LicensedRental

Summit County, Colorado

Breckenridge, CO vacation rental requirements

Breckenridge is Colorado’s biggest Airbnb market. Every rental needs a town license costing $756 per bedroom a year plus a business license tax, and new licenses are capped by zone, with a waitlist. Guests are limited to 2 per bedroom plus 4, and a local agent must answer complaints within an hour. Stays owe 12.275% in taxes, which Airbnb and Vrbo collect.

Checked against official sources November 8, 2026

Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.

Only when this town’s rules, fees, or forms change. Unsubscribe anytime.

Market
About 3,120 Airbnb listings
The largest in Colorado (AirROI).Source
Town license
$756 per bedroom a year
Plus the business and occupational license tax. Studios count as one bedroom.Source
Cap
By zone, with a waitlist
Zone 1 (tourism) 1,680, Zone 2 (downtown) 130, Zone 3 (everywhere else) 390. Resort properties aren’t capped.Source
Guests
2 per bedroom + 4
Studios: 4.Source
Local agent
24/7, respond within 60 minutes
Taxes
12.275%
Includes 2.5% town sales tax and 3.4% accommodations tax.Source

Fines run up to $1,000 a day until a violation is fixed.

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.

Summit County, Colorado

  1. Get a state sales tax license

    You need a Colorado sales tax license for stays under 30 days unless a platform collects everything for you. The state, county, transit, and housing taxes are filed with the Department of Revenue.Source

  2. 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 Breckenridge

  1. Check your zone and the cap

    Look up your address on the town’s short-term rental area map. Zones 1, 2, and 3 are capped and new applicants may go on a waitlist; resort properties near the lifts aren’t capped but must have a 24-hour front desk, security, housekeeping, and garage parking. A license issued before September 2022 can renew until the property sells.Source

  2. Apply and pay the fee

    Apply to the Finance Department for an accommodation unit license and pay $756 per bedroom plus the business license tax. The license can’t be transferred to a buyer.Source

    Breckenridge STR licenses →

  3. Advertise correctly

    Every ad must show “Breckenridge Business License No.” with your number and “Maximum overnight occupancy” with your limit.Source

  4. Taxes on each stay

    Stays under 30 days owe 12.275%: 2.9% state, 2% county, 0.75% transit, 0.725% housing, 2.5% town sales tax, and 3.4% town accommodations 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. Airbnb and Vrbo collect the town taxes too for licensed hosts under an agreement with Breckenridge. For direct bookings, file town returns with Breckenridge Finance.Source

Fees

$756 per bedroom a year, plus business license tax

Short-term rental regulatory fee (per studio or bedroom, yearly)$756
Business and occupational license taxNot stated in text on the town page.Varies

Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Town of Breckenridge’s published checklist.

  • Smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisherWorking at all times. A room only counts as a bedroom if detectors are within 15 feet.Source
  • Town inspectionStaff may inspect; you can ask for a bedroom-count inspection.Source

House rules for guests

Parking
On site or in a town lot
Not on the street or on lawns. No sleeping in vehicles.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.