Park County, Colorado
Fairplay, CO vacation rental requirements
Inside town limits, Fairplay allows only 20 short-term rental permits, first come first served with no waitlist (10 were open in mid-2026). Each rental needs a parking plan, a town and fire inspection before every yearly license, a local contact who responds within an hour, and a posted notice showing evacuation routes. Most rentals listed as Fairplay are outside town under Park County’s license.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
License fees are set by town resolution and aren’t on the town page; ask the clerk.
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.
Park County, Colorado
Then your town or area
Each town licenses its own short-term rentals and collects its own taxes; outside town limits the county’s rules apply. Pick your area.
Town of Fairplay
Check jurisdiction and openings
If your property uses a well and septic, Park County licenses it, not the town. Otherwise ask the Town Clerk whether any of the 20 permits are open; complete applications are taken first come, first served, with no waitlist.Source
Draw the parking plan
Mark the off-street parking spaces for guests; occupancy is set from your water and sewer capacity when you’re licensed.Source
Apply and pass the inspection
Apply at least 30 days before you rent, with proof of ownership and the fire district checklist. The town inspects with the fire and building departments before the license and every renewal: working smoke and CO detectors, fire extinguishers, yearly stove inspections, and an address visible from the road. Renewals include an affidavit of last year’s rental history.Source
Post the guest notice
Post contacts, the license number, where the fire extinguishers and evacuation routes are, occupancy and vehicle limits, parking, trash, snow, and fire restrictions. Put the license number in the title of every listing.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state and Park County sales tax plus the county lodging tax and Fairplay’s town 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. File the town lodging tax on Fairplay’s return form or online; ask the clerk for the rate and whether Airbnb collects it.Source
Inspection checklist
What the inspector looks for, from Town of Fairplay’s published checklist.
- Smoke and CO detectors, fire extinguishers
- Wood, pellet, and gas stoves inspected yearly
- Address visible from the road
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
- Short Term Rentals · Town of Fairplay
- Ordinance No. 4, Series 2022: Short-Term Rental Rules and Regulations · Town of Fairplay
- Colorado Airbnb market data (active listings) · AirROI
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.