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

**Yes**, Durango requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) license to operate legally. You need to obtain this permit before listing your property on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. The city also enforces neighborhood-specific caps on the number of STR licenses issued. A fire inspection is mandatory.

What is the TOT tax rate in Durango?

**5.25%** is the current Lodger's Tax rate for short-term rentals in Durango. You are responsible for collecting this tax from your guests and remitting it to the city. Some major platforms may handle the collection and remittance of this tax on your behalf, so verify this.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Durango?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Durango, but they are strictly regulated. You need to obtain a license and comply with all city requirements. Durango enforces neighborhood-specific caps on the total number of STR licenses, so availability varies. The city also requires fire inspections.

How much does an STR permit cost in Durango?

**$750** is the cost of the Short-Term Rental (STR) license in Durango. You must pay this fee to obtain the required permit before operating a short-term rental. This fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing your application and ensuring compliance with city regulations.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Durango?

**No**, renters cannot legally host on Airbnb in Durango. The city requires that the property owner apply for and obtain the Short-Term Rental (STR) license. Tenants are not permitted to sublet a property as a short-term rental without the explicit consent and licensing of the property owner.

Durango, CO Short-Term Rental Laws & Regulations

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Forensically verified with 3+ official sources

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

3 Official Sources

Summary

The City of Durango strictly regulates short-term rentals through a licensing system that includes neighborhood-specific caps and mandatory fire inspections. Hosts must collect and remit a 5.25% Lodger's Tax in addition to standard sales taxes, though major platforms now handle some remittance.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 48 (moderate)

Why this classification:

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

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in Durango, you must first check if your neighborhood has any available 'slots' left, as the city caps the number of rentals allowed in most areas. If a slot is available, you'll need to pay a $750 application fee, pass a fire safety inspection, and obtain a formal license. You are generally limited to owning only one STR in the city. Once licensed, you'll need to ensure your license number is clearly displayed on your listing and that you file monthly tax reports.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$750

Processing Time

Varies due to waitlists in certain zones

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Verify if you are in the City Limits or La Plata County; rules differ significantly at the boundary.
2.Most residential neighborhoods have strict numerical caps; if the cap is full, you go on a waitlist.
3.You cannot use an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) as an STR unless it was permitted before 2014.
4.A single person or entity is generally limited to only one STR license in the city.
5.The 5.25% Lodger's Tax is separate from the city's 3.5% and state's 2.9% sales taxes.
6.You must have a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to issues within 60 minutes.
7.Operating without a license can result in fines up to $1,000 per day.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

•Durango prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (unless existing prior to 2014 or specific exceptions), Affordable housing units, Tents/RVs.
•Durango: You cannot use an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) as an STR unless it was permitted before 2014.
•Durango does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.

Requirements(19)

•Durango, CO: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
•Durango, CO: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
•Durango: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.

Application Process(11)

•Durango STR permit - Step 2: Application Submission. Submit a complete application including floor plans, site plans, and the $750 application fee. Required documents: Floor plan, Parking plan, Insurance proof. Time: 2-4 weeks. Cost: 750.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Durango charges a registration fee of $750 (annual).

Taxes(3)

•Colorado has a state sales tax of 2.9% that applies to STR rentals.
•Durango: The 5.25% Lodger's Tax is separate from the city's 3.5% and state's 2.9% sales taxes.
•Durango charges a Lodgers Tax of 5.25%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 5.25% Lodger's Tax directly, but hosts must still file returns.

Limits & Restrictions(10)

•Durango limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional
•Durango, CO occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Durango, CO: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Durango limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Durango requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Annual fire inspection, Egress windows in bedrooms.

Penalties(4)

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

Exemptions(3)

•Durango exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
•Durango: 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

Durango

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

Requirements(19)

Application Process(11)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(10)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(4)

Exemptions(3)

Create a free account

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen

Durango

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

Frequently Asked Questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Durango?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Durango?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Durango?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Durango?

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen