LicensedRental

Mesa County, Colorado

Grand Junction, CO vacation rental requirements

Grand Junction requires a yearly short-term rental license ($275 to apply). Whole-home rentals are capped at 7% of residential lots downtown and 3% elsewhere; renting a room or an accessory unit counts separately. All licenses renew in January.

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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Market
About 455 Airbnb listings
City license
$275 application, renewed yearly
All renew January 1-31.Source
Caps
Whole-home: 7% of lots downtown, 3% elsewhere
Per lot
One whole-home and one room/ADU rental
On lots with four or fewer units.Source

The city page doesn’t list the renewal fee, occupancy, parking, or safety rules; ask the city for the current ordinance and checklist.

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.

Mesa County, Colorado

  1. Get a state sales tax license

    Needed for any rental unless a platform covers all your taxes.Source

  2. 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.

City of Grand Junction

  1. Check the neighborhood cap

    A primary rental (the whole dwelling) counts against the cap: 7% of residential lots downtown and 3% elsewhere. A secondary rental (some bedrooms, or an accessory dwelling unit) is allowed alongside it on lots with four or fewer units. Buildings of five or more units can rent up to 10% of units.Source

  2. Apply and renew each January

    Apply on the city’s short-term rental page and pay the $275 application fee. Every license expires on the same date and renews in January; fees aren’t prorated. Building code questions go to the Mesa County Building Department.Source

    Grand Junction STRs →

  3. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state sales tax plus Mesa County and City of Grand Junction sales and lodging 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. Grand Junction collects its own sales and lodging taxes; ask the city whether Airbnb collects them.

Fees

$275 to apply, plus a yearly renewal

Application$275 per property

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.