Douglas County, Colorado
Unincorporated Douglas County, CO vacation rental requirements
Unincorporated Douglas County, including Highlands Ranch, requires a yearly short-term rental license: $630 the first year and $400 after. The application needs a parking plan, a local responsible agent, posted renter information, a life-safety affidavit, and county building and health inspections.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
The ordinance’s occupancy, parking, and life-safety standards weren’t on the page we read; ask Zoning Compliance for the current application packet.
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.
Douglas County, Colorado
Then your town or area
Cities and towns make their own rental rules inside their limits; the county’s rules apply only outside them. Pick your area.
Douglas County (unincorporated areas)
Get the inspections
Have the Douglas County Building Division and the Health Department inspect the home and confirm it’s acceptable for short-term rental use. If you’re on septic, get a Health Department use permit for the change to rental use.Source
Prepare the parking plan and renter materials
Draw a parking plan that meets the ordinance, make the required interior sign and written instructions for renters, and sign the life-safety affidavit. Name a local responsible agent in a notarized declaration.Source
Apply and renew yearly
Submit everything with the $500 review fee and $130 license fee. Renew each year; the review fee drops to $270, and the county may ask the building and health departments to confirm.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state plus Douglas County, RTD, and district sales taxes. Airbnb and other platforms collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; for direct bookings, file with the Colorado Department of Revenue. Platforms collect these state-administered taxes.Source
Fees
$630 the first year, $400 a year after
| Application review fee (first year) | $500 |
|---|---|
| Application review fee (later years) | $270 |
| License fee (yearly) | $130 |
Inspection checklist
What the inspector looks for, from Douglas County (unincorporated areas)’s published checklist.
- Building Division inspection
- Health Department inspectionPlus a septic use permit if you’re on septic.Source
- Owner’s life-safety affidavit
- Posted renter information
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 Rental License · Douglas County Community Development, Planning Services
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.