Short-Term Rentals in Larimer County, Colorado

If a short-term-rental income plan is part of why you're looking at land in unincorporated Larimer County -- including parcels inside the Estes Valley Planning Area but outside Estes Park's town limits -- the county has run its own licensing ordinance since 2021, with real building-code and inspection requirements attached to it.

This page covers what's specific to Larimer County. For the general explanation, see the national guide.

A county-level license has been required since 2021

Larimer County adopted its ordinance for the enforcement of short-term rentals on November 8, 2021, and every short-term rental in unincorporated Larimer County -- a dwelling rented for 30 days or less, including owner- or operator-occupied lodging houses and pre-existing lodging facilities or resort cottages -- must register with the county and hold a license before operating. This applies to unincorporated parcels within the Estes Valley Planning Area as well as elsewhere in the unincorporated county, which matters because Estes Park itself, as an incorporated town, runs its own separate short-term-rental rules within town limits -- don't assume a parcel's proximity to Estes Park means Estes Park's rules apply if the parcel itself is outside the town boundary.

Getting licensed is not a paperwork-only step. A dwelling being converted to short-term-rental use needs a county building permit for that change of use, has to pass a life-safety survey inspection, and receives a Certificate of Occupancy specific to the new use. Smaller short-term rentals -- ten or fewer occupants, in five or fewer guest rooms -- are reviewed under the International Residential Code, while larger operations (eleven or more occupants) are reviewed as R-occupancy uses under the International Building Code, a meaningfully more involved commercial-style review track. If you're evaluating a parcel specifically because an existing structure looks STR-ready, don't assume it already meets these building and life-safety standards -- confirm with the Building Division before counting on rental income from day one of ownership.

Occupancy limits, parking, and a new 2026 renewal fee

Unincorporated Larimer County's ordinance caps short-term-rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two more for any additional sleeping area, up to an absolute maximum set in the license, and requires at least two on-site parking spaces surfaced in concrete, asphalt, or a similar hard material -- a gravel pad or informal parking area may not satisfy this requirement, so check it specifically for any parcel you're evaluating. These are baseline county standards; a specific property could also carry additional restrictions from an HOA or metro district layered on top.

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners approved a mandatory short-term-rental license renewal fee effective January 1, 2026, with renewal required every two years on the anniversary of the original license approval date. This is a genuinely new cost to budget for beyond the original licensing fee -- if you're buying a property with an existing STR license attached, confirm the license's renewal date and current fee amount with the county rather than assuming the license transfers automatically or stays fee-free going forward.

Short-Term Rentals in Unincorporated Larimer County, Colorado

A county-level license has been required since 2021

Occupancy limits, parking, and a new 2026 renewal fee

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