LicensedRental

Colorado county rules

Gilpin County, CO vacation rental rules and taxes

Gilpin County holds the casino towns of Black Hawk and Central City and the hills toward Rollinsville. Black Hawk has banned new short-term rentals. Outside the cities, the county’s September 2026 ordinance licenses rentals in two tiers, and whole-home rentals you don’t live in are capped and waitlisted.

Checked against official sources November 8, 2026
Market
About 140 Airbnb listings
Black Hawk 136 (AirROI), many outside city limits.Source
County license
Required outside the cities
Ordinance 26-01, September 2026.Source
County lodging tax
6%
Approved November 2025; not in Black Hawk or Central City.Source

We didn’t find Central City’s own short-term rental rules. Ask Central City before you list there.

What to do

  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.

Towns

Full guide

Black Hawk

Black Hawk prohibited short-term rentals in 2024. Rentals already licensed then can keep operating until they’re abandoned or the property is sold; no new licenses are issued.

Full guide

Unincorporated Gilpin County

Outside Black Hawk and Central City, Gilpin County licenses short-term rentals in two tiers. Tier 1 is for a part of the home you live in, rented while you’re there, with no cap. Tier 2 covers everything else, is capped at 155 licenses (full, with a waitlist), and needs an agent who can respond within 30 minutes.

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 Spot something out of date?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.