Short-Term Rental Regulations

Summit County, Colorado, regulates short-term vacation rentals, defined as a residential dwelling unit or any room therein that is rented for periods of less than 30 consecutive days. This is to address neighborhood impacts and life safety issues.

Summit County's regulations for short-term vacation rentals (STRs) are applicable to properties within the unincorporated areas of Summit County.

Regulations Shortcuts

Here are some helpful shortcuts referenced in the STR Regulations:

STR Responsible Agents

The Responsible Agent (RA) is the main point of contact for your short-term rental unit. If an issue pertaining to your STR is reported, the Responsible Agent will be contacted, and he or she will have 60 minutes to respond with a plan for resolving the issue. The Responsible Agent is required to be available to respond to issues 24/7 and must have a text-enabled phone.

An STR license holder can serve as the Responsible Agent for the STR unit, but only if they can commit to being available to respond to issues 24/7.

To change the responsible agent on your STR license, click on the button, "Update Responsible Agent Information" in the Host Compliance Portal.

Good Neighbor Guidelines

The Good Neighbor Guidelines are a code of ethics that visitors should follow to avoid negative impacts on the community. The document contains guidance on topics such as parking, wildfire prevention, respecting wildlife, waste disposal, noise and outdoor lighting.

STR license holders are required to provide these guidelines to renters along with the rental contract and must be posted in a prominent location inside your rental unit so that visitors will see them. Read the Good Neighbor Guidelines here. Download a printable PDF here.  

Accessory Apartment/Lock-Off Unit

When an accessory apartment or lock-off unit is established on a parcel, either the unit or the primary residence shall be restricted to long term rental (6 months or longer) to persons employed within Summit County a minimum of 30 hours per week. Accessory apartments are ONLY permitted as a means to increase the supply of local resident workforce housing. Short term rental of the restricted unit is strictly prohibited.

All accessory apartments need to submit a Class 2 Administrative Review Application.  All permits issued for an accessory apartment shall include the requirement that the property owner record a covenant restricting the use and occupancy of the property.  Creation or use of one of these units without the required permits is a violation of Summit County Building and Zoning Codes.

For more information on Accessory Apartments, download Code Section 3809.03 or contact the Planning Department at (970) 668-4200