Short Term Rental License Colorado Springs: How to Apply in 2026
Getting your short term rental license in Colorado Springs means navigating a specific set of city requirements before you accept a single guest booking. The City of Colorado Springs processes all STR permit applications through its Accela Citizen Access portal, and missing even one required document can delay your approval by weeks. This guide covers every step of the application process, the full document checklist, common denial reasons, renewal requirements, and the real costs you need to budget for before you start.
Key Takeaways
- The Colorado Springs STR permit application runs through the city’s Accela Citizen portal. The non-refundable fee is $124.95 for new applications and $119 for annual renewals.
- Required documents include a completed STR checklist and owner acknowledgment, proof of property ownership, proof of $500,000 liability insurance covering short-term rental activity, a designated 24-hour contact, and proof of an active listing on a hosting platform.
- Owner-occupied applicants must prove primary residency with two qualifying documents: a Colorado driver’s license or state ID, vehicle registration, voter registration, or a dependent’s school registration. Mail does not count.
- Non-owner-occupied applicants must submit a notarized affidavit and pass a zoning and 500-foot spacing verification before the city will approve the permit.
- City staff has 10 business days to review a complete application. Incomplete submissions are the most common cause of delays and denials.
You have confirmed your property’s zoning eligibility, verified there are no HOA restrictions, and decided whether you qualify as owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied. Now you need to assemble the right documents, submit through the right portal, and avoid the mistakes that delay or kill applications. For the broader regulatory framework covering zoning, taxes, insurance, and operating standards, see our parent guide on Colorado Springs STR permits.
What You Need Before You Start the Short Term Rental License Application
A complete Colorado Springs short term rental license application requires every document on the checklist below before the city will begin its review. Missing a single item stops the entire process, and the city will not review an incomplete submission.
For all applicants (owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied):
- Completed Short Term Rental Checklist and Owner Acknowledgment (four pages, available at coloradosprings.gov/str)
- Proof of property ownership (a recorded deed or current property tax statement)
- Certificate of general liability insurance showing at least $500,000 in coverage that explicitly names short-term rental activity
- Name, address, and phone number of a designated 24-hour local contact person who can respond within one hour
- Proof of an active listing on a hosting platform (a screenshot of your Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com listing with the calendar blocked if you have not yet gone live)
- The $124.95 application fee, payable by credit card or electronic check through Accela
Additional requirements for owner-occupied applicants:
- Two qualifying documents proving primary residency: a valid Colorado driver’s license or state ID, vehicle registration, voter registration, or a dependent’s school registration. The city explicitly states that mail alone does not count as proof of residency. City staff also reserves the right to request additional proof at any time.
Additional requirements for non-owner-occupied applicants:
- A signed and notarized Non-Owner-Occupied Affidavit. Online notarization services can handle this step in under 30 minutes.
According to the City of Colorado Springs, you cannot submit the application until you hold title to the property. If you are purchasing a property specifically for short-term rental use, you can create your Accela account and begin filling out the application in advance, but you must wait until closing to submit.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Short Term Rental License in Colorado Springs
The City of Colorado Springs processes every short term rental license application through its Accela Citizen Access portal, which handles both new applications and annual renewals. Here is the full process from start to finish.
Step 1: Create an Accela account. Go to the city’s permits portal and register for a new account. You will need a valid email address. Save your login credentials because you will return to this account for renewals every year.
Step 2: Start a new application. Log into your account and navigate to the Planning tab. Select “Short Term Rental Permit” to begin a new application. The system will guide you through a series of form fields.
Step 3: Complete the application form. Enter your property address, owner information, contact details, and permit type (owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied). Fill in all fields. Save your progress as you go. You can log out and resume the application at any time without losing your work.
Step 4: Upload required documents. Attach every document from the checklist above. The system accepts PDF and image file uploads. Make sure your insurance certificate is current and your listing screenshot clearly shows the property address or listing URL.
Step 5: Pay the application fee. The $124.95 fee is payable by credit card or electronic check through the portal. The fee is non-refundable regardless of whether the permit is approved or denied. The city does not accept phone or in-person payments for STR applications.
Step 6: Submit the application. Review everything one final time and submit. You will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number. Use that number to check your application status through the portal at any time.
