Rental Rules by City / Colorado / Telluride
Telluride 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 Town STR license; the Residential Zone is capped at 3 rentals and 29 nights a year.
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 17.22%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Check the Residential Zone map.
- Get the right license type.
- File Town taxes yourself every month.
⚠️ Biggest risk: Platforms do not pay Telluride Town taxes for you.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: Town taxes (sales, lodgers, STR housing excise, airline) 11% + State + San Miguel County + SMART 6.22% = 17.22%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. 17.22% total per the Town STR Tax Guide. Town tax applies to the base nightly rate only (not cleaning or service fees).
What Airbnb collects: Per the Town, platforms do NOT remit Telluride taxes; file Town taxes yourself and check which state/county taxes the platform covers.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| License | Every STR needs a Town business license: Residential (in the Residential Zone), or Classic/Limited (outside it). |
|---|---|
| Residential Zone cap | Max 3 short-term rentals and 29 nights total per calendar year. |
| Fees | Classic license about $1,332 for 1 bedroom; Limited/Residential about $381.50 (2024 schedule). Late penalties apply. |
| Annual filings | Financial-interest disclosure, self-inspection affidavit and residential rental affidavit each year. Licenses don't transfer. |
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
Telluride'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.
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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.