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

Strict

ColoradoUpdated Mar 30, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

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

Severity 48

Classification

Strict

Severity

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

What this means for you

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

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$750

Processing timeVaries due to waitlists in certain zones

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

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

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

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.

Requirements19 rules

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 process11 rules

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 & costs1 rule

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

Taxes3 rules

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 & restrictions10 rules

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 requirements1 rule

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.

Penalties4 rules

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.

Exemptions3 rules

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).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Durango

Strict

ColoradoUpdated Mar 30, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 48

Classification

Strict

Severity

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

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$750

Processing timeVaries due to waitlists in certain zones

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

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

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility12 rules

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.

Requirements19 rules

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 process11 rules

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 & costs1 rule

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

Taxes3 rules

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 & restrictions10 rules

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 requirements1 rule

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.

Penalties4 rules

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.

Exemptions3 rules

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).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

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?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

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?

Disclaimer