Breckenridge and Summit County STR Licenses, Explained

Unincorporated Summit County: caps by basin

Outside the towns, Summit County caps Type II short-term rental licenses in the Neighborhood Overlay Zone of each basin. Type I licenses are an exception to the caps. The county reviews the numbers each January.

Source: Summit County STR regulations page, January 2026 counts. The county says caps will be reached by natural attrition, and waitlisted applicants are notified as licenses open up.

The caps cover the Neighborhood Overlay Zone. Resort areas outside it, like the Keystone and Copper Mountain bases, have historically been the most reliable path to a license. Check the zone for the exact address before you write an offer.

Licenses usually don't transfer when you buy

This is the part that catches buyers. In Breckenridge, short-term rental licenses are non-transferable and non-refundable when a property sells. In unincorporated Summit County, a sale generally ends the license too, with limited exceptions such as family transfers. A house that has been rented for ten years doesn't come with a license for you.

So the question isn't "is this house licensed?" It's "can I get a license for this address after I close, and how long is the wait?"

Breckenridge: zones, fees and the map

Breckenridge sets license caps by area within town and publishes a searchable map of its short-term rental areas, where you can look up a property by address. Owners also pay an annual regulatory fee of $756 per bedroom or studio, on top of the business license tax, and every listing has to show the license number.

On a 4-bedroom home, that fee alone is $3,024 a year, so it belongs in your pro forma. My zone-by-zone read is in the Colorado STR rules guide and on the Summit County page.

Questions investors ask

Does a Breckenridge STR license transfer when I buy the home?

No. The Town of Breckenridge says short-term rental licenses are non-transferable and non-refundable when a property is sold. The buyer has to apply for a new license and may land on a waitlist, depending on the area.

Is there a waitlist for short-term rental licenses in Summit County?

Yes, in most of it. As of January 2026, the county listed waitlists for the Upper Blue, Lower Blue and Snake River basins, and the Snake River and Ten Mile basins were over their Type II caps.

How much is the Breckenridge short-term rental fee?

The town's annual regulatory fee is $756 per bedroom or studio, plus the business and occupational license tax. A 3-bedroom pays $2,268 a year in regulatory fees alone.

Where is the easiest place to get an STR license in Summit County?

Resort areas outside the county's Neighborhood Overlay Zone, such as the Keystone and Copper Mountain bases, have historically been the most reliable. Inside the overlay, most basins are at or over their caps.

Sources

• Summit County, Short-Term Rental Regulations
• Summit County, Short-Term Rental FAQs
• Town of Breckenridge, Accommodation Unit (Short-Term Rental) Licenses

Covest LLC is a licensed Colorado real estate brokerage. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and rules change. Confirm current requirements with the town or county before you buy.