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

**Yes**, unincorporated Eagle County requires a Short-Term Rental License. You need to apply through the county's Community Development department and pay an annual fee of $185. The regulations focus on life safety, parking, and ensuring a local contact is available to respond to complaints. Operating without a license can result in fines.

What is the TOT tax rate in Eagle County?

**2%** is the current County Lodging Tax rate for short-term rentals in unincorporated Eagle County. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the county. Check with the Eagle County finance department for specific filing instructions and deadlines. Airbnb and VRBO may automatically collect this tax.

How much does an STR permit cost in Eagle County?

**$185** is the annual fee for a Short-Term Rental License in unincorporated Eagle County. You need to renew this license each year through the county's Community Development department to legally operate your short-term rental. Make sure to factor this cost into your operating budget and pricing strategy.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Eagle County?

**No**, the regulations do not explicitly state that tenants can host on Airbnb in Eagle County. It is advisable to review your lease agreement and seek clarification from your landlord or property management company. Subletting without permission may violate your lease terms. Check with the county for updates.

Eagle County

Moderate

ColoradoUpdated Apr 11, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

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.

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Eagle County, you must first get a license from the county's Community Development department. You don't need to live in the home full-time, but you must appoint a local contact person who can respond to issues within an hour. There is an annual $185 fee, and you'll need to show you have at least $500,000 in liability insurance. Make sure your guests follow the parking and trash rules, as the county actively monitors listings and can fine you for operating without a license.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.0%

Permit fee$185

Processing time14-30 days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1UNINCORPORATED ONLY: These rules do NOT apply to Vail, Avon, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff, or Basalt town limits.
2LOCAL CONTACT: You must have a contact person reachable 24/7 who can be at the property within 60 minutes.
3ADU BAN: Rentals are generally prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or 'mother-in-law' suites created after June 2022.
4LODGING TAX: You must pay a 2% Eagle County Lodging Tax in addition to standard state sales taxes.
5PARKING: All guest parking must be on-site; street parking for STR guests is strictly prohibited in most unincorporated areas.
6NO TRANSFER: If you sell your house, the STR license does NOT go to the new owner; they must apply for a new one.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Eagle County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Eagle County: ADU Prohibition: Stays in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are often prohibited for STR use to protect long-term housing.

Requirements14 rules

Eagle County: Local Contact: You must have a contact person available 24/7 who can respond to the property within 60 minutes.
Eagle County has different permit classes: Standard Unincorporated STR License. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Eagle County requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental License". Apply through Eagle County Community Development.

Application process6 rules

Eagle County STR permit - Step 1: Verify Jurisdiction. Confirm your property is in Unincorporated Eagle County and not within town limits of Vail, Avon, Eagle, etc. Time: 10 minutes.

Fees & costs1 rule

Eagle County charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Eagle County: Tax Rate: The tax rate increased significantly in 2023 following the passage of Measures 1A and 6A.
Eagle County charges a Eagle County Lodging and Housing Tax of 6%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Colorado has a state sales tax of 2.9% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Eagle County: Occupancy Limits: You are limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 extra, regardless of how many beds you have.

Safety requirements1 rule

Eagle County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties1 rule

Eagle County enforces penalties: First offense: Written warning and/or fine up to $1,000. Maximum fine: $1,000 per violation.

Exemptions2 rules

Eagle County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
Eagle County: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Eagle County

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Jurisdiction

Confirm your property is in unincorporated Eagle County using the County's GIS 'Property Advisor' tool. If you are inside town limits (Vail, Avon, etc.), you must follow town rules.

5 minutesFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Safety and Parking Plans

Create a parking plan showing designated off-street spots and ensure the property meets all self-certification safety requirements (detectors, extinguishers).

1 hourFree

Documents needed

Parking Plan
Trash Plan

Step 3

Submit Online Application

Apply through the Eagle County STR portal (GovPost). You must provide owner info and a local contact available 24/7 who lives within 60 minutes of the property.

30 minutes$185

Documents needed

Liability Insurance Certificate
Proof of Ownership

Official resource

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

Eagle County

Moderate

ColoradoUpdated Apr 11, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
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 rate0.0%

Permit fee$185

Processing time14-30 days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1UNINCORPORATED ONLY: These rules do NOT apply to Vail, Avon, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff, or Basalt town limits.
2LOCAL CONTACT: You must have a contact person reachable 24/7 who can be at the property within 60 minutes.
3ADU BAN: Rentals are generally prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or 'mother-in-law' suites created after June 2022.
4LODGING TAX: You must pay a 2% Eagle County Lodging Tax in addition to standard state sales taxes.
5PARKING: All guest parking must be on-site; street parking for STR guests is strictly prohibited in most unincorporated areas.
6NO TRANSFER: If you sell your house, the STR license does NOT go to the new owner; they must apply for a new one.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Eagle County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Eagle County: ADU Prohibition: Stays in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are often prohibited for STR use to protect long-term housing.

Requirements14 rules

Eagle County: Local Contact: You must have a contact person available 24/7 who can respond to the property within 60 minutes.
Eagle County has different permit classes: Standard Unincorporated STR License. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Eagle County requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental License". Apply through Eagle County Community Development.

Application process6 rules

Eagle County STR permit - Step 1: Verify Jurisdiction. Confirm your property is in Unincorporated Eagle County and not within town limits of Vail, Avon, Eagle, etc. Time: 10 minutes.

Fees & costs1 rule

Eagle County charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Eagle County: Tax Rate: The tax rate increased significantly in 2023 following the passage of Measures 1A and 6A.
Eagle County charges a Eagle County Lodging and Housing Tax of 6%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Colorado has a state sales tax of 2.9% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Eagle County: Occupancy Limits: You are limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2 extra, regardless of how many beds you have.

Safety requirements1 rule

Eagle County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties1 rule

Eagle County enforces penalties: First offense: Written warning and/or fine up to $1,000. Maximum fine: $1,000 per violation.

Exemptions2 rules

Eagle County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
Eagle County: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Eagle County

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Jurisdiction

Confirm your property is in unincorporated Eagle County using the County's GIS 'Property Advisor' tool. If you are inside town limits (Vail, Avon, etc.), you must follow town rules.

5 minutesFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Safety and Parking Plans

Create a parking plan showing designated off-street spots and ensure the property meets all self-certification safety requirements (detectors, extinguishers).

1 hourFree

Documents needed

Parking Plan
Trash Plan

Step 3

Submit Online Application

Apply through the Eagle County STR portal (GovPost). You must provide owner info and a local contact available 24/7 who lives within 60 minutes of the property.

30 minutes$185

Documents needed

Liability Insurance Certificate
Proof of Ownership

Official resource

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

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Jurisdiction

Prepare Safety and Parking Plans

Submit Online Application

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Eagle County?

3Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Eagle County?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Eagle County?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Eagle County?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Jurisdiction

Prepare Safety and Parking Plans

Submit Online Application

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Eagle County?

3Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Eagle County?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Eagle County?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Eagle County?

Disclaimer