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

Manitou Springs regulates short-term rentals under Title 18 of the Municipal Code (vacation-rental use standards) administered by the Planning Department. Maximum occupancy may not exceed the occupant load determined under the City's adopted building code rather than a flat guest cap, which keeps the rule consistent with Colorado HB24-1007's prohibition on relationship-based occupancy limits in residential rentals. The City further restricts the supply of STRs by capping permits at two percent (2%) of Manitou Springs' residential structures, which produced an initial cap of roughly 56 units. New STR permits also require a minimum 500-foot radius from any other permitted STR, and the rental must be the owner's primary residence for at least 185 days of the calendar year. Permits are valid for one year, must be renewed annually, and the property must be rented for at least 21 days per calendar year to keep the permit active. Because the occupancy figure is set by the adopted building code (bedroom count, square footage, and egress, not the number of guests on the booking), hosts should confirm their certificate of occupancy load with the Planning Department at (719) 685-5481 before listing.