Gunnison County, Colorado
Mt. Crested Butte, CO vacation rental requirements
Mt. Crested Butte requires a yearly short-term rental license ($400 new, $325 renewal, plus $10 per advertised guest), a town inspection, and a parking plan. A local representative must respond within 45 minutes. Stays owe about 18.8% in taxes, including a 4.9% housing excise tax.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
In June 2026 the council was weighing a November ballot question to raise the excise tax to as much as 9.9%; check whether it passed before you set prices.
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.
Gunnison County, Colorado
Get a state sales tax license
Needed for any rental unless a platform covers all your taxes.Source
Then your town or area
Towns set their own rental licenses and collect their own taxes, and the county’s rules cover only areas outside town limits. Pick your area.
Town of Mt. Crested Butte
Start by email
Email your name, mailing address, the rental’s address, and proof of ownership to the town. Staff set up your MUNIRevs account, where the application appears under Open Tasks.Source
Draw the parking plan and sign the affidavit
Submit a parking plan showing the maximum guest spaces (a diagram or map with the spaces marked for single-family homes; the HOA’s approved plan for condos) and initial every clause of the self-compliance affidavit.Source
Pass the town inspection
Staff inspect for life safety and building code before a new license is approved. Adding sleeping spots later means a new affidavit, an added occupancy fee, and possibly a $75 reinspection.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 30 days owe about 18.8%, including the town’s 4.9% lodging excise 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. Pay town taxes through MUNIRevs, and report and pay tax on any bookings made outside platforms that collect for the town.Source
Fees
$400 the first year and $325 after, plus $10 per advertised guest
| New STR license (calendar year) | $400 |
|---|---|
| Renewal | $325 |
| Occupancy fee | $10 per advertised sleeping spot |
| Reinspection (occupancy increase) | $75 |
Inspection checklist
What the inspector looks for, from Town of Mt. Crested Butte’s published checklist.
- Smoke alarmsPhotoelectric, in each bedroom, the hallway, and every level; under 10 years old.Source
- Carbon monoxide alarmsOutside each bedroom and on every floor where there’s gas, a fireplace, or an attached garage.Source
- Fire extinguishers2.5-lb ABC in each kitchen; a second near the entry if the kitchen is far or on another level.Source
- EgressBedroom escape openings and window wells kept clear of snow.Source
- Welcome binderAffidavit, Good Neighbor Policy, parking plan, trash rules.Source
House rules for guests
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
- STR Guide (updated July 2025) · Town of Mt. Crested Butte
- Mt. CB mulling an excise tax hike on November ballot (June 2026) · Crested Butte News
- Short-Term Rental Self-Compliance Affidavit (updated June 2025) · Town of Mt. Crested Butte
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.