LicensedRental

Eagle County, Colorado

Basalt, CO vacation rental requirements

Basalt, which straddles Eagle and Pitkin counties, charges short-term rentals a $2,532 per bedroom yearly housing fee on top of a $300 license and a $150 inspection. Owners who rent their primary residence 60 days a year or less can be exempt from the per-bedroom fee. The town lodging tax rose to 6% in 2026.

Checked against official sources November 8, 2026

Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.

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Town license
$300 a year + $150 inspection
Plus a $10 town sales tax license.Source
Regulatory fee
$2,532 per bedroom a year
Since June 1, 2025; funds housing.Source
Exemption
Primary residence rented 60 days or less
Request before the license is approved.Source
Town lodging tax
6% from January 2026
The town page also shows 4%; confirm.Source

Part of Basalt is in Pitkin County; the town license and taxes apply on both sides of the county line, but ask which county sales tax applies to your address. The town page lists the lodging tax as both 4% and 6%; confirm the current rate with the town.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of Colorado

  1. 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

    MyBiz Colorado →

  2. 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

  3. 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.

Eagle County, Colorado

  1. Check your HOA or metro district

    Outside town limits, the county doesn’t license short-term rentals; Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, Arrowhead, and other areas regulate through their HOAs and metro districts.Source

  2. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state and 1.5% Eagle County sales tax (plus a regional transportation tax in some areas), and outside towns the 4% county 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. Voters raised the county lodging tax from 2% to 4% in November 2025; ask the state when the new rate starts.Source

  3. Then your town or area

    Each town licenses its own short-term rentals and collects its own taxes; outside town limits the county’s rules apply. Pick your area.

Town of Basalt

  1. Decide whether you qualify for the exemption

    If the home is your primary residence and you’ll rent it 60 days a year or less, file the exemption affidavit before your license is approved; the town won’t consider it afterward. Everyone else pays $2,532 per bedroom each year.Source

  2. Apply, pass the inspection, and pay

    Apply for the STR business license and a town sales tax license before you advertise. The town inspects the rental ($150) and invoices the regulatory fee before final approval. From 2027, applications and renewals move to Rentalscape.Source

    Basalt STR license →

  3. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state sales tax plus county, transit, and Basalt sales taxes and the town lodging tax (6% from January 2026). Airbnb and other platforms collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; for direct bookings, file with the Colorado Department of Revenue. File the town lodging tax online by the 20th of each month, on the full charge including cleaning, pet, and booking fees. Ask the town whether Airbnb collects it.Source

Fees

$460 a year plus $2,532 per bedroom

STR business license (yearly)$300
STR inspection (yearly)$150
Sales tax license$10
STR regulatory fee (yearly)Waived for primary residences rented 60 days a year or less.$2,532 per bedroom

In effect since June 1, 2025. Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Town of Basalt’s published checklist.

  • Town STR inspectionYearly, $150.Source

Sources

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.