LicensedRental

Gilpin County, Colorado

Unincorporated Gilpin County, CO vacation rental requirements

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.

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
Required
Ordinance 26-01 (September 22, 2026).Source
Tier 1 (owner present)
No cap
Your primary residence, only part of it rented, and you’re home during stays.Source
Tier 2 (all others)
Capped and full
Lesser of 5% of homes or 155 licenses; new applicants join a waitlist.Source
Limit
2 rentals per person or property
Lodging tax
6% county

The county page links a draft of Ordinance 26-01 pending the signed copy, and its fee schedule and inspection checklist weren’t read. Ask Community Development for current fees and the waitlist length.

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.

Gilpin 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.

Gilpin County (unincorporated areas)

  1. Pick your tier

    If you live in the home and will be there during stays, renting only part of it, apply for Tier 1. A whole-home rental is Tier 2, and the Tier 2 cap is full, so join the waitlist. Advertising a whole house under a Tier 1 license is a violation.Source

  2. Apply with the submittal checklist

    Use the county’s application submittal checklist and initial site inspection checklist, and pay the fee from the county fee schedule. Get the license before you advertise.Source

    Gilpin County short-term rentals →

  3. Name a responsible agent (Tier 2)

    The agent must be available 24/7 and respond within 30 minutes; not responding and trying to fix a real violation within an hour is itself a violation. Send written notice of the agent to adjacent owners.Source

  4. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state, Gilpin County sales tax, and the 6% 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. The county lodging tax is state-administered, so platforms collect it.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.