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

**Yes**, Ridgway requires a Short-Term Rental License for all rentals. You need to obtain an annual STR license from the town, which currently costs $300. In addition, all hosts must obtain a town business license to operate legally. A town-wide cap is also in effect.

What is the TOT tax rate in Ridgway?

**4% TOT** is the current town lodging tax rate for short-term rentals in Ridgway. You need to collect this tax from guests in addition to state and county taxes. Hosts are responsible for remitting collected taxes to the town. Tax rates may be subject to change.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Ridgway?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Ridgway, but they are strictly regulated. There is currently a town-wide cap on the number of non-owner occupied short-term rental licenses. Be sure to verify availability of licenses before purchasing a property for short-term rental purposes. Contact the town for details.

How much does an STR permit cost in Ridgway?

**$300** is the current annual fee for a Short-Term Rental License in Ridgway. You need to renew this license annually to continue operating your short-term rental legally. In addition to the STR license, you must also obtain a standard town business license. Fees may change; confirm with the town.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Ridgway?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host on Airbnb in Ridgway without the explicit consent of the property owner. The short-term rental license must be obtained by the property owner or their designated representative. Subletting for short-term rental purposes is generally prohibited without express written authorization.

Ridgway, CO Short-Term Rental Laws & Regulations

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Verified: Jan 30, 2026

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Summary

Short-term rentals in the Town of Ridgway are strictly regulated and subject to a town-wide cap (currently 50 for non-owner occupied units). All hosts must obtain an annual STR license, a town business license, and collect a 4% town lodging tax in addition to state and county taxes.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 41 (moderate)

Why this classification:

•Moderate permit fee: $300
•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 Ridgway, you must first secure one of the town's limited STR licenses. If you live in the home full-time, you generally have a path to a license, but if it is an investment property, you must join a waitlist if the town-wide cap of 50 units is full. You'll need to pass a safety inspection, post rules clearly for your guests, and pay an annual fee. Be sure to collect the specific 4% town lodging tax, as platforms may not always remit this specific local portion automatically.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$300

Processing Time

30-60 days

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Ridgway has a hard cap of 50 licenses for non-owner-occupied units; once reached, a waitlist is established.
2.Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as STRs unless the property owner lives on-site.
3.Licenses are non-transferable; they do not go with the property upon sale.
4.The 4% Town Lodging Tax is separate from the state/county sales tax and must be remitted to the Town.
5.Non-owner occupied units may be subject to a significant 'Impact Fee' in addition to the base license fee.
6.Owner-occupied units must prove they live on-site for at least 6 months per year.
7.Failure to list your town license number on marketing platforms can result in fines and license revocation.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(10)

•Ridgway: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Ridgway: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as STRs unless the property owner lives on-site.
•Ridgway allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Multi-family dwellings (subject to caps).

Requirements(20)

•Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Ridgway: 1. Ridgway has a hard cap of 50 licenses for non-owner-occupied units; once reached, a waitlist is established. 2. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as STRs unless the property owner lives on-site. 3. Licenses are non-transferable; they do not go with the property upon sale. 4. The 4% Town Lodging Tax is separate from the state/county sales tax and must be remitted to the Town. 5. Non-owner occupied units may be subject to a significant 'Impact Fee' in addition to the base license fee. 6. Owner-occupied units must prove they live on-site for at least 6 months per year. 7. Failure to list your town license number on marketing platforms can result in fines and license revocation.

Application Process(10)

•How to set up an STR in Ridgway: To host an Airbnb in Ridgway, you must first secure one of the town's limited STR licenses. If you live in the home full-time, you generally have a path to a license, but if it is an investment property, you must join a waitlist if the town-wide cap of 50 units is full. You'll need to pass a safety inspection, post rules clearly for your guests, and pay an annual fee. Be sure to collect the specific 4% town lodging tax, as platforms may not always remit this specific local portion automatically.

Fees & Costs(2)

•Ridgway charges a registration fee of $300 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $1500 (Proposed/Variable: Annual impact fee for non-owner occupied units; verify current fee schedule for the specific year as it is adjusted.).
•Ridgway: Non-owner occupied units may be subject to a significant 'Impact Fee' in addition to the base license fee.

Taxes(3)

•Ridgway: The 4% Town Lodging Tax is separate from the state/county sales tax and must be remitted to the Town.
•Ridgway charges a Lodging Tax of 4%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state and county taxes, but owners are responsible for ensuring the 4% Town Lodging Tax is remitted.

Limits & Restrictions(8)

•Ridgway, CO: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
•Ridgway, CO occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Ridgway occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Ridgway requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress plan posted, Flashlight available in unit.

Penalties(4)

•Ridgway: Failure to list your town license number on marketing platforms can result in fines and license revocation.
•Ridgway, CO: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions(5)

•Ridgway: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
•Ridgway exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
•Ridgway, CO: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.

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

Ridgway

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(10)

Requirements(20)

Application Process(10)

Fees & Costs(2)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(8)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(4)

Exemptions(5)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen

Ridgway

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 Ridgway?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Ridgway?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Ridgway?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Ridgway?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Ridgway?

Related Content

Other Colorado Markets

Summit County

Eagle County

La Plata County

Aspen