2026 Guide to Short-Term Rental Regulations in Breckenridge, CO Updated for 2026 Breckenridge, Colorado, is one of the most popular ski towns in the country and a cornerstone of Summit County’s tourism economy. With world-class skiing, a lively downtown, and strong year-round visitor demand, it’s no surprise that short-term rentals (STRs) are a major part of the local housing landscape.However, Breckenridge has some of the most clearly defined and closely managed STR regulations in Colorado. Understanding the rules, license types, and application process is essential for homeowners, real-estate investors, and property managers who want to stay compliant while maximizing the rental potential of their vacation rental. While every effort has been made to keep this information about short-term rental licensing in Breckenridge up to date, always check directly with the Town of Breckenridge or a reputable Breckenridge property management company before making decisions. Fast Facts About Breckenridge Short-Term Rental Licensing STR RequirementBreckenridge Rule or Regulation as of 2026Definition of a Short-Term RentalRental of a dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 consecutive daysLicense Type RequiredTown of Breckenridge Accommodation Unit License (short-term rental license)Who Needs a LicenseAny property owner renting a unit for fewer than 30 days within Breckenridge town limits.STR License Transferability Short-term rental licenses in Breckenridge are not transferable. The license is tied to the property owner and is forfeited when the property is sold.License CategoriesZone-based caps: Resort, Zone 1 (tourism core), Zone 2 (near-resort and downtown), Zone 3 (residential/local neighborhoods)License Cap / WaitlistEach zone has a maximum number of active licenses; new applicants may join a waitlist once caps are metApplication MethodOnline application via the Town of Breckenridge licensing portalBusiness License RequirementAll STR operators must hold a Town of Breckenridge Business and Occupational License before applying for an STR licenseRenewal FrequencyAnnual renewal required; renewal notices sent by the townInspection RequirementsSelf-certification of safety features and compliance with fire and occupancy codes; fire inspections may be required.Responsible Agent RequirementA local contact or property manager available 24/7 who can respond in person within one hourPrimary Enforcement AuthorityTown of Breckenridge Finance Department and Community Development DivisionPenalties for ViolationsFines, suspension, or revocation of license for repeated non-compliance or operating without a valid license Overview of Short-Term Rental Licensing in Breckenridge Breckenridge defines a short-term rental as the rental of a dwelling unit for less than 30 consecutive days. This includes; Single family homes Condos and townhomes Single rooms within a home Lockout portions of a property/individual suites Any property rented for <30 days within town limits must have an Accommodation Unit License, issued and administered by the Town’s Finance Department. This program was created to balance the strong visitor demand that supports the local economy with the housing needs of full-time residents. To achieve that balance, in 2021 the Town of Breckenridge established a zone-based licensing system with limits on how many STRs are allowed in each area Vacation Rental Licensing Transferability in Breckenridge Short-term rental licenses in Breckenridge are not transferable. The license is tied to the property owner, not the property’s address. Even if the property has been a licensed short-term rental in Breckenridge for years, once the license holder sells the property, the property is no longer licensed. Breckenridge STR Licensing Zones and Caps Breckenridge is divided into four STR zones. Most homeowners will only be concerncered with zones 1-3, but one of the zones is Resort Properties, which are allotted to actual condo complexes and and resort accommodations purpose built for tourists. Each zone has a set cap on the number of active STR licenses allowed: Resort Zone The Resort Zone is almost exclusively condo and hotel complexes (One Ski Hill, Beaver Run, Crystal Peak Lodge, etc) that are directly on the ski resort. These properties were built for the explicit purpose of housing tourists for short periods, and there is no cap on the number of STRs allowed in this zone. Zone 1 (Tourism Zone) Zone 1, the Tourism Zone, is the main area where short-term visitors will be staying, if not in the Resort Zone (the downtown core and base areas closest to the ski resort). 92% of units in this area are allowed to hold a short-term rental license. Zone 2 (Near Resort & Downtown) Zone 2 is areas adjacent to the resort or within easy access to ski lifts and downtown. 