What should Grand Lake hosts know about 15% license cap: once 15%?

15% License Cap: Once 15% of the housing stock has licenses, no new licenses are issued until one expires or is surrendered.

What are the key requirements for Grand Lake hosts?

60-Minute Response: Your local contact must be able to physically arrive at the property within one hour.

What are the key requirements for Grand Lake hosts?

Parking Requirements: Off-street parking is strictly enforced; 1 space per bedroom + 1 additional space is typically required.

Are there rental limits in Grand Lake?

Nightly Rental Tax: A voter-approved 4% tax applies specifically to STRs on top of standard sales tax.

Grand Lake

Moderate

ColoradoUpdated Mar 15, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

The Town of Grand Lake requires an annual Nightly Rental License, enforces a 15% cap on the total number of permits, and mandates a 4% nightly rental tax in addition to sales taxes.

Restriction level

Severity 33

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $600
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

Property owners must apply for a Nightly Rental License and pay an annual fee of $600. You must have a local contact person available 24/7 who can respond to the property within 60 minutes. There is a town-wide limit on the number of available permits, so new applicants may be placed on a waitlist.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$600

Processing time3-6 weeks

Max fine$1,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

115% License Cap: Once 15% of the housing stock has licenses, no new licenses are issued until one expires or is surrendered.
260-Minute Response: Your local contact must be able to physically arrive at the property within one hour.
3Parking Requirements: Off-street parking is strictly enforced; 1 space per bedroom + 1 additional space is typically required.
4Nightly Rental Tax: A voter-approved 4% tax applies specifically to STRs on top of standard sales tax.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Grand Lake prohibits STRs in the following property types: Tents, RVs, Yurts.
Grand Lake does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Grand Lake: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Grand Lake: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements12 rules

Grand Lake: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.
Grand Lake requires STR registration. The permit is called "Nightly Rental License". Apply through Town Clerk. Processing time: 3-6 weeks. Renewal is required.
Grand Lake: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process8 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Grand Lake: Step 1: Apply for Colorado Sales Tax License - Obtain a standard sales tax license from the Colorado Department of Revenue. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 16. More info: https://tax.colorado.gov/business-tax-registration Step 2: Check Availability Under Cap - Contact the Town Clerk to ensure the 15% permit cap has not been reached. If reached, request to be added to the waitlist. Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://www.townofgrandlake.com/administration/page/short-term-rentals-str Step 3: Submit Nightly Rental Application - Submit the application through the town's online portal (MuniRevs) or paper form, including the parking and trash plans. Documents needed: Parking plan diagram, Trash removal plan, Local contact info, Sales tax license number. Estimated time: 2-4 weeks. Cost: 600. More info: https://grandlake.munirevs.com/ Step 4: Pass Safety Inspection - Schedule and pass a self-certification or town-led inspection of smoke alarms, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers. Estimated time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Grand Lake charges a registration fee of $600 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Grand Lake charges a Nightly Rental Tax of 0.04%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 4% Nightly Rental Tax and the 5% Town Sales Tax.
Colorado has a state sales tax of 0.029% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

Grand Lake occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Grand Lake: 15% License Cap: Once 15% of the housing stock has licenses, no new licenses are issued until one expires or is surrendered.
Grand Lake: Nightly Rental Tax: A voter-approved 4% tax applies specifically to STRs on top of standard sales tax.

Safety requirements1 rule

Grand Lake requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Parking spaces must be clearly defined, Snow removal plan, Address clearly visible from street.

Penalties2 rules

Grand Lake: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Apply for Colorado Sales Tax License

Obtain a standard sales tax license from the Colorado Department of Revenue.

1-2 weeks$16

Official resource

Step 2

Check Availability Under Cap

Contact the Town Clerk to ensure the 15% permit cap has not been reached. If reached, request to be added to the waitlist.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 3

Submit Nightly Rental Application

Submit the application through the town's online portal (MuniRevs) or paper form, including the parking and trash plans.

