Summit County, Colorado
Keystone, CO vacation rental requirements
Keystone became a town in 2024 and has licensed its own short-term rentals since October 2024. There’s no cap. The license is $285 a year, and houses, duplexes, and townhomes must include a parking diagram. The town added a 2% lodging tax in 2025.
Checked against official sources November 8, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
Keystone was part of unincorporated Summit County until 2024; licenses now come from the town.
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.
Summit County, Colorado
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
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 Keystone
Prepare a parking diagram
If you rent a house, duplex, or townhome, include a diagram of the allowed parking spaces. Guests must get a parking pass for each space at check-in, showing the address or unit number.Source
Apply online
Apply any time through the town’s online licensing system and pay $285. Give direct contact numbers, review your HOA’s rules (town rules don’t override them), and display the Good Neighbor Guidelines in the unit. The rules otherwise follow Summit County’s code.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 30 days owe 2.9% state, 2% county, 0.75% transit, and 0.725% housing sales tax, plus Keystone’s 2% 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. Your application asks for lodging tax information. Ask the town whether Airbnb collects the town lodging tax and whether the town has its own sales tax.Source
Fees
$285 a year
| Short-term rental license (new or renewal) | $285 |
|---|
In effect since July 23, 2024. Source
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 Keystone
- Short-Term Rental Regulations · Town of Keystone
- 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.