shinnslist · guides · Short-term rental rules in unincorporated Larimer County, Colorado
Short-term rental rules in unincorporated Larimer County, Colorado
Bottom line: In unincorporated Larimer County, including Drake, Glen Haven and the Estes Valley outside town, you need an STR license before renting for 30 days or less. Estes Valley residential zones are capped at 208 registrations with a waitlist. The renewal fee is $250 every two years.
Free beta checked October 18, 2026 · next check by January 18, 2027 · not legal advice
Guide
Do these rules apply to you?
Not legal advice. Rules change; check the official source. Read on 2026-10-18.
These rules are for unincorporated Larimer County. Source: the county's short-term rentals page. Inside Estes Park town limits, the town's vacation home license applies instead.
Guide
Do you need a license?
- Yes. A license is required before renting for 30 days or less. Advertising before approval is a violation that can bring fines, higher fees and injunction proceedings.
- Hosted STRs (owner or resident on site) and bed and breakfast inns also need approval.
- Resort lodges and cottages need planning approval and an on-site manager.
- Only one short-term rental is allowed per property.
Guide
Is there a cap or waitlist?
- Estes Valley residential zones (EV E, EV E-1, EV R, EV RE, EV RE-1, EV RM) are capped at 208 active registrations, with a waitlist. Waitlist spots are not transferable.
- Other zoning districts have no waitlist. A license is still required.
- Licenses are generally not transferable. Limited exceptions exist in the Land Use Code. A new owner who qualifies must apply within 60 days of the ownership transfer.
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What does it cost?
The renewal fee is $250 as of January 1, 2026, due every two years on the original approval anniversary. It applies to all license types. Card payments add a 2.99% fee. The page does not state an initial fee or taxes.
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What are the occupancy and building rules?
- A party is limited to 10 or fewer guests. Hosted STRs: 1 to 10 guests (small) or 11 to 16 (large). Bed and breakfast inns: 20 or fewer.
- Up to 10 occupants and five or fewer guestrooms fall under the International Residential Code. Eleven or more fall under the International Building Code.
- Large hosted STRs and B&Bs need sprinklers, accessibility features and other items.
- You need a county conversion permit, a passed life safety inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy.
- Give the property manager's contact information to all neighbors within at least 500 feet. File a Verification of Completion form within 10 days of approval, and a Change of Property Manager form within 10 days of any change.
- The page states no parking or trash rule.
Guide
How do you apply?
- Check eligibility with the On Call Planner at [email protected].
- Request a pre-application meeting in the online portal. The page says meetings are booked about 2 to 3 months out.
- Follow the review that applies: Administrative Special Review, Site Plan or Special Review.
- Get the conversion permit, pass the life safety inspection and receive the Certificate of Occupancy.
Complaints: contact the property manager first. After 3 valid complaints the county opens a code case. Call 970-236-7574. Noise goes to the Sheriff's non-emergency line, 970-416-1985.
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What does this mean when you look at a property?
In the Estes Valley residential zones, count on a waitlist unless the property already holds a registration. Check the property on Larimer County on shinnslist.
By the numbers
Larimer County in the records
| Parcels in the hunt | 132,910 parcels the county files as homes or residential land in Larimer County. |
|---|---|
| Tax bill mailed elsewhere | 37,215 of the 123,054 with a mailing address on file (30%) send the tax bill to an address other than the property. |
| Mailed out of state | 4,881 (4%) send it outside Colorado. |
| Years since the last sale | Median 10 years, from 125,342 parcels with a recorded sale: under 5 years 31,658, 5 to 9 30,100, 10 to 19 30,343, 20 or more 33,241. |
| Property types | As the county labels them: Residential 120,499; Agricultural 2,230; Multiple Unit 293; Mobile Home 166; Commercial 119; Partial Exempt 24. |
Source: shinnslist (county records), read October 16, 2026. How the counts are made and graded: How we grade. Nothing here predicts that an owner will sell. These are counts of public county records.
Questions
Questions people ask
Does Glen Haven or Drake need a county license?
If the property is unincorporated, yes. Larimer County requires a license before renting for 30 days or less.
How many Estes Valley residential registrations are allowed?
The county page lists a cap of 208 active registrations, with a waitlist.
Can I advertise before I am approved?
No. The county calls it a violation that can bring fines and higher fees.