Short Term Rentals

On 12-26-2019, City Council amended the short term rental ordinance to establish two types of short term rental permits – owner occupied and non-owner occupied.

Owner occupied short term rentals are those properties that are physically occupied by the owner for no less than 185 days per year. Owner occupied short term rentals are allowed in lawful dwelling units (i.e. you cannot rent out a tuff shed, tent, etc.) in zones where residential units are permitted. Those specific zones are A, R, R-1 9000, R-1 6000, R-2, R-4, R-5, SU, PUD, OR, OC, PBC, C-5, C-6 and M-1. 

Non-owner occupied short term rental unit permit applications submitted after 12-26-2019 are not permitted in single-family zoning districts (R, R-1 9000, R-1 6000 or single-family PUDs).

Non-owner occupied short term rental units submitted after 12-26-2019 must be 500’ from another in all other zoning districts (R-2, R-4, R-5, SU, non-single family PUDs, OR, OC, PBC, C-5, C-6, and M-1).

To find the zoning of your property visit Springsview.

Springsview

• How to use the zoning map (For accessibility requests, please contact the Planning Department at (719) 385-5905 or planningdev@coloradosprings.gov.)

There is not a cap on the number of short term rentals being approved; however, limitations are in place for non-owner occupied properties.

Yes.  Where an Owner Occupied short term rental unit is owned by an active duty military service member whose permanent duty station is within El Paso County, the Manager shall waive this requirement for the Owner for up to one (1) year if the service member receives orders to report to a temporary duty station outside of El Paso County.

Questions about the 500’ buffer between non-owner occupied short term rental units can be sent to shorttermrentals@coloradosprings.gov.

At this time we do not have a waiting list for non-owner occupied permits. We recommend reaching out to shorttermrentals@coloradosprings.gov regarding any questions relating to the density restriction.

All of the issued Short Term Rental (STR) permits are shown in the map links provided below.  Each permit location is represented by a dot.  In areas with fewer STR permits, the buffer areas are shown in green, and in areas with a higher concentration of STR permits, those areas are shown in red.  This information will be updated monthly.

• January 2019 to May 2020 heat map showing where permits were issued.
• February 2019 heat map
• March 2019 heat map
• April 2019 heat map 
• May 2019 heat map
• June 2019 heat map
• July 2019 heat map
• August 2019 heat map
• September 2019 heat map
• October 2019 heat map
• November 2019 heat map
• December heat map
• January 2020 heat map
• February 2020 heat map
• March 2020 heat map
• April 2020 heat map
• May 2020 heat map

NOTE – non-owner occupied short term rental units permit applications submitted after 12-26-19 are subject to additional requirements.

• In single family zoning districts (R, R1-9000, R1-6000, and single family PUDs) one listing for the property is permitted; this can be the whole house, or just one room/section of the house. 
• For properties zoned R-2, two listings for the property are permitted. 
• Up to 4 listings are allowed on properties that are zoned for multi-family (ie a property that would allow for an apartment). 
• In the case of a condominium complex (or similar common ownership), each owner is allowed to operate a maximum of 2 short term rentals within the complex. 

There is no limit to the number of short term rentals residents of Colorado Springs can operate (with the exception of condominium properties), nor is there a cap on the number of short term rentals that the City will allow to operate; however, non-owner occupied short term rental units are subject to additional standards.  For questions, please contact shorttermrentals@coloradosprings.gov.

Each listing requires a separate permit application and fee.

Yes, you can rent out a mother-in-law cottage, accessory dwelling unit, etc. if it is classified as a lawful dwelling unit. A lawful dwelling unit must contain a 220 volt stove or gas connection for a stove.

A short term rental permit costs $119 annually. This does not include fees associated with your sales tax license.

Short term rental permits are valid for one year.

In order to successfully renew your application, please submit the application, notarized affidavit, two forms of proof of residency, listing, and insurance to shorttermrentals@coloradosprings.gov. The application package can also be brought in over the counter or mailed in to 30 S Nevada Ave, suite 715.

Failure to renew your short term rental application prior to the date of expiration may result in a Code Enforcement notice and if non-owner occupied, the potential forfeiture of your established permit. There is no grace period for late applications.

Your City-issued short term rental permit and Good Neighbor Guidelines with filled out local emergency contact, City-issued permit number, and valid-through date will act as your permit. This information needs to be prominently displayed within the unit. Please keep the local emergency contact information (name and phone number) available to renters.

Yes, please email shorttermrentals@coloradosprings.gov with an updated application. It is imperative we have the most updated information for all permits in case of an emergency situation.

Yes. Please let us know immediately if you no longer chose to operate your short term rental and Staff will void the permit. 

No. Pursuant to City Code Section, 7.5.1702; the permit shall expire upon the sale or transfer of the property.

No. City Code mandates that the rental unit/s must remain compliant with all Planning, Zoning, and Building codes (City Code Section 7.5.1704.F). A short term rental permit cannot be issued for a property that does not have a Certificate of Occupancy.  

Yes, you would still have to have a permit. Any property that is listed on a hosting platform must have an active short term rental permit.

The intent of the permit is to:

1. establish a community standard for the integration of short term rental units within existing neighborhoods while maintaining neighborhood and community character;
2. 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;
3. and to ensure that short term rental owners are paying LART tax similar to other transient lodging including hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts. 

First, check the city map on Springs View to see if a permit exists for the property. Click "show layer list" and ensure that "Short Term Rentals" is checked under "Planning-Administration." Enter the property address in the search bar. If a permit does not show up, please contact the City's Neighborhood Services Division (Code Enforcement) or submit a report online. 

• How to Search SpringsView 

If there is an emergency, please call 911. 

If there is a non-life threatening issue, including loud parties, please call the police non-emergency line at 719-444-7000.

Emergency contact information for the short term rental can be viewed at Springs View. Click "Show Layer List" and ensure that "Short Term Rentals" is checked under "Planning-Administration." Enter the property address in the search bar. If a Short Term Rental permit has been issued, the name and phone number of the property's emergency contact will come up. This information has been provided by the owner as someone that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and able to respond to the non-life threatening emergency within one hour.