51% of properties in Zone 2 are allowed to hold a short-term rental license. Zone 3 (Residential Neighborhoods) Zone 3 is primarily residential, and the town tries to preserve housing for locals. Zone 3 has the lowest cap, allowing only 10% of properties to hold a short-term rental license, and the longest waitlist for new licenses. A large number of properties were grandfathered in when the zone system was implemented, and Zone 3 has significantly more short-term rentals than the cap allows for. Once a zone reaches its cap, new applicants are placed on a waitlist until a license becomes available through attrition. License availability changes as owners sell properties, relinquish licenses, or fail to renew. Property owners can verify which zone their property is in using a searchable map provided by the town and view current license counts on the Town of Breckenridge Short-Term Rental page. The town also provides a list of all parcels mapped out by STR zone here. Breckenridge does not publish real time numbers of available permits or the size of zone waitlists, they update the numbers every three months. Current Breckenridge STR License Numbers & Waitlists by Zone – As of February 2026 STR ZoneActive STR LicensesSTR Licenses AllowedAvailable STR LicensesSTR Zone Waitlist SizeLink To Current STR Zone WaitlistResort Zone1,7211,816950N/AZone 11,2191,6804610N/AZone 2130130022Zone 2 WaitlistZone 31,068390-678188Zone 3 WaitlistTotal4,1384,016-126210 How to get one the waitlist for an vacation rental license in your zone If your property is in Zone 2 or Zone 3, you’re most likely going to need to join the Town of Breckenridge Short Term Rental Waitlist. Joining a waitlist is the exact same form used to apply for a short-term rental license, but if your zone has no available permits and your application is accepted, you’ll automatically be added to the appropriate waitlist. A few things to know about the STR license waitlist. All applications are data and time stamped when the form is submitted. If the application is accepted, your place on the waitlist is determined by the date and time stamp on your application submission. Any applications submitted prior to you actually owning the property or before the purchase date will be rejected. Only the current deed holder can apply to be placed on the waitlist. If a property sells while it’s on the STR waitlist, it will be removed. The STR license and the waitlist spot belong to the property owner, not the property address. How to Apply for a Breckenridge STR License Before applying for an STR license, property owners must first obtain a Town of Breckenridge Business and Occupational License. Once that is active, applicants can begin the STR licensing process through the town’s online portal. The application will require: Property details: address, parcel number, and ownership information Designated responsible agent: local contact available 24/7 who can respond within one hour to complaints or emergencies Proof of insurance and safety compliance: confirmation of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers Floor plan and parking plan: showing the layout and available off-street parking Payment of applicable fees: annual license fee determined by the town Signed affidavit of compliance: confirming understanding of the town’s STR regulations Once approved, the Town will issue a unique license number. This number must appear on all listings and advertisements for the property. If the zone cap has been reached, new applicants can join the official waitlist through the same online portal. Waitlist applicants are notified in order as licenses become available. Full details and the application portal are available on the Town’s Apply for a License or Join the Waitlist page. Breckenridge Short-Term Rental License Cost and Fees Applying for a vacation rental license in Breckenridge requires paying two separate fees; the Business and Occupational License Tax (BOLT) and the Town of Breckenridge regulatory fee. Fees are calculated based on the number of bedrooms/studios in the property. While the BOLT cost ranges from $75 for a studio property to $175 for four or more bedrooms, the regulatory fee is $756 per bedroom per year with no limit. Annual STR License Fees by Bedroom Examples (Current as of 2026) Number of BedroomsBOLT FeeRegulatory FeeTotal Annual Cost0/Studio$75$756$8311 Bedroom$100$756$8562 Bedrooms$125$1,512$1,6373 Bedrooms$150$2,268$2,4184 Bedrooms$175$3,024$3,1995 Bedrooms$175$3,780$3,9556 Bedrooms$175$4,536$4,7117 Bedrooms$175$5,292$5,4678 Bedrooms$175$6,048$6,223 STR Renewal and Compliance in Breckenridge All STR licenses in Breckenridge must be renewed annually. The Town typically sends renewal notices by email to the address on file. To renew, property owners must: Verify that all information remains accurate Pay the annual license renewal fee Confirm continued compliance with occupancy, parking, and responsible-agent requirements Operating an STR without a valid, renewed license can result in citations and penalties. STR License Enforcement and Penalties The Town of Breckenridge enforces STR regulations through its Finance Department and Community Development