Summit County short-term rental laws (2026)
Short-term rentals are legal in unincorporated Summit County with a county license, renewed by September 30 each year. Inside a town, the county license does not apply. You need the town's own license instead.[3]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.
Is Airbnb legal in Summit County?
Legal, with a county license
Unincorporated areas only. Type II licenses are capped by basin, with waitlists in three basins.
13 official sources · verified October 1, 2026
Photo: Kelsey Booth on Unsplash
- PermitRequired · $240 to $360 a year, by type
- Primary residenceVaries
- Number on listingRequired
- Night capNo night limit, 35 bookings in neighborhoods
Summit County short-term rental license
In unincorporated Summit County, every home rented for under 30 days needs a county short-term rental license, obtained before any advertising. Resort zones such as Copper Mountain get a Resort License with no booking limit. Neighborhood homes need a Type I or Type II license. Either one allows 35 bookings a year. Type I requires a local worker living in the home at least 9 months a year. Type II licenses are capped by basin, at 590 in the Upper Blue and 550 in the Lower Blue. The Snake River cap is 130. Ten Mile's is 20. Fines run from $250 to $1,000.[7]
Every Summit County rule, sorted by what it asks
Filter by topic. Each line carries the number of its official source, listed at the bottom of the page.
You must
- Get a county license before you advertise or operate[7]
- Renew by September 30 every year[3]
- Put the license number right after the description in every ad[7]
- Join a basin waitlist to get a Type II license[5]
- Name a Responsible Agent who answers complaints within 60 minutes[2]
- Keep a neighborhood home to 35 bookings a year[7]
- Provide at least one parking space, five outdoor vehicles at most[7]
- Post the Good Neighbor Guidelines and the parking plan inside[7]
- Keep smoke and carbon monoxide detectors working[7]
- Pay property taxes before the license is approved[7]
You must not
What a new permit costs
Annual license fees in the county's March 2026 fee schedule, renewals included
$295Resort License, per year
- Resort License$295
What other cases cost
- Type I license$240
- Type II license$360
- Type II waitlist application$75
The county reviews these fees every March. A renewal costs the same as a new license.[3]
How to apply in Summit County
Official name: Short-term rental license
- 1
Confirm on the county's parcel map that the home sits outside town limits.[3]
- 2
Check the official bedroom count with the Summit County Assessor.[3]
- 3
In a capped basin, join the Type II waitlist. When a license frees up, you get 30 days to apply.[5]
- 4
Wait for the approval email. Until it arrives, you hold no license.[3]
Five jurisdictions, same questions
The Summit County column comes from the official sources on this page. The other columns show the headline rule from each WonderGuest page. Open a page for the full detail.
| Question | Summit County | Denver | Grand County | Dillon | Snowmass Village |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit | Required$240 to $360 a year, by type | Required$50 application, $100 license | Required$100 per occupant, 1 year | Required$700 | Required$400 |
| Primary residence | Varies | Required | Not required | Not published | Not published |
| Night cap | No night limit, 35 bookings in neighborhoods | None published | None in Section 14.7 | None in Chapter 6, Article XI of the town code | No annual limit, four-night minimum for houses |
| Number on listing | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Occupancy tax | 8.375% total, 2% county lodging tax included | 10.75% lodger's tax, Airbnb collects | 2% county lodging tax, collected by the state | 19.875% | 12.8% |
| Denver short-term rental rules | Grand County short-term rental rules | Dillon short-term rental rules | Snowmass Village short-term rental rules |
Coming up
What's changing
No change with an effective date appears in the official sources on this page as of October 1, 2026.
FAQ
Summit County short-term rental questions
Do I need a license for a short-term rental in Summit County?
Can I still get a Type II license in Summit County?
How many bookings can a Summit County rental take?
Who qualifies for a Type I license in Summit County?
What taxes apply to a Summit County short-term rental?
Sources
- Short-term rentals, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-term rental regulations and basin caps, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-term rental license application, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-term rental FAQs, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Type II short-term rental license waitlist, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Snake River Basin short-term rental license waitlist opens January 20, 2026, Summit County Government, read on October 1, 2026
- Ordinance No. 20-C, short-term vacation rental regulations (adopted February 15, 2023), Summit County Board of County Commissioners, read on October 1, 2026
- Ordinance No. 22, short-term vacation rental service listing regulations (adopted September 24, 2024), Summit County Board of County Commissioners, read on October 1, 2026
- Development Review Fee Schedule (March 2026), Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-term rental tax information, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Summit County sales tax rates (2024 table), Summit County Finance Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Good Neighbor Guidelines, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-term rental complaints, Summit County Planning Department, read on October 1, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on October 1, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.
Before you list
Free tools for new hosts
Short-term rental agreement generator
Parties, dates, rent, deposit checked against your state's cap, and the house rules clauses you enforce. A signed-ready PDF for direct and Vrbo bookings.
Airbnb host fee calculator
What Airbnb takes on a booking under the 15.5% host-only fee or the old split fee, what the guest pays on top, and the payout that reaches you.
Airbnb profit calculator
Nightly rate, occupancy, Airbnb fee, management, mortgage, taxes and depreciation. You get cash flow, cash-on-cash return and what is left after the IRS.
Airbnb house rules
Generate a complete PDF house rules document for your property: rules, schedule, amenities, emergency contacts.