Regulations >
Colorado >
Snowmass

Want to see how Snowmass compares to other top cities in Colorado?  Explore all city regulations in Colorado. →

B

Snowmass, CO

Generally Investor Friendly

Local STR Agent

Local STR Agent

Snowmass STR Expert
Snowmass, Colorado skyline

STR Regulations for Snowmass, Colorado

Executive Overview: STRs Are Allowed in Snowmass Village

Short-term rentals (STRs) are explicitly allowed in the Town of Snowmass Village (TOSV) subject to permitting, licensing, and ongoing compliance. The regulatory framework was adopted via Ordinance 6-2022 (Nov 2022). Regulations became effective May 1, 2023. The town defines an STR as renting a dwelling unit, in full or in part, for fewer than 30 consecutive days.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Snowmass?

Snowmass hosts earn a median $92,309/year with $679 ADR and 61% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $138,934+ per year.

See the full Snowmass market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Snowmass Village

  • Determine your permit category:
    • Type 1: Hotels/Lodges (specific named properties).
    • Type 2: Multi-family A (centralized management; ≥25 units; 67% participation expected).
    • Type 3: Multi-family B (non-centralized management).
    • Type 4: Single-family homes & Duplexes.
  • Confirm HOA/condo approval if applicable and that your use aligns with association rules.
  • Create a MUNIRevs account and complete your Town business license application (if you don’t already have one).
  • Submit your STR permit application in MUNIRevs.
  • Upload required documents:
    • Signed Self-Compliance Affidavit.
    • Signed Good Neighbor Guidelines (also included in all rental agreements and displayed prominently inside the unit).
  • Provide all required owner and property information:
    • Owner and Designated Local Owner Representative (24/7/365 contact capable of responding within 60 minutes).
    • Advertising platforms listing URLs; number of bedrooms/beds; parking details; management company info; HOA details (if any); intended rental days per year (Types 3–4).
    • Where applicable, multi-family management program participation evidence (Type 2).
  • Await compliance review and payment posting in MUNIRevs.
  • After Finance confirms payment, download/print your STR permit and post inside the unit.
  • Display your TOSV STR permit number on all advertising listings (Airbnb, VRBO, websites).
  • File and remit lodging taxes monthly (due by the 20th, including zero-month filings when applicable).
  • Renew annually and maintain compliance to avoid violations.

Note: Airbnb and VRBO no longer remit sales/lodging taxes on your behalf. You must file and pay directly via MUNIRevs, including occupied nights reported monthly.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • Town of Snowmass Village Business License ($85 per entity/property depending on permit type).
  • Short-Term Rental Permit ($300 per unit/hotel depending on permit type).
  • MUNIRevs account (for applications, payment, tax filings).
  • Self-Compliance Affidavit (signed, uploaded with application).
  • Good Neighbor Guidelines (signed, uploaded; copies must be included in all rental agreements and displayed in the unit).
  • Proof of HOA/condo approval (if applicable).
  • Evidence of centralized management participation (Type 2).
  • Occupancy compliance per bedroom limits (especially for Types 3–4).
  • Display permit inside unit and on all advertising.
  • Monthly lodging tax filings (including occupied nights).

City, County, and State Regulations (Key Points for STRs)

  • Town of Snowmass Village (City-level)
    • STR definition: rental under 30 consecutive days.
    • Required: Town business license + STR permit before renting.
    • Effective: May 1, 2023 (Ordinance 6-2022).
    • Permitting framework via MUNIRevs; compliance review by Code Compliance Manager.
    • Taxes: 12.8% total lodging/sales tax. See below for components and remittance flow.
    • Occupancy limits:
      • 4+ bedrooms: 2 people per legal bedroom + 4.
      • ≤3 bedrooms: 2 people per legal bedroom + 2.
      • Children ≤5 are not counted toward limits (Types 3–4).
    • Minimum stay:
      • Type 4 (Single-family/Duplex): minimum 4 nights.
    • Good Neighbor Guidelines: must be displayed inside unit and included with rental agreements.
    • Designated Local Owner Representative required (24/7/365 availability; 60-minute response).
    • Non-transferable permits; permit contact info changes require a new permit.
    • Listings: TOSV STR permit number must appear on all advertising; town enforces and can act on violations.
    • Enforcement: fines, permit/license suspension or revocation for violations; escalating penalties for repeat issues.
  • Pitkin County (County-level)
    • County lodging tax 3.6% included in the combined 12.8% rate; see tax details below.
    • Property standards and other county regulations may indirectly affect STR operations; consult county resources for any non-tax requirements beyond lodging tax.
  • State of Colorado
    • State lodging/sales tax 2.9% included in the combined 12.8% rate.
    • Colorado law classifies short-term rentals as lodging; platform tax remittance responsibilities changed in recent years. As of the town’s rules and FAQ (effective 2023 and 2025 updates), hosts must file and remit their own state and local taxes; platforms like Airbnb/VRBO no longer remit on the host’s behalf.
    • Local governments may not regulate or prohibit STRs purely based on property type or short-term rental status; local rules may govern safety, zoning consistency, taxation, and registration/permitting.
    • Hosts should review Colorado Department of Revenue guidance for lodging tax and sales/use tax obligations to confirm current requirements and any county-specific add-ons (e.g., RFTA where applicable).

