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Manitou Springs, CO Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Occupancy cap basis
Building code occupancy load
Notice required
Posted at/near front door
Also disclosed
Max vehicles, evacuation route
Enforcement
STR permit revocation
Governing section
LUDC § 18.04.5.4(C)(8)-(9)

Summary

Short-term rentals in Manitou Springs cannot exceed the occupancy load set by the City's adopted building code, and every unit must post a clearly visible notice at the front door stating the maximum number of occupants permitted to stay.

8.Occupancy of the short-term rental shall not exceed occupancy load pursuant to the City's duly adopted building code.9.Each short-term rental shall have a clearly visible and legible notice posted within the unit on or adjacent to the front door that includes the following. This information shall also be listed within the rental contract for the property:a.An evacuation route and emergency instructions.b.The maximum number of occupants permitted to stay in the short-term rental.

Full Breakdown

4(C) of the Land Use and Development Code lays out the operating standards every permitted short-term rental must meet, and subsection 8 ties maximum occupancy directly to the building code's occupancy load calculation rather than to a flat bedroom count, meaning the cap is determined by the unit's floor area and egress under the International Building Code as adopted by the City. 3, trash pickup information, contact information for the owner or property manager, and the location of fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide alarms; that same occupancy and rules information must also appear in the rental contract given to guests.

These occupancy and posting duties sit inside a much broader permit scheme: STRs are capped citywide at two percent of the City's residential structures based on State Demography Office counts, permits are non-transferable and expire on sale of the property, the owner must occupy the home as a primary residence at least 185 days a year, and STRs must be separated by a 500-foot radius measured from each property's corners. A property that fails to meet the occupancy or posting requirements is exposed to enforcement under the same section that governs revocation of the Short-Term Rental Permit.

Violations & Fines

Hosting more guests than the building code's occupancy load allows, or failing to post the required maximum-occupancy notice at the front door, is a violation of Section 18.04.5.4(C) that constitutes grounds for revocation of the Short-Term Rental Permit under Section 18.06.4.5; a revocation can be appealed to the Planning Commission within ninety days of notice. General violations of the short-term rental chapter are also punishable under the penalty provisions cross-referenced in Section 18.06.4.27.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests can stay in a Manitou Springs short-term rental?
Occupancy cannot exceed the occupancy load calculated under the City's duly adopted building code, per Section 18.04.5.4(C)(8), rather than a flat number set by the zoning code itself.
Does the maximum occupancy have to be posted for guests to see?
Yes. Section 18.04.5.4(C)(9)(b) requires a clearly visible and legible notice posted at or adjacent to the front door stating the maximum number of occupants permitted to stay, and that figure must also appear in the rental contract.
What happens if a short-term rental exceeds its posted occupancy?
Exceeding the building-code occupancy load or failing to post the required notice is grounds for revocation of the Short-Term Rental Permit under Section 18.06.4.5, with an appeal available to the Planning Commission within ninety days.

Sources & Official References

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