Rental Rules by City / Colorado / Durango
Durango short-term rental rules & tax calculator
📋 The Basics
- Can I rent my place short-term here?
- Only in some areas
- Do I need a permit?
- Yes. You need a Limited Use Permit; many zones are capped.
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 13.65%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Check your zone cap and waitlist.
- Apply for the permit.
- Get the business and lodgers tax license.
⚠️ Biggest risk: Caps are often full, with waitlists.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: Colorado state sales tax 2.9% + La Plata County sales tax 2% + City sales tax 3.5% + City lodgers' tax 5.25% = 13.65%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. 13.65% total: city 3.5% sales + 5.25% lodgers' tax, plus CO 2.9% and La Plata County 2% (CO DOR DR 1002; county lodging tax omits Durango).
What Airbnb collects: Durango is home-rule: verify in payouts whether Airbnb remits city sales and lodgers' tax.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| Permit | A Limited Use Permit is required before operating or advertising a vacation rental (1 to 29 nights). |
|---|---|
| Caps | EN-1 capped at 22 permits and EN-2 at 17; other zones have caps, often with waitlists. |
| License | City business and lodgers' tax license; file lodgers' tax monthly. |
Items marked "Verify with the city" could not be confirmed from an official source; call the office listed before relying on them.
Sources
Free tools
Free "Is my rental legal?" checklist · Free tourist tax calculator
Rules can change
Durango's rules, its tax rates and platform policies can change through a council vote, a new state law or a court ruling, often with little notice to hosts. We re-check this page monthly; subscribers get notified. Stay Compliant for $4.99/mo.
Want it done for you?
Get a personalized STR Compliance Check ($49) for your exact address in any US city: the permits, registrations and tax accounts you need, with official sources, delivered by email in 48 business hours. Not legal advice.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund PolicyHow we verify.
Stay Compliant: $4.99/month
Rules, tax rates and Airbnb/Vrbo policies can change without warning, and hosts who miss a change can be fined. Get alerts when your city, county or state changes, deadline reminders, a pending-bill watch list and a monthly host brief (even in quiet months: "we checked on [date]; no changes"). Compare plans.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund Policy.
Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.