The city’s Accela public user guide for STRs provides detailed screenshots of each portal step. The portal interface can be difficult to navigate, so downloading the user guide before you start saves time and reduces the chance of errors.
What Happens After You Submit Your Colorado Springs STR License
Once the city receives a complete application, staff has 10 business days to review it. During that window, the city verifies all required documentation, confirms zoning compliance, checks the 500-foot spacing requirement for non-owner-occupied properties, and validates your insurance coverage and contact information.
If your application is complete and everything checks out, the city issues your STR permit. The permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance. You will receive your permit number, which must be displayed on every listing across every platform where you advertise the property.
If your application is incomplete or fails a compliance check, the city will notify you of the specific issue. Common reasons for delays include missing or expired insurance certificates, residency documents that do not match the property address, incorrect zoning assumptions for non-owner-occupied applications, and notarization errors on the non-owner-occupied affidavit.
One detail that catches many buyers: the STR permit does not transfer with the property. It is issued to the specific owner. When a property sells, the permit expires immediately. The new owner must apply for a brand new permit and meet all requirements independently, including zoning and spacing verification for non-owner-occupied properties. A property having had a permit under the previous owner does not guarantee the next owner will receive one.
Renewing Your Short Term Rental License in Colorado Springs
Renewals are simpler than the initial application but carry higher stakes because missing the renewal deadline means your short term rental license lapses immediately with no grace period. You must cease all STR activity until a new permit is issued.
The renewal process has two steps. First, pay the $119 renewal fee by credit card or electronic check. Second, submit a completed Short Term Rental Renewal Application (two pages) via email to shorttermrentals@coloradosprings.gov.
According to the City of Colorado Springs, the applicant is responsible for renewing the permit without lapse. The city does not send reminder notices. You must track your own expiration date and submit the renewal before it passes.
For non-owner-occupied properties, a lapsed permit carries a consequence beyond a gap in bookings. The city treats a lapsed permit as a forfeiture of your established position. If another investor applies for a non-owner-occupied permit within 500 feet of your property while your permit is lapsed, that new applicant could claim the spot. You would then need to reapply as a new applicant and pass the spacing check again, which may no longer be possible.
Your insurance certificate must be valid at the time of renewal, and your 24-hour contact information must be current. If anything has changed since your initial application, update it during the renewal submission.
Five Application Mistakes That Get Short Term Rental Licenses Denied
These five errors account for the majority of denied and delayed Colorado Springs short term rental license applications. Knowing them in advance can save you weeks of reprocessing time.
1. Submitting before you have title. The city will not process an application from someone who does not yet own the property. If you are under contract, wait until closing day. You can pre-fill the application in Accela, but do not hit submit until the deed is recorded.
2. Using a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. The city requires $500,000 in general liability coverage that explicitly names short-term rental activity. A standard homeowner’s policy does not meet this requirement even if it carries $500,000 in liability coverage. The policy must reference STR, vacation rental, or short-term rental hosting. Platform protections like AirCover do not satisfy this requirement either.
3. Applying for a non-owner-occupied permit in a restricted zone. Non-owner-occupied STR applications submitted after December 26, 2019 are prohibited in R-E, R-1 6, R-1 9, and single-family PDZ zones. This is an automatic denial. Verify your zone eligibility before applying.
4. Forgetting the notarized affidavit. Non-owner-occupied applicants must submit a signed and notarized affidavit. A signature alone is not sufficient. Online notarization services can handle this in under 30 minutes, but skipping it will stop your application entirely.
5. Not designating a 24-hour contact. Every STR permit requires a local contact person available around the clock who can respond to the property within one hour. If you are a remote investor without someone local, you need a property management company to fill this role before you can submit.
Full Cost Breakdown Beyond the Short Term Rental License Fee
The $124.95 application fee is the starting point, not the total cost of getting your Colorado Springs short term rental license and operating legally. Budgeting for the full picture before you apply prevents surprises that can stall your launch.
Insurance is the largest compliance cost beyond the permit itself. Standalone STR insurance policies from specialist carriers typically run $1,000 to $3,000 per year depending on property size, location, and coverage limits. A short-term rental endorsement on an existing homeowner’s policy may cost less but offers narrower coverage. Either way, the policy must explicitly reference short-term rental activity to satisfy the city’s requirement. See our full guide on insurance for short-term rentals for carrier comparisons and coverage guidance.
