Rio Grande County, Colorado
Del Norte, CO vacation rental requirements
Del Norte allows short-term rentals only as a conditional use: up to ten each in its highway and downtown commercial districts, and in residential zones only rooms in an owner-occupied home, one per block. The application needs a floor plan and site sketch, and a paid life-safety inspection every year.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
These rules come from a third-party copy of the town code, which doesn’t give the fee. Ask the Town Administrator.
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.
Rio Grande County, Colorado
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.
Town of Del Norte
Check your zone and the limits
In the Commercial Highway and downtown districts, up to ten rentals each are allowed. In the RU, R1, and R2 zones, only furnished rooms in a home the owner lives in, one per block. Your primary residence must be in Rio Grande County, and you can have at most two rentals.Source
Draw the plans
Prepare a floor plan and site sketch showing the property’s dimensions, buildings, bedrooms and beds, parking, trash, fire exits, and where the alarms and extinguishers are, plus a guest parking plan.Source
Apply for the conditional use and permit
Neighbors within 300 feet get notice and 15 days to comment. Include your state sales tax license number. Once approved, get the permit from the Town Administrator and a town business license, and order a life-safety inspection from a town-approved inspector.Source
Renew each year
Permits expire at year end. Within 60 days before renewing, get a new life-safety inspection. Permits don’t transfer when you sell.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state plus Rio Grande County and town 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. The town requires you to collect and remit sales and lodging tax.Source
Inspection checklist
What the inspector looks for, from Town of Del Norte’s published checklist.
- Fire extinguishers, smoke and CO alarms
- Posted maximum occupancy
- Yearly life-safety inspectionOwner-paid, by a town-approved inspector.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
- Del Norte Municipal Code Article 13, Short-Term Rentals (copy) · Zoneomics (copy of the Del Norte code)
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.