LicensedRental

El Paso County, Colorado

Unincorporated El Paso County, CO vacation rental requirements

Unincorporated El Paso County has no short-term rental license or ordinance: you can rent your main house without a county permit. Renting an accessory building needs zoning approval, and advertising for weddings or retreats can break the county’s event-center rules.

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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County license
None
No codified short-term rental ordinance.Source
Accessory buildings
Zoning approval needed
Events
Don’t advertise them
Weddings and retreats can make the home a business event center.Source

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.

El Paso County, Colorado

  1. 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.

El Paso County (unincorporated areas)

  1. Check what you’re renting

    Renting the main house needs no county permit. If guests will stay in a guest house, barn apartment, or other accessory building, ask the Planner of the Day about zoning approval first.Source

  2. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state plus El Paso County and any special 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 all of these. Check your HOA covenants, which may ban short-term rentals.Source

House rules for guests

Good neighbor guidelines
Recommended
Driveway parking, wildlife-proof trash, a local contact, and checking fire restrictions.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.