🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Saguache County, CO
STR Hosts on Notice: Saguache County Cracks Down on Unpermitted Rentals
A New Playbook for Hosts: Saguache County Tightens STR Oversight
Saguache County is rolling out a new era of short-term rental oversight, thanks to a Land Use Development Code update approved 2–1 following a public hearing on Nov. 17. While the code touches on everything from subdivisions to enforcement, STR regulations stood front and center for many of the residents who showed up to weigh in. With new fees, new expectations, and a renewed push for compliance, local hosts will see the biggest changes in years.
At the heart of the update is a newly formalized short-term rental permitting requirement, which has prompted mixed reactions across the county. The new fee schedule starts at $500 annually for STRs accommodating one to five people, a number that drew criticism from several attendees who felt the cost was out of reach for small or occasional hosts. County staff defended the fees, explaining they were calculated to reflect the true administrative and enforcement workload that STR activity brings.
That concern sparked a creative alternative. Land Use Administrator Amber Wilson floated the idea of switching to a monthly prorated fee rather than requiring the full annual payment for owners who only rent part-time, for example, people who open their homes seasonally or only if long-term renters aren’t available. Commissioners agreed the idea was worth future discussion, though it wasn’t adopted as part of the vote.
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One major reason for the new system is the county’s struggle with under-the-radar rentals. According to Commissioner Tom McCracken, only 31 STRs in unincorporated Saguache County are currently registered, while a recent sweep by a hired data-tracking firm identified more than 170 unpermitted lodging properties operating without the required home-occupation or STR permits. That discrepancy pushed the county to strengthen tracking and enforcement. Moving forward, all operators identified by the firm will be required to apply for the correct permits or stop renting.
Enforcement tools are tightening as well. McCracken emphasized that, in the future, failing to collect sales and lodging taxes could lead to revoked STR permits, putting new pressure on hosts to follow state and county tax rules. And while the commissioners ultimately decided to roll back a proposed civil-infraction enforcement plan from Article 10, County Attorney Brad Crowell reminded everyone that the existing county-court process remains strong. Under state law, unpaid fines can even be collected through the same process used for property.
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