Overview: Are STRs allowed in Placerville, Colorado?

Yes—short-term rentals (rentals of 30 days or fewer) are allowed in Placerville, Colorado, provided the owner obtains the required county vacation home rental (VHR) permit and complies with all applicable regulations. Placerville is an unincorporated community in San Miguel County; therefore, STRs are governed by the San Miguel County Land Use Code and related county ordinances. There are no city-specific rules because Placerville is not an incorporated municipality. State-level Colorado statutes and statewide tax rules also apply.

How to start an STR business in Placerville, Colorado

• Step 1: Verify zoning and neighborhood covenants
  • Confirm your parcel can legally host an STR under San Miguel County rules and any homeowner association (HOA) covenants, as HOAs may restrict or ban STRs through recorded covenants.
• Step 2: Confirm county permitting requirements
  • Contact San Miguel County Planning & Building to confirm current STR/VHR licensing requirements and any local overlay zones or caps that may affect eligibility.
• Step 3: Apply for the county STR/VHR permit
  • Submit the required application and supporting documents; complete any required inspections (fire, building) and obtain approvals.
• Step 4: Business licensing and taxes
  • Obtain a county/city business license if applicable and register for Colorado sales tax and any lodging taxes (state and local) as required. If you use platforms such as Airbnb, these marketplace facilitators typically collect and remit state sales tax, but you remain responsible for full compliance.
• Step 5: Safety, signage, and operations
  • Install required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, address defensible space per fire authority, post any required interior/exterior signage, and designate a local contact who can respond within one hour.
• Step 6: Ongoing compliance
  • Maintain annual renewals, file tax returns on schedule, maintain proof of insurance, and adhere to occupancy, noise, parking, and fire safety rules.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• County STR/VHR permit
  • Proof of ownership (e.g., recorded deed or title documentation)
  • Site and floor plans (including egress routes, bedroom count, and bathrooms)
  • Parking plan demonstrating compliance with on-site parking standards
  • Contact information for a responsible local party available 24/7 and able to respond onsite within one hour
  • Evidence of required insurance, if mandated by the county
  • Fire inspection approvals and any required defensible space compliance
  • Interior and exterior signage meeting county standards (if applicable)
  • Proof of compliance with HOA covenants (if applicable)
  • Payment of application, inspection, renewal, and any enforcement fees
• State and local business taxes
  • Colorado sales tax registration (state and applicable special districts)
  • Local lodging/accommodation taxes where applicable (e.g., San Miguel County and any marketing district taxes)
  • Marketplace facilitators often collect and remit state sales tax on your behalf, but verify all jurisdictions apply
• Building/fire code compliance
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, address numbering, egress safety, and defensible space per local fire protection authority
• Occupancy and use limits
  • County occupancy caps, use caps on rental nights per year, and special rules for hosted rentals may apply

Specific STR regulations: Placerville/San Miguel County/Colorado

• Jurisdiction
  • Placerville is in unincorporated San Miguel County. STRs are allowed under county ordinances; local zoning overlays may apply.
• County authority
  • Colorado law (HB 20-1093) authorizes counties to license and regulate short-term lodging rentals; San Miguel County has adopted such regulations in its Land Use Code.
• Common county requirements (consult San Miguel County for details)
  • Licensing/permitting of STRs and annual renewals
  • 24/7 local contact responsible for complaint response within one hour
  • Occupancy limits tied to bedrooms/parking
  • Fire safety inspections and defensible space compliance
  • Event restrictions; large events and commercial gatherings typically prohibited
  • Parking must remain on the property; no blocking of neighboring driveways
  • Noise control; quiet hours commonly enforced (e.g., 10:00 pm–8:00 am)
  • Required signage and guest information posting
• State-level Colorado rules
  • Sales tax and lodging taxes: STRs of fewer than 30 days are subject to state sales tax and any local lodging taxes. Marketplace facilitators must collect and remit sales tax on behalf of listings under state law.
  • Property tax classification proposals: Legislation has sought to reclassify STR properties from residential to nonresidential (commercial) taxation; these proposals have not been enacted as of the latest published sources, but investors should monitor future attempts.
  • HOA constraints: STRs may be restricted by recorded HOA covenants; prohibiting STRs typically requires amending recorded covenants (a supermajority of owners is often required). Many HOAs require owner consent for tenants or managers to list properties as STRs, but platforms often do not verify such consent.

Note: San Miguel County’s ordinance specifics (e.g., occupancy formulas, buffer requirements, annual rental night caps, hosted rental rules, and fee schedules) can vary over time. Consult the county directly for current text and local overlays that may affect Placerville properties.

Contact information (Placerville/San Miguel County/Colorado)

• San Miguel County Planning & Building (VHR/STR permitting and ordinance questions)
  • Phone: 970-369-5420
  • Website: www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/200/Planning-Building
  • Email: planning@.smcounty.co (general contact; confirm VHR-specific email if available)
• San Miguel County Treasurer (lodging/sales tax administration and registration)
  • Phone: 970-728-4004
  • Website: www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/166/Treasurer
• County-level code enforcement (complaints and enforcement)
  • Phone: 970-369-5386
• Colorado Department of Revenue (state sales tax)
  • Phone: 303-238-7878
  • Website: tax.colorado.gov/
• Rent Responsibly (statewide STR resource hub)
  • Website: www.rentresponsibly.org/co/mountain-village/
  • Note: Use this resource hub to track statewide and local policy updates.

Links to source pages

• San Miguel County Planning & Building: www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/200/Planning-Building
• San Miguel County Treasurer (lodging tax): www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/166/Treasurer
• State of Colorado short-term rental overview (COBAR article): cl.cobar.org/features/the-state-of-short-term-rentals-in-colorado/
• Rent Responsibly – Mountain Village, CO STR information (statewide resource hub): www.rentresponsibly.org/co/mountain-village/

Important compliance reminders

• Always confirm the current county ordinance and any overlay zone rules before investing or listing a property in Placerville.
• Maintain proof of sales/lodging tax registration and timely filings; if you rely on a marketplace facilitator for tax collection, verify that the platform remits all applicable state and local taxes on your rentals.
• If the property is in an HOA, verify that STRs are permitted under recorded covenants and obtain any required owner consent before listing.
• Keep inspection records, renewal confirmations, and local contact information current; noncompliance can result in fines, permit suspension, or revocation.