Division. Common violations include: Operating without a valid STR license Exceeding maximum occupancy or parking limits Failure to provide a valid local contact Advertising a property without displaying the license number Penalties may include written warnings, fines, suspension, or revocation of the license. Repeat offenses or serious violations can also affect eligibility for renewal. STR Rules in Unincorporated Summit County Properties located outside Breckenridge town limits fall under Summit County’s separate STR regulations. Summit County requires its own STR permit, which includes: A responsible agent available within 60 minutes Safety and occupancy standards Limitations based on the county’s overlay zones Property owners should visit the Summit County Short-Term Rental page for the most current requirements. Want To Remove The Hassle From Your Breckenridge Short-Term Rental? Interested in having your property professionally managed by the local Breckenridge short term rental experts from SkyRun? Learn how your property could be earning more. Get the profitability, care, and local expertise that you deserve. Breckenridge Vacation Rental Licensing Frequently Asked Questions Do I need a license to rent my property as a short-term rental in Breckenridge? Yes, all short-term rentals in Breckenridge require a license. If your property is within the town limits of Breckenridge and you rent it for fewer than 30 consecutive days (i.e., a short-term rental/STR/vacation rental), you are required to obtain an Accommodation Unit License from the Town of Breckenridge. Can any property owner apply for a short-term rental license in Breckenridge? Any property owner can apply for an STR license, however, the Town of Breckenridge has implemented a zoning system with caps on the number of active STR licenses in each of the four zones. Once a cap is reached for a zone, new applicants must join a waitlist. How do the STR Zones and license caps work in Breckenridge? In 2021, Breckenridge divided the town into four zones. The Resort Zone, Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3. Each zone has a maximum number of Accommodation Unit Licenses allotted to it. Existing license holders were grandfathered in when the town created the zones, but the cap may limit any new licenses. The Resort Zone and Zone 1 generally have very small or no waiting lists, but Zones 2 and 3 usually have waiting lists. How long is the waiting lists for a short-term rental license in Breckenridge? The most up-to-date waiting lists can be found on the License Availability, Current Licenses and Waitlists page on the Town of Breckenridge website. The Resort Zone and Zone often have no waiting list; however, Zone 2 and Zone 3 may have a multi-year waiting list. A current STR license holder must either not renew their license or sell their property for a new license spot to open. I purchased a property in Breckenridge that was licensed as a short-term rental, am I automatically licensed? No, you are not automatically licensed just by buying a property that was previously licensed. STR licenses in Breckenridge are not transferable when a property changes ownership. As the new owner, you must apply for your own license and are subject to zone caps and the waitlist. Where can I check which zone my Breckenridge property falls into and whether there are available licenses? The Town of Breckenridge provides an interactive map and zone lookup tool that can be found here. Search the address of the property in the map and it will tell you which STR zone it’s in. You can find information on available STR licenses for each zone on the License Availability, Current Licenses and Waitlists page of the Town of Breckenridge website. I’m planning on a buying a property in Breckenridge, can I can apply for my STR license before I complete the purchase? No, you cannot apply for a short-term rental license in Breckenridge or even join the waitlist until you have fully completed the purchase of the property. Only current deed holders of a property can apply for a license or join a waitlist. Any applications submitted before the purchase is completed will be rejected. What is a Responsible Agent and do I need one? Yes, you’ll need a Responsible Agent to apply for or hold a vacation rental license. The Town of Breckenridge requires that a licensee designate a Responsible Agent (either the owner or a management company) who is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has the capacity to respond within 60 minutes to complaints or issues at the property. What if my property is outside the town limits of Breckenridge, like unincorporated Summit County or Blue River? If your property is not within the town limits of Breckenridge, then you’ll have to follow the guidelines and rules of Summit County, Blue River, Fairplay, etc. Summit County and each town have their own licensing system for vacation rentals, with their own rules for safety, Responsible Agent availability, and licensing caps.
