Bulletin - Gilpin County, CO News Today
The new short-term rental ordinance replaces the 2022 rules, drops residency-based licensing and limits outdoor fires to gas or liquid-fueled units with an on-off switch
Gilpin County Merges STR License Tiers and Bans Wood Fires at Rentals Under Ordinance 26-01
The new short-term rental ordinance replaces the 2022 rules, drops residency-based licensing and limits outdoor fires to gas or liquid-fueled units with an on-off switch
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The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 26-01 at a public hearing on September 22, 2026, replacing the county's 2022 short-term rental rules with a two-tier licensing system and a ban on wood-burning fires at rentals.
The text published for the hearing makes the ordinance effective immediately upon adoption and cited the need to protect public health and safety. Commissioners approved it with minor revisions after hearing from residents, owners and neighbors.
Official meeting agenda for the September 22 public hearing where commissioners considered and adopted Ordinance 26-01 updating the county’s short-term rental regulations. | Source: https://gilpinpublicdata.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/
One commercial tier replaces three
Ordinance 22-04 split non-owner-occupied rentals by whether the owner lived in the county. The new law folds both into a single Tier 2 Commercial license priced at $1,200 for two years while owner-occupied Tier 1 licenses stay at $500. Former Tier 3 licenses convert to Tier 2 when they come up for renewal. Tier 2 licenses are capped at 5% of unincorporated housing units or 155, whichever is lower, and no applicant may hold more than two even when using separate business entities. The county shows the cap already met with 21 applicants on the waitlist as of July 20, 2026.
Gilpin County's Ordinance 22-04, Short-Term Rental Regulations
The county’s 2022 STR ordinance established the licensing and operating rules later replaced by Ordinance 26-01.
Stricter outdoor fire rules
Fire enforcement drove the rewrite and the county said at the August 25 first reading that the old rules were "difficult to administer and enforce." Wood, pellet, charcoal and any other ember-producing fires are now banned at all times which also rules out charcoal grilling. Outside periods of high fire danger, guests may use only liquid- or gas-fueled fire pits or appliances with an on-off mechanism with five feet cleared of combustibles and an adult attending. All fires stop whenever Stage 1 or Stage 2 restrictions, a Red Flag Warning, a Fire Weather Watch, a High Wind Warning, a burn ban or a High or higher fire danger rating is in effect. The county website listed Stage 1 restrictions in effect in late September which under this definition means no fires at rentals for now.
Check on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GilpinCountyColorado/posts/pfbid0bescqfkAXf3mRnK1stDSZn4W2B3Ds42tRA9KQZUK4T7AeabBXFXZGWYEhT37Y8Qhl
The license cap is still full
Under the 2022 framework, Tier 1 covers owner-occupied homes while Tier 2 and Tier 3 cover non-owner-occupied rentals held by county residents and non-residents. Those two tiers share a cap equal to 5% of housing units in the unincorporated county which the county puts at 155 licenses for 2026. The cap is met and 21 applicants were on the waitlist as of July 20, 2026 so new applicants cannot license a non-owner-occupied rental until a slot opens.
Tighter operating standards
Tier 2 operators must name a Responsible Agent who can respond to complaints within 30 minutes and must notify adjacent neighbors of that contact. Renewals now require a site inspection and must be filed 45 days before expiration. Events involving non-guests are banned although guests may host informal visitors as long as the total stays within maximum occupancy plus four, and nobody may sleep in parked vehicles or RVs.
Join the Gilpin County STR License Waitlist
Apply through Gilpin County’s official portal to join the short-term rental license waitlist
Enforcement
Fines remain $250, $750 and $1,000 with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense. The county must begin revocation proceedings after two violations in one license term or for unpaid sales or property taxes. Meanwhile, existing permits keep their current standards until renewal.
Gilpin County's 2026 Fee Schedule
View the county’s official 2026 fees including short-term rental licensing, inspections, appeals, and violations.
⦾ Status: Adopted September 22, 2026 (second reading); first reading August 25, 2026
⦾ Effective date: Immediately upon adoption, per the published text
⦾ Replaces: Ordinance 22-04 (2022)
⦾ License tiers: Tier 1 owner-occupied ($500); Tier 2 Commercial ($1,200); licenses valid 24 months
⦾ License cap: Tier 2 capped at the lesser of 5% of unincorporated housing units or 155; cap met, 21 on waitlist as of July 20, 2026
⦾ Ownership limit: Two Tier 2 licenses per applicant, including related entities; pre-March 6, 2022 holders exempt
⦾ Outdoor fires: Wood, charcoal and pellet fires banned; gas or liquid units with on-off switch only, and none during high fire danger
⦾ Response time: Responsible Agent available within 30 minutes
⦾ Penalty for non-compliance: $250 / $750 / $1,000 per offense, each day a separate offense; revocation after two violations per term
⦾ Night cap: N/A
⦾ Platform responsibility: Not addressed; obligations fall on owners and Responsible Agents
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