🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Steamboat Springs, CO

From Crackdown to Compassion: Steamboat Springs Softens STR Enforcement

After months of heated debate, the Steamboat Springs City Council has officially approved a softer touch on short-term rental (STR) enforcement — at least for now. On September 16, the council passed an ordinance offering a one-time, 60-day amnesty period for some property owners previously found in violation of STR rules to reapply for their licenses.

The new policy marks a significant shift from Steamboat’s traditionally tough stance on STRs. In its so-called “green zone,” the least restrictive STR area, first-time offenders who’ve missed renewal deadlines will now be spared the usual two-year rental ban and can reapply — as long as they have no major violations like excessive noise, trash issues, or building code problems. Yellow and red zone properties, which are subject to tighter restrictions, will see far narrower relief under the new rules.

Another notable change: the city will now issue formal “notices of violation” to green-zone STR operators before summoning them to court. Owners will have 15 days to address issues rather than facing immediate penalties. However, yellow and red zone operators without prior licenses remain ineligible for such leniency and will continue to be summoned directly to court.

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Public testimony at the Sept. 16 meeting revealed how personal this fight has become. Owners like Caroline Fisher and Kim Haggarty pleaded with city leaders to include them in the amnesty window, describing heavy fines — in some cases more than $20,000 — and a feeling of being “treated like criminals.” Councilors wrestled with these pleas, weighing compassion for small-scale operators against Steamboat’s housing crunch.

In the end, several councilors, including Michael Buccino and Dakotah McGinlay, pushed to extend the 60-day window to include more owners whose vacation home rental permits expired after June 15, 2022. Council President Gail Garey opposed the expansion, citing the city’s duty to preserve housing for workers rather than tourists.

The new ordinance, which builds on rules first adopted in 2022, reflects Steamboat’s evolving approach: strict on chronic violators but more forgiving toward first-timers caught in procedural snags. With 60 days ticking, city officials stressed the importance of owners acting quickly to reapply or risk missing this rare opportunity for leniency.

Short-Term Rentals | Steamboat Springs, CO - Official Website

Information on Short-Term Rentals including overlay map, licensing and regulations

Steamboat Springs Colorado HomepageGovernment Websites by CivicPlus®

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