Ski slopes in the mountains near Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Colorado STR Markets · Routt County

Steamboat Springs STR Investing

Mountain Area · Old Town · Ski Time Square · Fish Creek

Steamboat draws its STR map in three colors. Whether an investor can rent nightly comes down to which zone the address is in, so the map is the first thing to check.

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

See the Portfolio
Zone A
Unlimited
No cap on STR licenses
Zone B
Lottery
Capped by subzone
Transfers on Sale
No
Nonconforming status can carry
STR Tax
9%
On top of sales and lodging tax

Rules: City of Steamboat Springs Licensing, Rules and Regulations, STR Lottery and Municipal Tax pages, checked October 2026. Nightly rate and occupancy figures for Steamboat Springs are coming; I only publish market numbers I can source and date.

Key takeaways

  • Steamboat splits the city into three zones. Zone A has unlimited STR licenses, Zone B is capped by subzone and awarded by lottery, and Zone C allows no new standard STRs.
  • Zone B caps are small: 5 in B1, 20 in B2, 18 in B3, 17 in B4, 12 in B5 and 10 in B6. Lottery waitlists last one year.
  • A primary residence is only required for a Temporary license. Licenses don't transfer on a sale, though legal nonconforming status can run with the land.
  • Voters approved a 9% STR tax in November 2022. Covest checks the zone and subzone, any nonconforming status, HOA rules and the occupancy limit set by square footage.
Is an Airbnb Legal in Steamboat Springs?

Yes, in Zone A.
It Depends Elsewhere.

Steamboat's rules come from Ordinances 2856 through 2858, adopted June 7, 2022. The city is split into three zones. In Zone A (green on the city map) STR licenses are unlimited. In Zone B (yellow) they're capped by subzone and awarded by lottery. In Zone C (red) new STRs aren't allowed.

The Zone B caps are small: 5 in B1, 20 in B2, 18 in B3, 17 in B4, 12 in B5 and 10 in B6. The city ran lotteries for B1 in February 2024 and B2 in August 2024, and waitlists from a lottery last one year. No upcoming lottery was listed when I checked.

There are three license types: a standard Short-Term Rental license, a Hosted license for one room with the owner present, and a Temporary license for a primary residence rented up to twice and 30 days a year. Hosted and Temporary licenses, older vacation home rental permits and legal nonconforming registrations aren't subject to the Zone B caps or the Zone C ban.

The Rulebook

Steamboat STR Rules,
Line by Line.

City of Steamboat Springs rules, read for an investor.

Zone A
Unlimited STR licenses.
Open
Zone B
Capped by subzone (B1 5, B2 20, B3 18, B4 17, B5 12, B6 10) and awarded by lottery (Sec. 12-574).
Lottery
Zone C
New STRs prohibited, except Hosted, Temporary, existing vacation home rental permits and legal nonconforming registrations.
Closed
Primary residence
Only required for a Temporary license.
Investor OK
Fees
$315 STR application fee (2025 fee book). Check the city for the current annual license fee.
Fees
Taxes
18.4% combined: 4.5% city sales, 1% accommodations, a 9% STR tax approved by voters in November 2022, 2.9% state and 1% Routt County.
18.4%
Occupancy and parking
One guest per 150 square feet, minimum 2 and maximum 16. Up to six vehicles parked outside a garage. A notarized self-inspection every year.
Limits
On a sale
The license doesn't transfer (Sec. 12-577), except to the owner's trust or entity, on death, by court order or in a divorce. Nonconforming status runs with the land if it hasn't been abandoned for 12 months.
No transfer
Summarized from City of Steamboat Springs STR licensing, rules, lottery and tax pages, checked October 2026. The city's current license list and annual report weren't loading when I checked; confirm Zone B availability for a specific address before you buy.
Market Numbers

Steamboat Numbers
Are Coming.

I don't yet have a market data pull for Steamboat Springs that I can source and date, so I'm not going to post a guess. Sourced nightly rate and occupancy ranges will go here.

Steamboat is a two-season town: ski season and summer on the Yampa. The 9% STR tax comes out of what guests pay, so it shapes pricing more than in most Colorado markets.

For a specific unit, I'll pull the comp set for that address directly.

Before Any Offer

What I Check in Steamboat

The zone decides almost everything, so it comes first.

  • Which zone and subzone the address is in on the city map.
  • Whether the seller holds nonconforming status that runs with the land.
  • HOA and condo declarations, which can be stricter than the city.
  • The occupancy limit from the unit's square footage, not its bedroom count.
  • How the 9% STR tax affects the price guests will see.

Looking at a Steamboat unit?

Send me the address. I'll confirm the zone, the license path and the HOA rules, then tell you whether it can rent nightly.

Send Me an Address
Steamboat Springs STR FAQ

Questions Investors Ask Us

Q.Where are short-term rentals allowed in Steamboat Springs?
In Zone A without a cap, in Zone B only within small subzone caps awarded by lottery, and not at all in Zone C for new standard STR licenses. The city publishes a zone map.
Q.How does the Steamboat STR lottery work?
When a Zone B subzone has openings, the city runs a lottery among applicants. Recent ones were for B1 in February 2024 and B2 in August 2024. Lottery waitlists last one year and only include lottery entrants.
Q.Does a Steamboat STR license transfer when you buy?
No. Under Section 12-577 the license doesn't transfer on a sale, apart from transfers to the owner's trust or entity, death, court orders and divorce. Legal nonconforming status can run with the land if it hasn't been abandoned.
Q.What is the Steamboat STR tax?
A 9% tax on short-term rentals, approved by voters on November 8, 2022. With city, state and county taxes, the combined rate on an STR stay is 18.4%.

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 City of Steamboat Springs before you buy.

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Zone, license, HOA, tax. One call and we'll know if a unit can rent.

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