Short Term Rental Ordinance
The Short Term Rental permit application will be available January 1, 2019.
Why do we need regulations?
- To establish a community standard for the integration of short term rental units within existing neighborhoods while maintaining neighborhood and community character.
- To ensure health and safety of visitors and residents by re-affirming police, fire, and building safety guidelines for transient lodgers who may not be familiar with local laws.
- To ensure that short term rental owners are paying LART tax similar to other transient lodging including hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit and pay for the permit application online?
We’re working on the administrative processes regarding short term rental applications; we don’t have an answer to this question yet.
Are short term rentals a commercial use?
The City of Colorado Springs takes a stance affirmed by research materials provided by the American Planning Association that indicate that short term rentals are a hybrid use and it is important to recognize the need for finding a compatible balance for limited commercial use in residential areas, similar to the allowance for home occupations. Case law related to short term vacation rentals have varied in verdicts. Several examples from the Colorado Court of Appeals have stated that short term rentals are a commercial use, while case law from Colorado, Washington, Kentucky, and Wisconsin have affirmed that an HOA cannot prohibit short term rental under commercial use prohibitions within covenants.
Where can I have a short term rental?
Where residential dwelling units are allowed in the PUD, OR, OC, PBC, C-5, C-6 and M-1 zone districts, a short term rental unit is allowed as an accessory use in a lawful dwelling unit. An accessory use is a use that is secondary to the principal use on the property. To find the zone of your property, visit coloradosprings.gov and type “property zoning and what it means” in the search bar.
Guidelines (for more information, please read through the ordinance posted on this page)
- They must be operated out of lawful dwelling units
- If your advertising your short term rental on websites other than AirBnB you will need to obtain a City Sales Tax License (AirBnB collects sales tax on the City’s behalf)
- You must maintain weekly residential trash collection services.
- You will need to provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of not less than $500,000.
- Properties must remain compliant with all planning, zoning, building, and other City codes.
- All short term rentals shall abide by all applicable noise, housing, and public health ordinances of the City and with all other City fire and safety ordinances.
- Parking in private driveways shall be utilized first with overflow parking on the street where permitted.
- You cannot host weddings or large social/commercial events at a short term rental
- Short term rentals are required to have a 24-hour point of contact on file with the Planning Department who can respond within 1 hour in the case of an emergency.
- Your short term rental permit is valid for 1 year.
Contact Information
Questions about the Short Term Rental Ordinance can be sent to Neighborhood Development Outreach Specialist, Katie Sunderlin at sunderka@springsgov.com.