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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Colorado
  6. ·
  7. La Plata County

La Plata County

Moderate
ColoradoUpdated Apr 18, 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

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.

Restriction level

Severity 10
Classification
Moderate
10
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 La Plata County, you must first get a county permit, which costs $500. Your home will be limited to 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 extra, up to a maximum of 10 people. You must have bear-proof trash cans and a plan for wildfire safety. You'll also need to collect a 2% lodging tax on top of standard sales taxes. Stays of 30 days or more are exempt from these rules.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.0%
Permit fee$500
Processing time30-60 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1You MUST have bear-proof trash containers; wildlife violations carry heavy fines.
  2. 2If you are on a septic system, your max occupancy is limited by your septic permit, not just bed count.
  3. 3Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built after 2023 generally cannot be used as STRs.
  4. 4A 2% local Lodging Tax applies in addition to the 2.9% state sales tax.
  5. 5Permits are non-transferable; if you sell the house, the new owner must re-apply.
  6. 6If your property is within an HOA, the HOA's rules override the County's permission.
  7. 7Outdoor fires are strictly regulated and may be banned during high fire danger periods.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility9 rules
  • La Plata County allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Legal non-conforming residential.
  • La Plata County: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • La Plata County: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built after 2023 generally cannot be used as STRs.
Requirements15 rules
  • La Plata County STR warning: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built after 2023 generally cannot be used as STRs.
  • La Plata County STR warning: You MUST have bear-proof trash containers; wildlife violations carry heavy fines.
  • La Plata County: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Application process8 rules
  • La Plata County STR permit - Step 2: Septic/Sewer Certification. Obtain certification from San Juan Basin Public Health for septic capacity matching occupancy. Required documents: Septic permit. Time: 2-4 weeks.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • La Plata County charges a registration fee of $500 (one_time).
Taxes3 rules
  • La Plata County charges a Lodging Tax of 2%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
  • Colorado has a state sales tax of 2.9% that applies to STR rentals.
  • La Plata County: A 2% local Lodging Tax applies in addition to the 2.9% state sales tax.
Limits & restrictions1 rule
  • La Plata County: If you are on a septic system, your max occupancy is limited by your septic permit, not just bed count.
Safety requirements2 rules
  • La Plata County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
  • La Plata County: Outdoor fires are strictly regulated and may be banned during high fire danger periods.
Penalties2 rules
  • La Plata County enforces penalties: First offense: Warning and corrective action. Maximum fine: Variable.
  • La Plata County: You MUST have bear-proof trash containers; wildlife violations carry heavy fines.
Exemptions3 rules
  • La Plata County: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • La Plata County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).

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

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