Cabin in the pines along the Highway 285 corridor near Bailey, Colorado
Colorado STR Markets · Foothills · Park County

Bailey STR Investing

Highway 285 · Platte Canyon · Harris Park · Wandcrest

Bailey is about an hour from Denver up Highway 285, in unincorporated Park County. Cabins here book well on weekends year-round, and the county rewrote its STR rules in 2026.

By , licensed Colorado broker (license IR.100066325) · Published · Updated

See the Portfolio
Investor License
Allowed
Park County STR license
New Ordinance
July 19, 2026
Effective date
3BR Asking Rate
$316–$499
Middle half, next 12 months
Occupancy
About 61%
3–5BR market, past 12 months

Rates and occupancy: PriceLabs market data for 103 comparable three-bedroom listings near Bailey (occupancy across 3–5 bedroom homes), pulled October 24, 2026. Rates are current asking prices for the next 12 months, not booked rates. Occupancy covers October 2025 to September 2026. Ordinance date: Park County STR page.

Key takeaways

  • Bailey is unincorporated Park County, so STRs need a county license. A revised ordinance took effect July 19, 2026, and investor-owned cabins can be licensed.
  • The county can set license limits by resolution, with a waitlist. No numeric caps had been seen adopted as of October 2026, but this is the rule most likely to change.
  • Licensed occupancy is tied to the septic system's design capacity, with one license per parcel. The ordinance drafts end the license when title transfers, so plan on re-applying.
  • Demand is mostly Denver weekends. Covest checks septic capacity, well yield, winter access, wildfire exposure and any new county limits before an offer.
Is an Airbnb Legal in Bailey?

Yes. Under Park County's
2026 Rules.

Bailey isn't an incorporated town, so STRs here are licensed by Park County. The county adopted a revised STR ordinance (Ordinance 2026-001) that took effect July 19, 2026, with a new fee schedule effective June 1, 2026. There's no primary-residence requirement, so investor-owned cabins can be licensed.

The drafts that led to the ordinance gave the county commissioners power to set license limits by resolution, with a first-come waitlist if they do. Early drafts floated limits by fire district and subdivision; later drafts dropped the numbers. As of October 2026 I haven't seen numeric caps adopted, but this is the part of the rulebook most likely to change, so check it for any purchase.

The rule that matters day to day is septic. Licensed occupancy is tied to the septic system's design capacity, and an unpermitted system has to be permitted and inspected before a license issues.

The Rulebook

Bailey STR Rules,
Line by Line.

Park County's rules, read for an investor. Items marked "Check" are where the 2026 text matters.

County STR license
Park County STR license required before renting. Revised ordinance effective July 19, 2026; new fee schedule effective June 1, 2026.
Required
Primary residence
Not required.
Investor OK
Caps
The county can set license limits by resolution, with a waitlist. No adopted numeric limits seen as of October 2026.
Check
Occupancy
Tied to the septic system's design capacity and printed on the license.
Septic
Septic, water, safety
Unpermitted septic must be permitted and inspected. Wells and cisterns tested. Certificate of Occupancy required for homes built after 1974; safety inspection for older ones.
Inspections
Per parcel
One license per parcel.
1 / parcel
On a sale
The ordinance drafts end the license when title transfers and require each new owner to re-apply. Confirm in the adopted text.
Re-apply
Summarized from the Park County STR page and the 2026 ordinance drafts, checked October 2026. The recorded ordinance and fee resolution are scanned documents; confirm caps, fees and transfer language with Park County before you buy.
Market Numbers

What Bailey Cabins
Are Asking.

Across 103 comparable three-bedroom listings near Bailey, the middle half of asking rates for the next 12 months runs $316 to $499 a night. Four-bedroom cabins (41 comps) ask $407 to $636.

Occupancy across three- to five-bedroom homes averaged about 61% from October 2025 to September 2026. July peaked at 81%; February was the low at 48%. Thanksgiving week is the single biggest spike of the year.

That's a metro-weekend market. Midweek is soft, Fridays and Saturdays carry the year, and the best cabins win on hot tubs, views and an easy winter drive.

Before Any Offer

What I Check in Bailey

Up here the property itself is the risk. These come before any offer.

  • Septic permit and design capacity, which set the guest count you can legally book.
  • Well yield and water quality, especially with a hot tub.
  • Winter access: county-maintained road, grade, and how far guests drive on dirt.
  • Wildfire exposure and what it does to the insurance quote.
  • Whether Park County has set any license limits for that area by the time you close.

Found a cabin near Bailey?

Send me the address. I'll check septic, water, access and the county's current rules, then tell you what it should book.

Send Me an Address
Bailey STR FAQ

Questions Investors Ask Us

Q.Do you need a license for an Airbnb in Bailey, Colorado?
Yes. Bailey is unincorporated Park County, which requires a county STR license. A revised STR ordinance took effect July 19, 2026, and a new fee schedule on June 1, 2026.
Q.Is there a cap on short-term rentals in Park County?
The 2026 ordinance drafts let the county commissioners set license limits by resolution, with a first-come waitlist. As of October 2026 no numeric limits had been seen adopted; confirm with Park County for a specific address.
Q.How many guests can a Bailey STR host?
Park County ties licensed occupancy to the septic system's design capacity, and that number is printed on the license.
Q.Does a Park County STR license transfer when you buy?
Plan on re-applying. The ordinance drafts end the license when title transfers and require each new owner to apply in their own name.

Sources

Covest LLC is a licensed Colorado real estate brokerage. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice, and rules change. Confirm current requirements with the Park County Development Services before you buy.

STR Investing by Colorado Town
Foothills Corridor overview Arvada Bailey Breckenridge Colorado Springs Estes Park Evergreen Steamboat Springs Twin Lakes Westminster Wheat Ridge Winter Park & Fraser All Markets →
Ready When You Are

Let's Find Your Bailey Cabin With Covest.

Septic, water, access, wildfire, county rules. One call and we'll know if a cabin works.

All Colorado Markets

Keep reading

Colorado STR rules by townLicense caps, zones and permits in the markets we work.Buying an STR in ColoradoThe checklist we run before any offer.STR tax savings calculatorSee what cost segregation on a Colorado STR could save you this year.