Chaffee County, Colorado
Salida, CO vacation rental requirements
Salida licenses short-term rentals only for Chaffee County residents who own the property, one per owner, with caps in each district and a waitlist in residential areas. The license is $1,000 a year, residential rentals are limited to 185 days a year, and every room-night owes a $15 lodging tax on top of 8.65% sales tax.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
The city page doesn’t list safety, parking, or local-contact rules; ask the clerk what the application requires.
Your licensing checklist
In order: the state, the county, then the town.
State of Colorado
Get a state sales tax license
If you rent rooms or a home for stays under 30 days, Colorado requires a sales tax license from the Department of Revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; you file for anything booked directly.Source
Check for home-rule city taxes
Many cities and mountain towns collect their own sales and lodging taxes. Platforms aren’t required by the state to collect these, so you may need a separate city tax license and returns.Source
Get your county or city rental license
Most Colorado mountain counties and towns, and Denver, require a short-term rental license or permit, often with an inspection, an occupancy limit, posted information, and a local responder. Pick your area for the rules.
Chaffee County, Colorado
Get a state sales tax license
Needed for any rental unless a platform covers all your taxes.Source
Then your town or area
Towns set their own rental licenses and collect their own taxes, and the county’s rules cover only areas outside town limits. Pick your area.
City of Salida
Check eligibility and the cap
You must live in Chaffee County and own the property, and you can hold only one license. Residential and industrial districts are full more often than not; ask the Deputy City Clerk to put you on the waitlist, which is filled at the June renewal.Source
Apply online
Create a login on the city’s site, then email the Deputy City Clerk to set up the electronic application. The city answers commercial applications within 30 days.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 30 days owe 8.65% sales tax (2.9% state, 2.75% Chaffee County, 3% city) plus Salida’s $15 per room per night lodging tax. Airbnb and other platforms collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; for direct bookings, file with the Colorado Department of Revenue. Pay the $15 occupational lodging tax to the city in MUNIRevs; ask the city whether Airbnb collects it.Source
Fees
$1,000 a year
| STR license (yearly, not prorated) | $1,000 |
|---|---|
| Occupational lodging tax | $15 per room per night |
Sources
- Sales & Use Tax Topics: Rooms & Accommodations · Colorado Department of Revenue
- Sales Tax Guide and Colorado Sales/Use Tax Rates (DR 1002) · Colorado Department of Revenue
- Short Term Rentals · City of Salida
A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.