LicensedRental

Colorado county rules

Otero County, CO vacation rental rules and taxes

Otero County’s rental market is small, about 33 Airbnb listings in La Junta. The county land use code we read doesn’t mention short-term rentals; it allows bed and breakfasts by right only in commercial zones, so ask the land use office about a home in a farm or residential zone.

Checked against official sources November 8, 2026
Market
About 33 listings in La Junta
County rental rules
None found
B&Bs allowed by right in commercial zones; other zones need review.Source
County sales tax
1%
County lodging tax
None found
The county isn’t on the state’s county lodging tax report.Source

What we checked (November 2026): One web search for Otero County, La Junta, and Rocky Ford short-term rental rules. We read the first fifth of the county land use code (no STR rules there), the state rate table, and the state county lodging tax report (Otero isn’t on it).

What to do

  1. Ask before you list

    We found no short-term rental license here, but zoning may still treat renting by the night as a lodging or commercial use. Ask the Otero County Land Use office whether your address needs a permit, and check your HOA or deed covenants.

  2. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state and 1% Otero County sales tax (plus 4% in La Junta or Rocky Ford, and 1% health district tax in La Junta). Airbnb and other platforms collect the state and state-administered taxes on their bookings; for direct bookings, file with the Colorado Department of Revenue. Town taxes here are state-collected, so platforms collect them.Source

  3. Inside a town

    Towns make their own rules inside their limits; the county’s zoning applies only outside them. Call the town hall if your rental is in town.

Towns

Full guide

La Junta

La Junta is the biggest rental market on the southeastern plains, with about 33 Airbnb listings. We found no city short-term rental license. Stays owe about 8.9% in sales taxes, all state-collected, so Airbnb collects them.

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 Spot something out of date?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.