Permit Types, Fees, and Application Snapshot

  • Type 1: Hotels/Lodges
    • Examples listed in town materials: Limelight, Viewline, Wildwood, Mountain Chalet.
    • Business License Fee: $85 per hotel/lodge.
    • STR Permit Fee: $300 per hotel.
    • License & Permit: renewed annually.
    • One business license and one permit for the hotel.
    • Parking permits distributed by the hotel.
    • Designated Hotel Representative required 24/7/365.
  • Type 2: Multi-family A
    • Multi-family dwellings within the same PUD, ≥25 units; centralized check-in, management, and rental programs; ≥67% participation expected.
    • Business License Fee: $85 per parent company.
    • STR Permit Fee: $300 per unit.
    • License & Permit: renewed annually.
    • Monthly filings can be consolidated per complex; include occupied nights on the lodging tax form.
    • Parking permits distributed by the complex.
    • Designated Local Owner Representative required 24/7/365; 60-minute response.
  • Type 3: Multi-family B
    • Multi-family not meeting Type 2 criteria.
    • Business License Fee: $85 per owner/property manager (varies based on who holds the license).
    • STR Permit Fee: $300 per unit.
    • License & Permit: renewed annually; filings per unit.
    • Occupancy limits apply per bedroom limits above.
    • Parking permits can be purchased from the Town of Snowmass Village Transportation parking office.
    • Designated Local Owner Representative required 24/7/365; 60-minute response.
  • Type 4: Single-Family Homes & Duplexes
    • Each property requires its own business license and STR permit unless using a licensed property management company’s business license.
    • Business License Fee: $85 per home/duplex (or covered by management company’s license).
    • STR Permit Fee: $300 per home/duplex.
    • Minimum 4-night stay.
    • Occupancy limits apply per bedroom limits above.
    • Designated Local Owner Representative required 24/7/365; 60-minute response.

Permits At-a-Glance (selected required info fields; see permit FAQs for full table)

  • Owner name/mailing/phone/email (all types).
  • Designated Local Owner Representative (name/phone/email; all types; must be 24/7/365).
  • Property management company (Types 2–4).
  • Unit identifier/physical address (Types 2–4).
  • Bedrooms/beds (Types 2–4).
  • Parking restrictions and assigned spaces (Types 2–4).
  • HOA identification (Types 3–4).
  • Intended rental days/year (Types 3–4).
  • Advertising URLs/platforms (all types).
  • Affidavit and Good Neighbor Guidelines (uploaded; Types 2–4).
  • Business license fee and STR permit fee (all types).

Sales and Lodging Tax Requirements

  • Combined lodging/sales tax rate: 12.8%
    • State tax: 2.9%
    • Pitkin County tax: 3.6%
    • Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) tax: 0.4%
    • Town of Snowmass Village sales tax: 3.5%
    • Town of Snowmass Village lodging tax: 2.4%
  • Filing obligations:
    • Monthly filings; due by the 20th of the following month.
    • Must report occupied nights per month.
    • If no rental activity, file a zero-tax form.
    • Town sales tax (3.5%) and town lodging tax (2.4%) are remitted to TOSV via MUNIRevs.
    • State (2.9%), county (3.6%), and RFTA (0.4%) taxes are remitted to the State of Colorado.
  • Platforms: Airbnb and VRBO no longer remit sales tax on your behalf for TOSV; hosts must file and remit directly.

Enforcement, Inspections, and Violations

  • Inspections: TOSV may inspect to verify permit/affidavit accuracy and regulatory compliance; 24-hour notice provided unless a life-safety issue exists.
  • Minor violations (first occurrence): up to $1,000 fine; second occurrence: up to $1,500; third: may escalate to a major violation with potential loss of permit/license.
    • Examples: occupancy limit breaches; parking violations; failing to list permit number in advertising; recurrent delinquent filings; administrative issues.
  • Major violations: loss of STR permit and/or business license (length of suspension depends on number/type of prior violations).
    • Examples: renting without an STR permit; 2nd conviction/guilty plea within two years for noise or wildlife violations; life safety violations; false information; failure to remit taxes.
  • Appeals/grievances: may be presented to the Town Manager or designee.
  • Complaint reporting (non-emergency): Town Police non-emergency line; contact Code Compliance Manager regarding enforcement.

