Colorado Springs, CO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Colorado Springs, CO, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Sec. 7.5.1704
- Permit Fee
- $124.95 per listing, annually
- Owner-Occupancy
- 185+ days/year in single-family zones
- Insurance
- $500,000 liability minimum
Summary
Every short-term rental in Colorado Springs must hold a valid short-term rental permit issued by the City before any property, or rooms within it, may be leased to guests, under City Code Section 7.5.1704. The permit costs $124.95, is valid for one year with no grace period, and a separate permit and fee are required for each listing.
All rental properties located within the City of Colorado Springs must have a valid short term rental license issued by the City of Colorado Springs and must abide by the city's rental licensing requirements prior to leasing any rental property, or room(s) within a property, to another person or persons (City Code Section 7.5.1704). According to Ordinance 19-101, short-term rental units in single-family zone districts must be the operator's principal residence and the operator must be on the deed to property on which the dwelling unit to be rented is located. An owner occupied permit is defined as the primary place of residency of the owner for not less than 185 days per year, with exceptions for military personnel.
Full Breakdown
5, Part 17. 1704). The application requires proof of primary residence, a signed owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied affidavit, proof of at least $500,000 in liability insurance, a sales tax license, and proof of an active hosting-platform listing. 95 annually per listing, City staff has ten business days to review a complete application, and the permit is valid for one year with no grace period for renewal. Owner-occupied STRs in single-family zone districts (R-E, R-1 9, R-1 6, and Single-Family PDZs) must be the operator's principal residence (occupied at least 185 days per year), while non-owner-occupied STR applications submitted after December 26, 2019 are prohibited in those single-family districts. As of June 30, 2025 (Ordinance 25-45), properties with an accessory dwelling unit may no longer obtain a new STR permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without a valid permit, or failing to renew before expiration, may result in a Code Enforcement notice and, for non-owner-occupied units, forfeiture of the established permit; there is no grace period for late applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Colorado Springs?
Can I run a non-owner-occupied short-term rental in a single-family neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colorado Springs
How Colorado Springs compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Colorado Springs to another location·View the Colorado short-term rentals overview
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