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Mesa County, CO Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
LDC Section 6.02 BB.3
Method
Set at Site Plan Review, not a fixed number
Based on
Bedroom count and parking spaces
Linked standard
1 parking space per sleeping room + 1 (BB.6)
Enforcing agency
Mesa County Planning Department

Summary

Mesa County does not set one fixed guest-count ceiling for vacation rentals. Instead, the Land Development Code has the Planning Department calculate the maximum occupancy for each property individually during Site Plan Review, tying the number to bedrooms and available parking.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Mesa County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

3. Maximum occupancy of a vacation rental shall be determined at the time of site plan approval based on the number of parking spaces and bedrooms.

Full Breakdown

" That means there is no countywide numeric cap printed in the code itself; the figure is set case by case as a condition of the site plan and becomes binding once approved. The calculation is not arbitrary: it is anchored to two measurable inputs the applicant must document in the site plan application, the bedroom count of the dwelling and the number of off-street parking spaces on the lot. 6, so the parking standard and the occupancy figure are linked and effectively set a practical ceiling before the county even reaches the bedroom count.

Because occupancy is fixed at approval, an owner who wants to raise the guest limit later, for example by finishing a basement bedroom, must go back through Site Plan Review rather than simply advertising a higher number online. 5, which requires bathing and sanitary facilities to be available to guests without undue restriction, reinforcing that occupancy is meant to reflect the home's actual livable capacity, not just its footprint.

Violations & Fines

Advertising or hosting more guests than the number fixed in the approved site plan is a standards violation under Section 6.02 BB.11, and repeated or unresolved noncompliance can lead the Planning Director to revoke the site plan approval, which ends the vacation rental use entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a set maximum number of guests for Mesa County vacation rentals?
No single number applies countywide. Section 6.02 BB.3 has the Planning Department calculate each property's maximum occupancy during Site Plan Review, using that property's bedroom count and off-street parking spaces as the inputs.
Can I just decide my own occupancy limit as the owner?
No. The limit is fixed as a condition of the approved site plan under BB.3, and exceeding it violates the standards in Section 6.02 BB.11, which can lead to revocation of the approval.
What happens if I add a bedroom after approval?
Because occupancy is tied to bedroom count and parking at the time of approval, adding sleeping space would require going back through Site Plan Review to have a new maximum occupancy calculated and approved.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Mesa County

All Mesa County rules

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