🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Larimer County, CO
Road Rules May Tighten as Larimer Weighs STR Growth in Estes Valley
A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates — Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.
Estes Valley's STR Boom Raises Red Flags Over Road Safety
The Estes Valley has long been a favorite for short-term rentals—but with growth comes growing pains. At the July 28 Larimer County Land Use Meeting, county leaders zeroed in on a critical issue: can the current infrastructure—especially roads—handle more STRs without compromising safety?
The discussion was sparked by an STR application that raised eyebrows due to its access via a narrow road. While the Estes Valley Fire Protection District said emergency response wouldn’t be a problem for this specific property, Commissioner Shadduck-McNally wasn’t so sure that was enough.
Her concern? More STRs mean more traffic. More traffic on substandard roads—especially in a wildfire-prone area—could spell trouble for residents and first responders alike.
Tracy Shampo from the county’s engineering department explained how they evaluate STR applications. While the land use code sets a 20-foot minimum road width, applications with roads just 10% narrower can still be approved internally. Anything below that threshold gets kicked up to the board for a closer look, as in this case.
Even though the property passed fire access checks, Shadduck-McNally and others questioned whether one-size-fits-all infrastructure standards can keep up with the unique challenges posed by STRs—especially in the mountainous terrain of the Estes Valley.
STRisker Updates Tracker
How do you keep up with the regulatory rollercoaster in your market? STRisker's Updates Tracker can be your guide - start tracking latest events as they happen and get access to essential documents as they come in. We know the struggle, which is why we built this product to capture every twist and turn in the regulatory saga so you never miss a beat.
The applicant’s representative, Diane Bridal, argued that the property blends well with existing STRs nearby. She showed aerial imagery to back her case and emphasized that the proposed rental aligns with the area’s character.
But the bigger issue loomed: how does Larimer County responsibly manage STR expansion while safeguarding public safety?
This meeting didn’t lead to a final vote, but it made one thing loud and clear—future STR approvals could face tighter scrutiny, especially where roads, fire risk, and neighborhood impact collide. Residents and developers alike should stay tuned as the county continues to fine-tune its approach.
Stay Updated with STRisker
STRisker offers tools and features to keep you updated with the Short-Term Rental movement across the U.S.
👍 We’d love your feedback.
We're always looking for ways to improve Bulletins.
Was this one useful to you? Other topics you'd like to see get covered?
✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!
-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading this Bulletin? Feel free to forward this along. We want to make sure operators and stakeholders are aware of regulatory changes in their area.