Good Neighbor Guidelines and Rental Agreements

  • Hosts must display the Good Neighbor Guidelines inside the unit and include a copy with all rental agreements.
  • This packet is designed to align visitor behavior with local expectations and mitigate neighborhood impacts.

Key Contacts

  • Community Development Code Compliance Manager
    • Name: Sara Nester
    • Email: snester@tosv.com
    • Phone: 970-923-5524 Ext. 630
    • Also listed in some materials: 970-922-2319 (use Ext. 630 for most current routing)
  • Financial and Sales Tax Analyst
    • Name: Emily Flood
    • Email: eflood@tosv.com
    • Phone: 970-923-3796
    • Handles account closures and tax administration issues
  • Snowmass Village Police (non-emergency)
    • Phone: 970-923-5330
  • Town of Snowmass Village – General
    • Address: 130 Kearns Road, P.O. Box 5010, Snowmass Village, CO 81615
    • Phone: 970-923-3777
    • Fax: 970-923-6083
    • Website: www.tosv.com/
  • Short-Term Rental Permits and Tax Filing Portal
  • Compliance and Permitting Materials (links below)

Source Links

Notes

  • MUNIRevs houses applications, payments, and lodging tax filings.
  • HOA/condo rules may impose additional restrictions (rental caps, owner-occupancy requirements, etc.). Verify compliance with your association before applying.
  • Any grievances/hardships/appeals are handled through the Town Manager or designee.
  • Permits are non-transferable; changes to permit contact information require a new permit application.

Next step

Found a property in Snowmass?

Paste any address and get estimated revenue, cash-on-cash return, and comparable STR performance in under 5 minutes. 3 free analyses per day.

Ask the AI Advisor about Snowmass

Free brief

Get the free Snowmass STR Investment Brief

Revenue data, top neighborhoods, seasonal trends, and the key regulations for Snowmass, Colorado in one email.

Snowmass

Market Saturation Score

036912
High Saturation
8/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
8–10 declining months: high saturation - supply likely outpacing demand.
View Full Snowmass Market Analysis

Photos of Snowmass

Overview of Snowmass

Snowmass, Colorado is an unincorporated resort community in Pitkin County, situated in the Roaring Fork Valley of the central Rocky Mountains. The year-round population sits at roughly 3,000 residents, a figure that swells considerably during the winter ski season and summer festival months. The community is best known as the western anchor of the Aspen Snowmass ski complex, a quieter, family-oriented counterpart to the more famous town of Aspen, which lies just a few miles to the east. Snowmass sits approximately 200 miles west-southwest of Denver, with a typical drive time of about three and a half to four hours through Glenwood Springs and along the scenic Highway 82 corridor.

At the heart of the community is the Snowmass Ski Area, one of the largest single-mountain ski resorts in North America. Beyond the roughly 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, the resort has invested heavily in its base village, with ice-skating rinks, tubing hills, and the popular Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center that draws multigenerational family groups throughout the winter. In the warmer months, the same lift system opens for downhill mountain biking and alpine hiking, making Snowmass a genuine four-season destination rather than just a winter one.

Roughly ten miles southwest of the village, accessed by a road that closes to private vehicles in summer and requires a shuttle, sit the Maroon Bells, two of the most photographed fourteeners in the Rockies. The surrounding Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness offers a network of hiking trails around Maroon Lake and through aspen groves that turn brilliant gold each autumn, drawing photographers and leaf-peepers from across the country. The contrast between the jagged, snow-streaked peaks and the reflective lake below makes this one of the defining natural attractions of the entire Roaring Fork Valley.

In the heart of the village, the Anderson Ranch Arts Center operates as a working campus for painters, ceramicists, sculptors, and photographers, with rotating gallery exhibitions open to the public and week-long workshops for visitors. A few miles away, the site where a juvenile mammoth and other Ice Age fossils were unearthed during reservoir construction in 2010 has become part of the village's identity, with interpretive displays and a community landmark known as the Snowmass Mastodon, commemorating one of the most significant paleontological finds in Colorado's history.

For short-term rental investors, Snowmass offers a rare combination of name recognition through the Aspen Snowmass brand, dependable year-round demand from both skiers and summer visitors, and a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than neighboring Aspen. The proximity to the Maroon Bells, the cultural pull of Aspen just minutes away, and a packed calendar of festivals and family programming give the area a booking profile that extends well beyond a single winter peak season.

Want to know if a property in Snowmass is a good investment?

Enter an address to get instant revenue potential and comps.