Tax registration is a separate process from the STR permit. You must register with the Colorado Department of Revenue for state sales tax and with the City of Colorado Springs for local sales and lodging taxes. The combined tax burden on Colorado Springs STR bookings reaches approximately 9.25%, which you collect from guests and remit to the appropriate agencies. Our guide on short-term rental sales tax covers registration steps and remittance schedules in detail.
Setup and optimization costs are not city requirements, but they directly affect whether your property generates enough revenue to justify the investment. According to Airbtics, the median annual revenue for a Colorado Springs Airbnb is approximately $40,000. Properties with professional photography, quality furnishing, and optimized listings consistently outperform DIY setups on that baseline.
How Hoste Manages the Short Term Rental License Process for Colorado Springs Owners
The short term rental license application is where most self-managing owners hit their first wall. Between the Accela portal, document requirements, notarization, and insurance coordination, the process takes hours of focused work even when everything goes right. When something goes wrong, it can take weeks to resolve.
Hoste manages the full permit lifecycle for every property in our Colorado Springs portfolio. That includes verifying zoning and spacing eligibility before onboarding, coordinating all application documents and insurance certificates, submitting and tracking applications through the Accela portal, serving as the designated 24-hour local contact, managing annual renewals so permits never lapse, and handling tax registration and remittance across all applicable agencies.
For owners evaluating a new property or looking to hand off an existing one, get a free earnings estimate from Hoste. We will show you what the property can earn and walk you through every compliance step from application to first booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Colorado Springs short term rental license cost?
New applications cost $124.95. Annual renewals cost $119. Both fees are non-refundable and payable by credit card or electronic check through the city’s Accela portal. Each property address requires its own permit and fee, so if you own multiple units you will pay separately for each one.
How long does the application review take?
City staff has 10 business days to review a complete application. Incomplete applications are not accepted for review and will require resubmission once all required documents are provided. Processing times may extend during high-volume periods. Submitting a complete, accurate application on your first attempt is the most reliable way to stay within the 10-business-day window.
Can I apply for a short term rental license before I close on the property?
You can create an Accela account and begin filling out the application in advance, but you cannot submit until you hold title to the property. The city will not process an application from someone who does not own the property at the time of submission. Wait until the deed is recorded before hitting submit, even if your application form is fully completed.
Is the STR permit transferable to a new owner?
No. The permit is issued to the specific owner of the property and expires upon sale or transfer. A new owner must apply for a brand new permit and meet all current requirements independently, including zoning and spacing verification for non-owner-occupied properties. A prior permit on the property does not carry forward or improve the new owner’s chances of approval.
What happens if my short term rental license expires before I renew?
Your permit lapses immediately with no grace period. You must cease all STR activity until a new permit is issued. For non-owner-occupied properties, a lapsed permit may result in forfeiture of your established position under the 500-foot spacing rule. If another investor claims that position while your permit is lapsed, you may be unable to requalify for a non-owner-occupied permit at the same address.
Does Airbnb’s AirCover satisfy the insurance requirement?
No. The city requires a dedicated general liability insurance policy showing at least $500,000 in coverage that explicitly names short-term rental activity. Platform protections like AirCover function as supplemental coverage but do not meet the city’s documentation requirements. You need a standalone policy or a qualifying endorsement from a licensed insurance carrier.
What proof of residency does the city accept for owner-occupied permits?
Two qualifying documents from this list: a valid Colorado driver’s license or state ID, vehicle registration, voter registration, or a dependent’s school registration. Mail does not count as qualifying proof. The city may request additional documentation at any time, so keeping both documents current and matching your property address is important throughout the life of your permit.
Can I start hosting while my application is being reviewed?
No. You must hold a valid, issued permit before accepting any guest bookings. Operating without a short term rental license in Colorado Springs is a code violation that carries fines, stop-use orders, and potential permanent license denial. The $124.95 permit fee is a fraction of what unlicensed operation can cost in penalties and lost future earning potential.
Get Your Colorado Springs Earnings Estimate
Your short term rental license in Colorado Springs is the foundation of a compliant, profitable vacation rental. Getting it right the first time saves weeks of delays and protects your earning window. Whether you are buying your first investment property or converting an existing one, you deserve a clear picture of what the property can generate before you invest in permits, insurance, and setup costs.