Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Crested Butte?

**Yes**, Crested Butte requires a Short-Term Rental License for stays under 30 days. The town has a cap on non-primary residence licenses. You need to obtain either a 'Limited' or 'Unlimited' license, depending on your primary residence status and desired rental frequency, per town ordinances.

What is the TOT tax rate in Crested Butte?

**20.9% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Crested Butte. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the town. Be sure to factor this tax into your pricing strategy to ensure compliance with local regulations for short-term rentals.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Crested Butte?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Crested Butte, but are strictly regulated. The town has a cap on non-primary residence licenses, and only a limited number of 'Unlimited' licenses are available. Be aware that operating without the proper license can result in penalties and fines from the town.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Crested Butte?

**Yes**, a primary residence requirement exists for the 'Limited' short-term rental license in Crested Butte. This license allows for a maximum of 60 rental nights per year. An 'Unlimited' license does not have this requirement, but is subject to quotas and waitlists due to the town-wide cap.

How much does an STR permit cost in Crested Butte?

**$750** is the current fee for a Short-Term Rental License in Crested Butte. This fee applies to both 'Limited' and 'Unlimited' licenses. Keep in mind that there may be additional fees or requirements associated with the application process, so check with the town's Community Development department.

Crested Butte, CO STR Laws & Regulations

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Verified: Jan 30, 2026

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Summary

Short-term rentals in the Town of Crested Butte are strictly regulated and subject to a town-wide cap on non-primary residence licenses. There are two tiers of licenses: 'Limited' (60 nights max, primary residence only) and 'Unlimited' (no night cap, but subject to quotas and waitlists).

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 78 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Strict night cap: 60 nights/year
•High permit fee: $750
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No primary residence requirement

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in the Town of Crested Butte, you must first secure one of the town's limited STR licenses. If the property is your primary home, you can easily get a 'Limited' license for up to 60 nights a year. If you want to rent more than that or it's a second home, you must apply for an 'Unlimited' license, which often has a long waitlist due to strict neighborhood caps. Be prepared for very high lodging taxes (over 20%) and the requirement to have a local property manager available 24/7.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

60/year

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.2%

Permit Fee

$750

Processing Time

30-60 days

8 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Waitlists for 'Unlimited' licenses can last for years in most residential zones.
2.Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built after 2017 cannot be used for short-term rentals.
3.The total tax rate is 20.9%, one of the highest in Colorado, and involves multiple local tax types.
4.A local contact person must be available to respond to complaints within 30-60 minutes.
5.You can only hold one STR license per person/entity in the town.
6.Primary residency requires living in the home at least 9 months of the year.
7.Licenses are non-transferable upon the sale of the property.
8.Verify you are in the Town limits; 'Mt. Crested Butte' is a different town with different rules.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

•Crested Butte: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built after 2017 cannot be used for short-term rentals.
•Crested Butte: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Crested Butte does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements(21)

•Crested Butte: Primary residency requires living in the home at least 9 months of the year.
•Crested Butte, CO: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
•Crested Butte, CO: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application Process(10)

•Crested Butte, CO: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of ownership, Business license application, Proof of primary residency (if applying for primary license), Self-certification safety checklist, Local property manager contact info.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Crested Butte charges a registration fee of $750 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $1500 (Fee varies by license type; $750 for primary residence, $1,500 for secondary residence (unlimited)).

Taxes(3)

•Crested Butte: The total tax rate is 20.9%, one of the highest in Colorado, and involves multiple local tax types.

Limits & Restrictions(10)

•Crested Butte: Verify you are in the Town limits; 'Mt. Crested Butte' is a different town with different rules.
•Crested Butte, CO: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Crested Butte occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Crested Butte requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Snow removal plan, Trash management plan.

Penalties(3)

•Crested Butte, CO: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Crested Butte: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions(3)

•Crested Butte exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
•Crested Butte: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Colorado

Moderate

Unincorporated Summit County has strictly regulated STRs via a two-tier overlay system: 'Resort' zones have unlimited permits, while 'Neighborhood' zones are subject to strict precinct caps and a 35-night annual rental limit. All hosts must obtain an annual permit and collect a 2% STR Excise Tax in addition to standard sales taxes.

Permit requiredNight limits

0.1% total tax

Eagle County

Colorado

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Eagle County require an annual license and are subject to a 2% County Lodging Tax. The regulations, established in 2022, focus on parking, life safety, and ensuring a local contact is available to respond to complaints within 60 minutes.

Permit required

0.0% total tax

La Plata County

Colorado

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated La Plata County require a Vacation Rental Permit and must comply with Chapter 90, Article IV of the Land Use Code. Permits are tied to specific occupancy limits based on septic capacity and require wildfire mitigation and bear-proof trash containment.

Permit required

0.0% total tax

Aspen

Colorado

Strict

The City of Aspen requires all short-term rentals to obtain an annual permit categorized into three types: Classic, Lodge, or Investment. Stricter regulations and a significant STR excise tax (5-10%) were implemented following Measure 2A in 2022.

Permit requiredNight limits

0.2% total tax

Crested Butte

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

8 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

Requirements(21)

Application Process(10)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(10)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(3)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen

Crested Butte

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

8 Things Hosts Often Miss

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Crested Butte?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Crested Butte?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Crested Butte?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Crested Butte?

5How much does an STR permit cost in Crested Butte?

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen