LicensedRental

Routt County, Colorado

Unincorporated Routt County, CO vacation rental requirements

Outside towns, Routt County doesn’t allow rentals of less than a month unless the property is zoned commercial or the county has approved the use with a special or conditional use permit or a PUD (for example, a bed and breakfast or guest ranch). Rentals of a month or more are fine. A new 6% county lodging tax was approved in 2025.

Checked against official sources November 8, 2026

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Rentals under a month
Not allowed without county approval
Special or conditional use permit, or PUD approval; commercial zoning is the other exception.Source
Month-plus rentals
Allowed
County lodging tax
6%

The county’s 2024 listing-removal ordinance was set for first reading in June 2024; we didn’t confirm its adoption. Enforcement is complaint-based.

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.

Routt County, Colorado

  1. 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.

Routt County (unincorporated areas)

  1. Talk to county planning first

    A short-term rental needs county approval: a special or conditional use permit (such as for a bed and breakfast or guest ranch) or a PUD, unless the property is zoned commercial. Call Routt County Planning before you list. Approved rentals show the county permit number in their listings, and the county can ask platforms to remove unpermitted listings.Source

  2. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state and 1% county sales tax plus the 6% county 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. The county lodging tax is state-administered, so platforms collect it once it takes effect.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.