🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Colorado
Colorado Counties Push November Ballot Measure to Boost STR Lodging Taxes
Voters to Decide STR Lodging Tax Shake-Up
Across Colorado, county leaders are gearing up for a November ballot showdown that could reshape how short-term rentals (STRs) are taxed. Thanks to a new state law — House Bill 1247 — counties can now ask voters to raise their lodging tax caps from 2% to as high as 6%. That’s a seismic shift for hotels, Airbnbs, VRBOs, and RV parks in unincorporated areas.
Five counties — Chaffee, Eagle, Ouray, Park and Routt — are seeking tax bumps, with Routt and Ouray eyeing the full 6% while Eagle County has opted for a “compromise” 4% hike. Summit County isn’t raising rates yet but wants to expand the allowable uses of its tax to include public safety and infrastructure. In plain language, local leaders say it’s time for the tourists — especially those staying in STRs — to chip in for roads, law enforcement and housing pressures they help create.
For example, Routt County plans to pour 90% of its new lodging-tax revenue into public safety and infrastructure, while Park County expects 83% of its proceeds to go to public works and the sheriff’s office. Officials stress they’re not anti-tourist — they just need sustainable funding for services as federal and state dollars shrink.
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Business and tourism leaders, however, are sounding alarms. Hotel owners in Chaffee County say higher taxes could drive guests to neighboring areas with lower rates, especially as economic uncertainty makes travelers more price-sensitive. Some argue that road repairs benefit everyone, so it’s unfair for STRs to shoulder so much of the load.
With a November 4 election approaching, this isn’t just about math — it’s about messaging. County commissioners are leaning into “sustainable tourism” campaigns, reminding voters that at least 10% of revenue must go to tourism marketing by law. Whether voters see this as a fair way to spread costs or a risky bet on visitor spending will determine the future of STR taxation in Colorado’s mountain playgrounds.
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