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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Colorado
  6. ·
  7. Summit County

Summit County

Moderate
ColoradoUpdated Feb 10, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

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.

Restriction level

Severity 25
Classification
Moderate
25
Severity

Why this classification

  • Limited to 1 property per owner
  • Tenants cannot host
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Summit County, you first need to determine if you are in a 'Resort' or 'Neighborhood' area. In Neighborhood areas, permits are limited by caps, and if you get one, you can only rent out your property for a total of 35 nights per year. You must appoint a local agent who can respond to complaints within 60 minutes, 24/7. You are also required to display your permit number on all online listings and pay an annual fee of $375.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limit35/year
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$375
Processing time4-6 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Verify your exact location; if you are within city limits of Breckenridge or Silverthorne, these rules DO NOT apply.
  2. 2Neighborhood Overlay properties are capped at 35 rental nights per year.
  3. 3Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built or permitted after 2018 cannot be used as STRs.
  4. 4You must have a 'Responsible Agent' available 24/7 who lives within 60 minutes of the property.
  5. 5Most precincts in the Neighborhood Overlay have waitlists for new permits.
  6. 6The 2% Excise Tax is separate from the sales taxes often collected by platforms.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility8 rules
  • Summit County prohibits STRs in the following property types: Deed-restricted affordable housing, Employee housing, Tents, RVs.
  • Summit County: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.
  • Summit County does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Requirements16 rules
  • Summit County STR warning: Ordinance 22 (2024): New rules require platforms to immediately remove listings that do not display a valid license number.
  • Summit County: Hot Tubs: Properties using well water must have a specific augmentation plan to legally operate a hot tub at an STR.
Application process6 rules
  • Summit County STR permit - Step 2: Check Cap Availability. Determine if you are in a Resort Overlay Zone (no cap) or Neighborhood Overlay Zone (capped). If capped, you may need to join a waitlist. Time: 15 minutes. Cost: 25.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Summit County charges a registration fee of $400 (annual).
Taxes2 rules
  • Summit County charges a Summit County 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.
Limits & restrictions3 rules
  • Summit County: Septic/Well: If your property is on a septic system, your occupancy is strictly limited by the septic capacity, not just the number of bedrooms.
  • Summit County limits STRs to 135 nights per year.
  • Summit County: Booking Caps: Licenses in Neighborhood zones are restricted to 35 bookings or 135 nights per year depending on license type.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Summit County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
Penalties1 rule
  • Summit County enforces penalties: First offense: Warning or fine up to $500. Maximum fine: Varies by violation type.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Summit County exempts the following from STR regulations: hosted rentals (county), long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
  • Summit 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 Summit County

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Zoning and Caps

Check the Summit County GIS map to see if your property is in the 'Resort' or 'Neighborhood' overlay. If Neighborhood, check if the precinct cap has been reached.

1 weekFree
Official resource
Step 2

Prepare Property for Safety Inspection

Self-certify that you have fire extinguishers, smoke/CO detectors, and that your parking/trash plans are posted in the unit.

1 week$50
Documents needed
  • Parking Plan
  • Trash Plan
Step 3

Submit Application and Fee

Apply through the online portal (Host Compliance/Granicus) and pay the annual permit fee based on the fee schedule.

4-6 weeks$375
Documents needed
  • Proof of Ownership
  • Driver's License
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

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