the general Loveland tax area carries approximately 9.95% in total taxes: 2.90% Colorado state sales tax, 1.05% Larimer County sales tax, 3.00% City of Loveland sales tax, and 3.00% City of Loveland Lodging Tax (LMC Chapter 3.24). Properties in the U.S. 34 / Centerra area carry an additional ~2.00% from the Regional Transportation Authority overlay, bringing those stays to roughly 11.95%. All four taxes apply to stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days.
Does Airbnb collect Loveland's Lodging Tax for me?
Yes for Airbnb on platform-booked stays of 29 nights or shorter. Under Airbnb's Colorado collection agreement, the platform collects and remits both the City of Loveland 3.00% sales tax and the 3.00% City of Loveland Lodging Tax on behalf of the operator, in addition to the 2.90% Colorado state sales tax. VRBO and other platforms have varying collection coverage - operators should verify each platform's collection status. Direct off-platform bookings always remain the operator's full responsibility, as do any special-district overlays.
Do I need to register with the city even if Airbnb collects the taxes?
Yes. The City of Loveland requires every operator selling lodging at retail to hold a City of Loveland Sales and Use Tax license under LMC Chapter 3.16, regardless of whether a platform collects on the operator's behalf. The license establishes the operator's tax account, supports reconciliation of platform-collected versus direct-booked revenue, and is the city's mechanism for tracking compliance. Operating without the license is a violation of Chapter 3.16 even if every individual booking happens to have its tax collected by Airbnb.
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