2-4 weeks$600

Documents needed

Parking plan diagram
Trash removal plan
Local contact info
Sales tax license number

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a self-certification or town-led inspection of smoke alarms, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 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

Grand Lake

Moderate

ColoradoUpdated Mar 15, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

The Town of Grand Lake requires an annual Nightly Rental License, enforces a 15% cap on the total number of permits, and mandates a 4% nightly rental tax in addition to sales taxes.

Restriction level

Severity 33

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $600
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$600

Processing time3-6 weeks

Max fine$1,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

115% License Cap: Once 15% of the housing stock has licenses, no new licenses are issued until one expires or is surrendered.
260-Minute Response: Your local contact must be able to physically arrive at the property within one hour.
3Parking Requirements: Off-street parking is strictly enforced; 1 space per bedroom + 1 additional space is typically required.
4Nightly Rental Tax: A voter-approved 4% tax applies specifically to STRs on top of standard sales tax.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Grand Lake prohibits STRs in the following property types: Tents, RVs, Yurts.
Grand Lake does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Grand Lake: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Grand Lake: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements12 rules

Grand Lake: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.
Grand Lake requires STR registration. The permit is called "Nightly Rental License". Apply through Town Clerk. Processing time: 3-6 weeks. Renewal is required.
Grand Lake: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process8 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Grand Lake: Step 1: Apply for Colorado Sales Tax License - Obtain a standard sales tax license from the Colorado Department of Revenue. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 16. More info: https://tax.colorado.gov/business-tax-registration Step 2: Check Availability Under Cap - Contact the Town Clerk to ensure the 15% permit cap has not been reached. If reached, request to be added to the waitlist. Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://www.townofgrandlake.com/administration/page/short-term-rentals-str Step 3: Submit Nightly Rental Application - Submit the application through the town's online portal (MuniRevs) or paper form, including the parking and trash plans. Documents needed: Parking plan diagram, Trash removal plan, Local contact info, Sales tax license number. Estimated time: 2-4 weeks. Cost: 600. More info: https://grandlake.munirevs.com/ Step 4: Pass Safety Inspection - Schedule and pass a self-certification or town-led inspection of smoke alarms, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers. Estimated time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Grand Lake charges a registration fee of $600 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Grand Lake charges a Nightly Rental Tax of 0.04%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 4% Nightly Rental Tax and the 5% Town Sales Tax.
Colorado has a state sales tax of 0.029% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

Grand Lake occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Grand Lake: 15% License Cap: Once 15% of the housing stock has licenses, no new licenses are issued until one expires or is surrendered.
Grand Lake: Nightly Rental Tax: A voter-approved 4% tax applies specifically to STRs on top of standard sales tax.

Safety requirements1 rule

Grand Lake requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Parking spaces must be clearly defined, Snow removal plan, Address clearly visible from street.

Penalties2 rules

Grand Lake: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Apply for Colorado Sales Tax License

Obtain a standard sales tax license from the Colorado Department of Revenue.

1-2 weeks$16

Official resource

Step 2

Check Availability Under Cap

Contact the Town Clerk to ensure the 15% permit cap has not been reached. If reached, request to be added to the waitlist.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 3

Submit Nightly Rental Application

Submit the application through the town's online portal (MuniRevs) or paper form, including the parking and trash plans.

2-4 weeks$600

Documents needed

Parking plan diagram
Trash removal plan
Local contact info
Sales tax license number

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a self-certification or town-led inspection of smoke alarms, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Apply for Colorado Sales Tax License

Check Availability Under Cap

Submit Nightly Rental Application

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the short-term rental tax rate in Grand Lake?

3What are the local contact requirements for rentals?

4Are there limits on the number of rental permits?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Apply for Colorado Sales Tax License

Check Availability Under Cap

Submit Nightly Rental Application

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the short-term rental tax rate in Grand Lake?

3What are the local contact requirements for rentals?

4Are there limits on the number of rental permits?

Disclaimer